Canada
-       Federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy
  -       Capital: Ottawa
  -       Area: 9,984,670 km², 2nd biggest country
  -       Population: 41 million (most of them → near to USA borders)
  -       Official languages: English and French
  -       10 provinces and 3 territories
  -       “Kanata” = village, community
  -       Commonwealth of Nations
  -       formal head → British monarch
  -       federal parliamentary democracy → governor
  -       borders with USA on south and north-west (Alaska)
  -       hockey
  -       1. Europeans → Vikings - Newfoundland, then 15th century - British x French
GEOGRAPHY
  -       Second largest country in the world by total area
  -       Borders: USA (south and northwest), Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans
  -       Diverse landscape: mountains, forests, prairies, tundra
  -       Notable features:
           – Rocky Mountains (home to over 1,000 glaciers)
           – Great Lakes (contain about 20% of the world’s fresh water)
           – Canadian Shield (covers nearly half of Canada’s landmass and dates
           back 3.5 billion years)
           – Northern forests and tundra (Boreal Forest spans almost half of the
           country’s landmass)
      -    islands: Vancouver, New Scotland, Newfoundland, Baffin
      -    situated in the Atlantic Ocean - east, Pacific Ocean – west
      -    world’s longest coastline
      -    east - hills and mountains, middle - vast plains, west - Appalachian Mountains, Rocky
           Mountains
      -    highest peak: Mt. Logan
      -    lakes: Ontario, Erie - Niagara Falls, Great Bear, Great Slave
      -    rivers: Mackenzie, Yukon, Columbia, St. Lawrence
      -    half of its area → covered by forests
      -    37 national parks → Banff, Pacific Rim, Yoho
HISTORY
  -       Indigenous peoples inhabited the land for thousands of years
  -       European exploration began in late 15th century
  -       British North America Act of 1867 established the Dominion of Canada
  -       Gradually gained independence from the United Kingdom
  -       Constitution Act of 1982 patriated the constitution
CULTURE
  -      Multicultural society with influences from Indigenous, French, British, and
          immigrant cultures
  -      Known for politeness, diversity, and inclusivity
  -      Popular sports: ice hockey, lacrosse, Canadian football
  -      Cultural icons: maple leaf, beaver, mountie
ECONOMY
  -      Developed country with a diverse, high-tech industrial economy
  -      Rich in natural resources: oil, natural gas, minerals
  -      Major industries: services, manufacturing, agriculture
CITIES
  -      Toronto: largest city, financial centre
  -      Montreal: second-largest city, French-speaking cultural hub
  -      Vancouver: major Pacific port, film industry
  -      Quebec - French speaking city (part?)
INTERESTING FACTS
  -      World ‘s longest coastline (202,080 km)
  -      More lakes than the rest of the world combined
  -      Produces 71% of the world’s maple syrup
  -      Home to the world’s longest street (Yonge Street, 1,896 km)
  -      Basketball invented by Canadian James Naismith in 1891