Facts About Canada

All about Canada
by Mary M. Alward

Canada is situated in North America. The 49th Parallel separates Canada and the United States. The border is the longest one in the world that is undefended, meaning that no soldiers patrol it.

Canada stretches across North America like a belt. It starts along the rugged shores of Newfoundland and ends in the Douglas fir forests of the Queen Charlotte Islands. The most southern point is Middle Island, Ontario, located in the middle of Lake Erie. From the shared border with the United States in the south, it stretches all the way to the Arctic Ocean in the north.

Canada's population on July 1, 2003, was 31,629,677. Our land mass (acres) is larger than that of the United States, our closest neighbor. 8% of the area within Canada's boundaries is covered by water. Every major city and town is located on a river or lake. This dates back to the days of the Hudson's Bay Company and the fur trade.

Long before Europeans came to Canada, many Native peoples called this country home. Native tribes survived by hunting and gathering. Most, but not all, lead Nomadic lifestyles (moving from place to place.)

More than fifty Native languages were spoken in Canada at that time. The mains ones were (and still are) Cree, Algonquin, Inuktitut and Eskaleut. There were lots of branches of these tribes that lived in Canada.

Canada has two official languages. The first is English, the second is French. If you live in Canada, it is a good idea to be bilingual. (able to speak both languages)

Canada has many interesting symbols that make her unique (different from other countries.) She adopted her own flag in 1967. Before that, she flew the Union Jack, which is Britain's flag. Canada became totally independent of Britain upon Confederation in 1867. 

Canada has ten provinces and three territories. They are: (from west to east)

Provinces:
British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
Quebec
New Brunswick
Prince Edward Island
Nova Scotia
Newfoundland/Labrador

Territories:
Yukon
North West Territories
Nunavut (pronounced new-na-voot)
Nunavut officially became a territory on April 1, 1999.