Canada Travel Guide - Facts on Canada

History		Top of Page
	A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified border. Canada's paramount political problem is meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and education services after a decade of budget cuts. Canada also faces questions about integrity in government following revelations regarding a corruption scandal in the federal government that has helped revive the fortunes of separatists in predominantly francophone Quebec.
Geography		Top of Page
Location	Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US
Geographic Coordinates	60 00 N, 95 00 W
Area	Total: 9,984,670 sq km Land: 9,093,507 sq km Water: 891,163 sq km
Area - Comparative	Somewhat larger than the US
Land Boundaries	Total: 8,893 km Border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline	491 km
Climate	Varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
Terrain	Mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast
Elevation Extremes	Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m Highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m
Natural Resources	Iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower
Geography Note	Second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 85% of the population is concentrated within 300 km of the US border
Natural hazards	Continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow east of the mountains
People		Top of Page
Population	33,098,932 (July 2006 est.)
Age Structure	0-14 years: 17.6% (male 2,992,811/female 2,848,388) 15-64 years: 69% (male 11,482,452/female 11,368,286) 65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,883,008/female 2,523,987) (2006 est.)
Nationality	Noun: Canadian(s) Adjective: Canadian
Ethnic Groups	British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%
Religions	Roman Catholic 46%, Protestant 36%, other 18%
Language	English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5%
Literacy	Definition: age 15 and over can read and write Total population: 97% (1986 est.)

Government		Top of Page
Country Name	Conventional long form: none Conventional short form: Canada
Government Type	Confederation with parliamentary democracy
Capital	Ottawa
Administrative Divisions	10 provinces and 3 territories; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory
Independence	1 July 1867 (from UK)
Flag Description	Two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width), with white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square; the official colors of Canada are red and white
Economy		Top of Page
Overview	As an affluent, high-tech industrial society in the trillion dollar class, Canada resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and affluent living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. Given its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Top-notch fiscal management has produced consecutive balanced budgets since 1997, although public debate continues over how to manage the rising cost of the publicly funded healthcare system. Exports account for roughly a third of GDP. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus with its principal trading partner, the US, which absorbs more than 85% of Canadian exports. Canada is the US' largest foreign supplier of energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power.
Currency	Canadian dollar
Currency Code	CAD
Communications		Top of Page
Telephone System	Excellent service provided by modern technology
Internet Country Code	.ca
Transportation		Top of Page
Railways	total: 48,467 km standard gauge: 48,467 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways	total: 1,042,300 km paved: 415,600 km (including 17,000 km of expressways) unpaved: 626,700 km (2005)
Waterways	3,000 km (including Saint Lawrence Seaway)
Ports and Harbors	Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, New Westminster, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick), St. John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Sydney, Trois-Rivieres, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor.
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	Canada Travel Guide: Facts on Canada
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Map of Canada and its major cities

Canada Travel Guide:

Facts on Canada