Area: 9,976,139 population: 27,297,000
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Geography area: 9,976,139 population: 27,297,000 capital city: Ottawa other cities: Montreal, Quebec, Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, Halifax Canada is the 2nd largest country in the world after Russia and occupies the northern part of North America, borders with the USA, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean lakes: Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Great Bear Lake, Great Slave Lake, Lake Winnipeg rivers: the St. Lawrence River, the Winnipeg, the Saskatchewan, the Columbia, the Frazer, the Yukon, the Mackenzie Canada is divided into 7 regions: The Pacific Coast - British Columbia, Vancouver Island) The Cordillera - the Rocky Mountains, the Coast Mountains, St. Elias Mountains (Mount Logan - 6,050) The Prairies - grain-producing region The Canadian Shield - Hudson Bay, region of minerals The Great Lakes - St. Lawrence lowlands The Atlantic Provinces - Appalachian Region The Arctic History the first people are though to have arrived to America from Siberia about 30,000 years ago the Vikings (Icelandic Norsemen) settled about 985 on the island of Newfoundland 1497 - John Cabot claimed the land for the English Crown; in 1534 James Cartier planted the flag of France on a Gaspe promontory 1763 - the Treaty of Paris - an agreement between England and France - dividing the territories; 1774 - Quebec Act -British granted French civil laws in Canada 1791 - dividing: Upper Canada and Lower Canada, but they were united again until British rule in 1830's because of rebellions 1st July, 1867 - Dominion of Canada ' 1st July is celebrated as "Canada Day" 1931 - the Statue of Westminster - confirmation of autonomy Political system constitutional monarchy, a federal state and parliamentary democracy with two official languages and two systems of law: civil law and common law Canada has 10 provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan) and 3 territories (Northwest Territory, Yukon Territory and Nunavut) in 1982 the Charter if Rights and Freedoms was entrenched in the Canadian Constitution the Canadian Parliament is composed of the Queen (who is represented by the Governor General), the Senate and the House of Commons the Senate (Upper House) has 104 members who are appointed and are divided essentially among Canada's 4 main regions of Ontario, Quebec, the West and the Atlantic Provinces the House of Commons is with its 295 members (five-year terms) the major lawmaking body the real executive authority is the Cabinet with Prime Minister - they are advisers of the monarch the party with the 2nd largest number of seats is called Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition Economy Canada belongs to G-7 countries (Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, the UK, the USA), sometimes it's extended to G-8 (plus Russia) rich sources of raw materials: uranium, zinc, sulphur, nickel, aluminium, gas agriculture: wheat highly developed trading country Download 12.79 Kb. Share with your friends:
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