Canada

(history, geographical features, system of government, lifestyle, regions, sights, industries)

1) Canada
•    dominion of the UK
•    federal state, 10 provinces, federal parliament
•    capital Ottawa, cities Toronto, Quebec, Montreal, Vancouver, Winnipeg
•    borders only on the USA (Alaska in the north)
•    population of 27 million, density only 2-3 people per square kilometer, 2nd largest after Russia, 10 mil. sq. kilometers
•    185 thousand Indians, 20 thousand Eskimos
•    modern history started by John Cabot 500 years ago
•    French colony (New France), then English colony
•    now a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations (also United Nations and Organization of American States)
•    continental climate, in the north arctic
•    languages: English and French
•    mineral resources: gold, ores, oil, natural gas
•    flag: maple leaf red and white
•    currency: Canadian dollar

2) Nature
•    mountain range the Cordilleras (Rocky Mountains, Mackenzie Mountains, Melville Hills)
•    prairies suitable for wheat growing
•    rivers: Mackenzie, Yukon, Fraser, Columbia, St. Lawrence River
•    Great Lakes: Lake Superior, Huron, Erie, Ontario, Michigan (border with the USA, Michigan belongs only to USA)
•    Niagara Falls between Lake Erie and Ontario, 49 meters high
•    other lakes: Lake of Wood, Great Slave Lake, Great Bear Lake

3) Provinces
•    maritime provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, New Foundland
•    central provinces: Quebec (French language), Ontario
•    prairie provinces: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta
•    British Columbia in the west
•    territories: Yukon, North-West

4) Industry and agriculture
•    machine building industry (Hamilton)
•    ships (Montreal, Toronto), cars (Ottawa)
•    petrochemical industry, consumer industry, forestry
•    agricultural products: tobacco, fruits, vegetables, oats, wheat