Welcome to Canada
General Canda Index: |
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| At a Glance | ||||||||||||||||||
| Capital: | Ottawa, Ontario |  |
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| Monetary unit: | Canadian dollar | |||||||||||||||||
| Languages: | English, French (both official) | |||||||||||||||||
| Area: | 3,851,788 sq mi (9,976,140 sq km) | |||||||||||||||||
| Date of Confederation: | July 1, 1867 | |||||||||||||||||
| Population: | 31,414,000 on July 1, 2002 (growth rate: 1.0%) | |||||||||||||||||
| Largest Cities: | (1996 census; metropolitan areas): Toronto, 4,263,757; Montreal, 3,326,510; Vancouver, 1,831,665; Ottawa/Hull, 1,010,498; Edmonton, 862,597; Calgary, 821,628; Quebec, 671,889; Winnipeg, 667,209; Hamilton, 624,360; London, 398,616 | |||||||||||||||||
| National Motto: | A mari usque ad mare (From sea to sea) | |||||||||||||||||
| National Flag: | On February 15, 1965 Canada adopted the red and white flag with one maple leaf as it's official flag. The maple leaf has been associated with Canada since the 1700s. The deciduous trees are prominent in Canada as well as the maple syrup and sugar exports that they are used for. National Animal: The Beaver is the national animal of Canada. The beaver is one of the main reasons Canada was explored and colonized. Trappers came to Canada for Beaver pelts which were very necessary for the fashions of the time. The beaver represents industry and perseverence. |
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| National Animal: | The Beaver is the national animal of Canada. The beaver is one of the main reasons Canada was explored and colonized. Trappers came to Canada for Beaver pelts which were very necessary for the fashions of the time. The beaver represents industry and perseverence. | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada's National Anthem (O'Canada) | ||||||||||||||||||
| "0 Canada" was proclaimed Canada's national anthem on July 1,1980, 100 years after it was first sung on June 24, 1880. The music was composed by Calixa Lavallée, a well known composer; French lyrics to accompany the music were written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier. | ||||||||||||||||||
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| The Atlantic Region The Atlantic Region is a mixture of rocky shorelines, sandy beaches, rich farmland, and thick forests. The provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the Island part of the province of Newfoundland belong to this region. These provinces are known as the Maritimes; a word meaning "on or near the sea." |
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The Canadian Shield If you visited the Canadian Shield and picked up one of its pinkish stones, you could be holding a 600-million-year- old mineral in your hand! This hard rock is called granite, and it reaches far below the surface of the earth. |
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| The Lowlands The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands are located between the Canadian Shield and the north shores of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and the banks of the St. Lawrence River. This narrow area of level land is home to two-thirds of the Canada's population and produces three quarters of Canada's manufactured goods. This region is often referred to as "Canada's heartland", with its fertile farmland and many industries. |
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| The Interior Plains Flat grasslands and gently rolling hills are familiar sights across the Interior Plains, or Prairie Region of Canada. The plains stretch over the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. This region is famous for grain farming and cattle ranching. It also contains a wealth of natural resources such as minerals, oil, and natural gas. |
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| The Cordillera As you head further west, the gentle landscape of the prairie suddenly rises to meet the Rocky Mountains. Jagged, snow-capped peaks run north-south through the Yukon, western Alberta, and British Columbia, forming the region called the Cordillera. The Cordillera area boasts coastal forests with thousand-year-old gigantic trees and southern valleys that are ideal for growing fruit. Most of the people who make the Cordillera their home live in the south- western corner of British Columbia, in or near the city of Vancouver. |
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| The Arctic "The sun shines at midnight and millions of tiny wildflowers bloom next to sparkling ponds," describes the short summer in the far northern region of the Arctic. During the long, dark winter, snow blows across the mountains, frozen oceans, and the desert-like area known as the tundra. The northern part of the Arctic is an archipelago, or a group of islands. These islands, which are located in the Arctic Ocean, are the world's largest archipelago. |
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| Visiting Canada | ||||||||||||||||||
| From the United States. . . American visitors crossing the border (either way) may be asked to verify their citizenship with a document such as a passport, or a birth or baptismal certificate. Naturalized U.S. citizens should carry a naturalization certificate. Permanent US residents who are not citizens are advised to bring their Alien Registration Receipt Card (Green Card). | ||||||||||||||||||
| From all other countries . . . Citizens of all other countries, except Greenland and residents of St. Pierre et Miquelon, must bring a valid passport. Some may be required to obtain a visitor's visa. | ||||||||||||||||||
| For more information contact Canadian embassy or consulate serving your home country. | ||||||||||||||||||
| The Weather Network http://theweathernetwork.com | ||||||||||||||||||
| Canada.com http://www.canada.com | ||||||||||||||||||
| The Globe and Mail http://www.globeandmail.com/ | ||||||||||||||||||
