Canada

Canada is the second largest country in the world after Russia. The capital city is Ottawa. The official languages are English and French. The national symbols are beaver and 11-pointed maple leaf. It became Canada’s official flag in 1965. The population is about 32 million people. The national groups are European descendants, Asian and native people (the Inuit = Eskimos). Total area of land is about 10 million km square. Canada is situated on the whole northern part of North America. In the south Canada border with the USA.

Canada has 10 provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The territories are the Yukon Territory, the Northwest Territory and The Nunavut.

Canada stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and Arctic Ocean. The longest river is the Mackenzie. Other rivers are for example: the St. Lawrence, the Yukon, the Fraser, the Columbia and the Nelson. The lakes are Huron, Erie, Ontario, Superior, Great Slave Lake and Winnipeg.

The highest Canada’s peak is Mt. Logan. There are lots of mountains for instance: the Coast Mountains, the Rocky Mountains and the Mackenzie Mountains.

The original inhabitants came to Canada about 25.000 years ago from Asia. Canada was discovered twice. First by the Vikings more than a thousand years ago, after by the Europeans in the 15thcentury. The French occupied the territory in the 16th century.

Canada is a constitutional monarchy, in practice a parliamentary democracy with a federal system. The official head of state is the Queen of the United Kingdom. The real head is the Governor General. The Parliament has 2 houses – 104 members appointed Senate and 295 members elected Houses of Commons. House of Commons is much powerful than the Senate.

Canada is industrial country with important agriculture. Agriculture products are wheat, beef, cattle, barley and fishing. Manufacturing products are motor vehicles, machinery, wood, petroleum and food products. Canada’s currency is Canadian dollar.


Interests
-  In Nova Scotia Scottish Highland Festival takes place yearly – it is music festival with bagpipes.
-  In New Brunswick live a lot of animals – moose, black bear, deer, marten, beaver, mink, fox.
-  Alberta is a province named after Queen Victoria’s daughter.
-  Quebec is Canada’s only French speaking province.
-  Great Slave Lake is situated in the Northwest Territory.