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Canada

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Canada is a massive nation located in North America.

Political map of Canada
Political map of Canada

It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. The land also reaches far north into the Arctic Ocean. This vast reach makes it the second-largest country by total area. It also holds the longest coastline of any country on Earth. Canada shares a border with the United States. This is the longest international land border in the world.

Canada topo
Canada topo

The country is divided into ten provinces and three territories. Because the land is so large, the population density varies greatly. Most people live in busy urban areas. Large parts of the country remain very sparsely populated. The capital city is Ottawa. Three of the largest metropolitan areas are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

Toronto from above at night
Toronto from above at night

The nation is characterized by many different geological and meteorologic regions.

Canada Köppen
Canada Köppen

These regions create a wide range of climates and landscapes.

Terrestrial ecozones and ecoprovinces of Canada, 2017
Terrestrial ecozones and ecoprovinces of Canada, 2017

Indigenous peoples have inhabited this land for thousands of years. They may have arrived from Siberia via the Bering land bridge. Some of the oldest sites include Old Crow Flats and Bluefish Caves. These early societies had permanent settlements and complex trading networks. Indigenous groups include the First Nations, the Inuit, and the Métis. The Métis people developed a unique identity starting in the mid-17th century.

Indigenous population by census division
Indigenous population by census division

European colonization caused a massive decline in the Indigenous population. This decline resulted from new diseases, conflicts, and the loss of land. In recent years, the government has begun a period of redress and reconciliation.

European exploration began in the 16th century. The Norse built a short-lived camp at L'Anse aux Meadows around 1000 AD. Later, John Cabot explored the Atlantic coast in 1497. Jacques Cartier explored the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in 1534. He used the word "Canada" to describe the area. This word likely came from a St. Lawrence Iroquoian term.

Nouvelle-France map-en
Nouvelle-France map-en

France and Britain competed for control of these lands. France eventually ceded most of its North American colonies in 1763. This followed the Seven Years' War. The British then established different colonies like Upper and Lower Canada.

Canada was officially formed in 1867 through Confederation. This process joined three British North American colonies together. At that time, Canada was a federal dominion. This meant it was a self-governing nation within the British Empire. Over time, the country gained more autonomy from the United Kingdom. The Statute of Westminster in 1931 highlighted this growing sovereignty. Finally, the Canada Act of 1982 severed all legal dependence on the UK Parliament.

Canada provinces evolution 2
Canada provinces evolution 2

This act brought the Constitution of Canada under full Canadian control.

Today, Canada is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. The monarch is the ceremonial head of state. The governor general represents the monarch in Canada. The prime minister is the head of government. The prime minister must command the confidence of the elected House of Commons.

The country is officially bilingual, using both English and French.

English-French bilingualism rate in Canada
English-French bilingualism rate in Canada

Canada is also a very multicultural nation due to large-scale immigration.

Canadian ethnocultural diversity
Canadian ethnocultural diversity

Canada has a very advanced and large economy. It ranks among the largest in the world by nominal GDP. The economy relies on abundant natural resources and international trade.

FTAs with Canada
FTAs with Canada

Canada is recognized internationally as a middle power. This means it supports multilateralism and internationalism. The country often focuses on peacekeeping and providing aid to developing nations. It holds high rankings in areas like education, innovation, and human rights.

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (English)
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (English)
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🖼️ Images & Media (33)
"O Canada"-«Ô Canada», performed by the...
Royal anthem Canada.ogg
File:Indigenous population by census division.svg
Indigenous population by census division.svg
File:Nouvelle-France map-en.svg
Nouvelle-France map-en.svg
File:Benjamin West 005.jpg
Benjamin West 005.jpg
File:Laura Secord warns Fitzgibbons, 1813.jpg
Laura Secord warns Fitzgibbons, 1813.jpg
File:Canada provinces evolution 2.gif
Canada provinces evolution 2.gif
File:Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (English).jpg
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms...
File:Canada topo.jpg
Canada topo.jpg
File:Canada Köppen.svg
Canada Köppen.svg
File:Terrestrial ecozones and ecoprovinces of Canada, 2017.gif
Terrestrial ecozones and ecoprovinces of...
File:Parliament Hill from a Hot Air Balloon, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Y2K (7173715788).jpg
Parliament Hill from a Hot Air Balloon,...

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