Canada
Capital city: Ottawa
Area: 3,855,081 sq miles (9,984,670 sq km)
Population: 31,500,000
Official languages: English, French
Major religions: Christian 83%, other 17%
Government: Multiparty democracy
Currency: Canadian dollar
Adult literacy rate: 99%
Life expectancy: 79 years
People per doctor: 476
Televisions: 715 per 1,000 people
The second largest country in the world, Canada occupies two-fifths of the North American continent, stretches across five time zones, and is divided into 10 provinces and three territories. It was once inhabited only by native peoples including the Inuit. The French were the first Europeans to settle in Canada, but after years of fighting the British gained control in 1763. Gradually they took over the rest of the country, as pioneers and settlers moved west and north. Today, Canada is an important industrial nation and one of the world's richest countries. Most of its manufacturing is based on the natural resources of wood, metals, and mineral fuels.
The changing landscape
About one-third of Canada lies within the Arctic Circle and can remain frozen for up to nine months of the year. In these cold northern areas, known as the tundra, any vegetation is limited to lichens, grasses, and small shrubs and trees. Farther south, large areas of land are covered by dense coniferous forests known as taiga. Toward the border with the US lie the mixed, temperate forests and the grasslands of the prairies.
People of Canada
Until quite recently, most Canadians were descendants of British or French settlers. Most of the French, like those at the winter carnival shown here, live in Quebec province. Germans and Italians are also large ethnic groups but, recently, increased numbers of people have come from eastern Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia. Native peoples make up less than 3 percent of the population.
The first Canadians
Native peoples, including the Inuit, are sometimes called Canada's “First Nations” because they lived in Canada long before European settlers arrived and took over their lands. Since 1970, the government has tried to draw these peoples into Canadian society, but many prefer their own culture and traditions. Across Canada colorful ceremonies and festivals demonstrate their proud spirit. Recently, First Nations have begun to win battles for their rights to ancestral lands. In 1999, the Nunavut area in the Northwest Territories became a self-governing Inuit territory, the first part of Canada to be governed by native Canadians in modern history.
Canadian Pacific Railway
The last spike of the transcontinental rail link of the Canadian Pacific Railway was pounded in at Eagle Pass, British Columbia, on November 7, 1885. It was the start of a new era for Canada, opening up the west for trade and settlement, and finally making the vast country seem like one nation. One of the railroad's most amazing engineering feats is a spiral tunnel-road drilled into the Rocky Mountains. Curving steadily around, the tunnel rises for more than 3,000 ft (914 m). In spite of quicker alternatives, tourists often take the spectacular trip across Canada by train. However, the railroad is mostly used for cargo.
Agriculture
Wheat and cattle farming dominate Canada's main farming area, the prairies. Elsewhere, a wide variety of fruits and vegetables are grown. Apples, shown growing here in British Columbia, are the country's most important fruit crop. Between lakes Ontario and Erie lies the Niagara fruit belt. The lakes protect this area from the worst of Canada's weather, making it the ideal place for growing tender fruits such as pears, plums, peaches, and cherries.