Canada

Canada is the second largest country of the world. Its area is almost 10 million sq km.
Geography:
It occupies the northern part of North America (except Alaska) and some islands (e.g. Baffin Island, Newfoundland, Price Edward). It borders on the USA, in the south, the Pacific Ocean and Alaska in the west, the Arctic Ocean in the north and the Atlantic Ocean in the east. Part of the border with the USA is made by the Great Lakes (a group of 5 lakes along the US-Canadian border - Lake Superior, Huron Michigan Erie, Ontario).
This border is the longest undefended border in the world. Lakes which are entirely in Canada are Great Bear Lake, Great Slave Lake and Lake Winnipeg.
Canada has high mountain ranges, such as the Rocky Mountains, the Mackenzie Mountains and the Melville Hills. The longest river is the Mackenzie (it flows from the Rocky Mountains to the Arctic Ocean), other big rivers are the Yukon, the Fraser and the Columbia (they flow to the Pacific Ocean) and the river St. Lawrence (it flows into the Atlantic). The Canadian Niagara Falls are called Horseshoe Falls and are 49 m high and 1,5 km wide.
The Niagara River - part of the St. Lawrence River - connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario forming the world-famous Niagara Falls 51 m high, 900 m wide on the Canadian side and 320m wide on US side. The name itself is Indian and means „the thunder of waters“. There are really two waterfalls, American and Canadian, divided by a piece of land, from which people can look down at the falling masses of water. It is also possible for the visitors to have a beautiful view of the falls from the river below. They may go by a boat for a trip as far as the base of the waterfall.
The falling water has worn away rocks behind the falls. One such place is one hundred and fifty feet high and goes back a hundred feet. It is called the Cave of the Winds. Visitors can reach this cave by a lift which takes them down to the entrance. In the cave they are greeted by a frightful thundering as thousands of tons of water pass directly before their eyes.
The climate varies from Arctic climate in the north with winter temperatures as low as minus 50 °C, to moderate climate in the east and west. The north of the country is a cold tundra with large and beautiful forests to the south. The central plains from the prairie.
People and language:
Canada is an English-speaking and a French-speaking country. It is known to be very attractive for its varied and beautiful countryside, esp. near the Great lakes. English and French are both official languages. About 70% speak English and 20% French, and the rest are bilingual. There are also North American Indian languages and the Inuit Inuktitut.
However some areas are difficult for people to live in. Most of the people live within 200 miles of the US border and the rest of the country further north is very thinly populated. All the large cities, e.g. Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Ottawa (the capital), Quebec and others, are situated near Canada’s southern border. Canada’s population comprises 30 million people. The original inhabitants were Eskimos and Indians. Most of the population are descended from European immigrants: British, Irish and French ancestors.
The 4 groups of Canada’s inhabitants are Anglo-Canadians and French-Canadians, Canadian Indians and Eskimos. First permanent settlers were French in the 17th century who called their colony in the St. Lorenz Valley New France. Than there were in 1763 a British colony. During the War of Independence the settlers in Canada remind loyal to Britain and didn’t fight against the English soldiers.
History:
Since the 16th century large territories were occupied by the French but France lost this country in frequent wars with England during the 17th and 18th centuries - Britain and France fought over Canada for nearly 200 years. Finally in 1763 Britain took control. Canada became a British colony and it is the oldest independent member of the British Commonwealth because it became a dominion as early as 1867.
Industry:
Canada is rich in raw materials, including such metals as gold, platinum, uranium, copper, silver and other important ores. One third of the country is covered by forest. There is a highly developed agriculture. Wheat is grown esp. In the interior, but not all parts are convenient for it. Canada is the world’s fifth largest producer of wheat. Forests provide wood for building, furniture and paper production. Canada has coal, metal and gas, machine-building, ship-building, chemical and steel and car industries.
Besides wheat other important agricultural items are live-stock production, oats, vegetables, fruit, tobacco, diary products.
Information about state:
The name Canada originated with the first inhabitants. The Indians used the word „Kanata“ for settlement.
Canada is a federation of 10 provinces and 2 territories - the Yukon and the Northwest Territory. The Canadian Parliament consists of the House of Commons and the Senate. The official head is the Queen. She is represented by the Governor General. The actual head is the prime Minister who selects his own Cabinet.
Canada’s national flag is red and in the centre there is a white square with a red maple leaf. The red stripes are symbolical of Canada’s position between the two oceans. Red colour symbolizes the blood of Canadians who had died in WW I, white represents the snow of the Canadian North. The national currency is Canadian dollar with 100 cents.

 CANADA
HISTORY
The Vikings discovered it a thousand years ago, but it was rediscovered by the Europeans in the 15th century. The French occupied largeparts in 16th century, they were followed by the English, who building up their empire. Canada became a British dominion in 1867, now it‘s a selfgoverning member of the British Commonwealth. Head of state is British Queen repersented by Governor General. The federal parliament consist of the Senate in the front with Governor – General and the House of Commons. The seat of the Federal Parliament and government is Ottawa. Since 1964 it has its own  national flag. In the middle there is a red maple leaf in a white strife and on the sides are two red strifes = blood of the Canadian, who died in the first world war. The official languages are English and French.

GEOGRAPHY
Canada consist of 11 provinces which are divided in 5 teritorries:
a)    ATLANTIC: Newfoundland – St. John‘s, New Brunswick – Fredericton, Nova Scotia – Halifax, Prince Edward Island – Charlottetown
b)    CENTRAL: Ontario - Toronto, Quebec – Quebec City
c)    PACIFIC: British Columbia – Victoria,
d)    PRAIRE: Manitoba – Winnipeg, Allberta - Edmonton
e)    NORTHERN TERITORIES: Yukon – Whitehorse, North – West Territories – Yellowknife, Nunavut = 11th province.Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Allberta
Canada occupies nothern part of continent of Noth America (without Alaska) and a number of islands. The biggest one is Vancouver in the west, the othersare Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in the east, Victoria and Baffin Islands.
Canada has  a total area of nearly 10 million square kilometres. Beside the Great Lakes: Lake Superior, Huron, Erie and Ontario shares with USA. There are also Great Bear Lake, Great Star Lake, Lake Winnipeg and many smaller lakes. The highest mountain is Mt. Logan.
Between lakes Erie and Ontario are The Niagra Falls and the Niagara River. Canada has also large rivers: the Mackenzie (from Rocky Mountainsinto Artic Ocean), the Yukon, the Fraser and  the Columbia flaving  in the Atlantic Ocean.
Canada is sourrounded by 3 oceans: the Arctic Ocean in the north, the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Atlantic Ocean in the east, in the south there is a neighbour of Canada – the USA.
In Canada there is artic climate in the north (in winter temperatures as low as 50°C). Winter losts 5 months with heavy snowfalls. North country is a cold tundra with great forests, in the centre is prairie.

TOWNS, INDUSTRY AND AGRICULTURE
Capital is Ottawa. Montreal is the only city with more than 1 million inhabitants. Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Hamilton, Winnipeg and Quebec.
Canada has coal, metal, oil and gas. The principal mining province is Alberta. Centres of iron and steel industries are Hamilton and Sydney. Motor – car industry is in Windsor, Chatham and Oshawn. Oil industry is in Toronto and Montreal.
Main products are wheat, meat, dairy products and leather. Manitobe is one of the chief provinces.
Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia supply for wood, furniture and the production of paper.


POPULATION
Canada has just 25 million inhabitants.More than 40% are British origin, about 30% is French origin, over 20% Europian origin, in Artic region there are Eskimos and the Indians live iin villages, small townships in the prairie.
Canada
Canada occupies the northern part of North America except Alaska, and many islands such as Baffin Island, Victoria Island, and Newfoundland Island. Canada borders on the USA in the south and on the Arctic Ocean in the north. Its area is almost 10 million square kilometers, which makes it the second largest country in the world.
Canada is famous for its varied and beautiful countryside, especially near the Great Lakes in the south-east. Visitors to Canada are eager to see Niagara Falls, which are to be found between Lake Ontario and lake Erie. Canada has also high mountain ranges, like the Rocky Mountains and the Mackenzie Mountains. The highest peak is Mt. Logan in the Alaska region (6 000 m). The longest river is the Mackenzie flowing from the Rocky Mountains to the Arctic Ocean. There are about thirty national parks in Canada, one of them is Jasper National Park in Alberta. The climate is mostly continental in Canada, with warm summers and cold winters. The north is arctic.
The original inhabitants came to Canada about 10 000 to 25 000 years ago from Asia. The Vikings discovered Canada more than a thousand years ago, but it was rediscovered by Europeans in the 15th century. The French occupied large parts of the territory in the 16th century. They were followed by the English who captured most of Canada from the French in wars of the 17th - 19th centuries. Now the population of Canada is more than 26 million people, which means that the density is one of the lowest. 45 per cent of Canadians are of British origin, 29 % of French origin and 23 % have their origin in other European countries. Most of the inhabitants are concentrated near the border with the USA by the St. Lawrence River.
Canada became a British dominion in 1867. Now it is an independent federal state and a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. The head of the state is the British monarch represented by the Governor-General. The leading figure in the political life of the country is the Prime Minister.
Canada is divided into ten provinces and two territories. The largest province is Quebec. Canada´s capital is Ottawa in Ontario. Other main cities are: Montreal, Toronto.
Canada´s economy is traditionally based on natural resources and agriculture. Canada is the world´s second largest exporter of wheat. Some districts are renowned for their forestry. Forests cover 44 per cent of the land area. Coal, oil, gas, gold, silver, zinc and other ores are found in Canada. Main industries are chemical, machine-building, ship-building, motor-car, iron and steel. The main trading partner is USA. Valid currency is the Canadian dollar.