ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES
Facts Sheet about Canada
Here is a facts sheet about Canada. You will learn some interesting information about Canada including its geography, history, climate, languages spoken, and much more.
Geography
- Canada is situated in the northern part of North America. It consists of ten provinces and three territories which extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean.
- Canada”s territories cover 9.98 million square kilometers (3.85 million square miles), making it the world’s second-largest country by total area.
- Canada”s southern border with the United States, stretching some 8,891 kilometers (5,525 mi), is the world’s longest bi-national land border.
- The capital of Canada is Ottawa, and its largest metropolitan areas are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
- As a whole, Canada is sparsely populated. In 2012 the population of Canada was around 35 million.
- Canada has over 30000 lakes.
- Winters can be very cold in Canada with temperatures dropping below â40 °C (â40 °F) in some parts of the country.
History
- Various indigenous peoples have inhabited what is now Canada for thousands of years before European colonization.
- Beginning in the 16th century, British and French expeditions explored and later settled along the Atlantic coast.
- As a consequence of various armed conflicts, France ceded nearly all of its colonies in North America in 1763.
- In 1867, with the union of three British North American colonies through Confederation, a process of increasing autonomy from the United Kingdom began since then.
The political system
- Canada is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy with Elizabeth II as its queen and a prime minister who serves as the chair of the federal cabinet and head of government.
- The country is a realm within the Commonwealth of Nations, a member of the Francophonie and officially bilingual at the federal level.
- The two main languages spoken in Canada are English and French.
- It ranks among the highest in international measurements of government transparency, civil liberties, quality of life, economic freedom, and education.
- It is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many other countries.
Economy
- A developed country, Canada has the sixteenth-highest nominal per capita income globally as well as the twelfth-highest ranking in the Human Development Index.
- Its advanced economy is the tenth-largest in the world, relying chiefly upon its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade networks.
Interesting facts about Canada
- The name “Canada” comes from the word ‘Kanata’ which means ‘settlement’ or ‘village’ in the language of the indigenous St Lawrence Iroquoians.
- The maple leaf is a Canadian symbol and features prominently on the national flag.
- The most popular sport in Canada is ice hockey.
Source: Wikipedia