Canada is the second largest country in the world. It
occupies all of the continent north of the United
States except for Alaska
and the French islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Canada is bordered in the
north by the Arctic ocean and in the south by the United States. The highest peak in Canada is Mont
Logan near the Alaskan border. There are many rivers, for example the St.
Lawrence, Ottawa, Yukon, Fraser, Mackenzie and Nelson.
Canada has a population of over 29 million people of
different national and cultural groups. It is 48% of British origin, 31% French
origin, 2% Native American and Eskimo and other minorities. English and French
are both official languages, but only 17% of the population is bilingual. The
principal religion of Canada
is Roman Catholicism with the United
Church and the Anglican
Church.
Some four-fifths of
the population live near the USA
border and northern areas are very thinly populated. The density of population
is only 3 people square kilometer. For example USA has 28 people per square
kilometer. All the largest city like Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Quebec and the
capital city Ottawa are situated near USA border.
Canada is rich in raw materials including gold,
silver, nickel, uranium, copper, zinc, coal, natural gas and oil. One-third of
the country is covered forest. Canada
is a leading exporter of wood and wood products. Canada´s highly developed
agriculture produces wheat, dairy products, fruit, fur, tobacco and vegetables.
Fishing is also very importer export industry. The standard of living is very
high in Canada.
The country has a developed market economy that is export-directed and closely
linked with that of the Untied States. The chief industries are food products,
steel and iron, paper goods, vehicles, metal products, industrial products and
petroleum refining.
Canada
is an independent federation within the British
Commonwealth. It is a country of colonial origins, first French
and then British. Its system of
government is thus mainly inherited from Great Britain. Canada was the first federal state to be created
within British Empire. The Prime Minister is
the head of Government. Parliament is the supreme legislative body. It consist
of the House of Commons and the Senate. The 301 members of House of Commons is
directly elected by the people. Senators are appointed by the Governor-General
on the advice of the Prime Minister. English and French, the official languages
of Canada,
have equal status in both Houses of Parliament.
Canada is divided into ten provinces and two national
territories. The provinces have control over education, properly laws and
natural resources. The responsibility for social welfare and health care is
divided between federal and provincial governments. The education system is organised
by provinces. Most Canadian children enter elementary school at the age of six.
At about 14 years of age most of them continue at secondary schools. The university of Quebec, founded in 1852, is the oldest
Canadian university.
only one question
(pekoka, 8. 10. 2007 13:24)