Canada: natural resources of the country. Canadian nature: breathtaking wonders (photos) Canadian water resources: lakes, oceans, rivers

Detailed solution paragraph 38 on geography for 10th grade students, authors E.M. Domogatskikh, N.I. Alekseevsky Basic level 2016

Page 78

Remember

Question 1. What do the natural conditions of Canada and Russia have in common?

Answer. Canada is often compared to Russia in terms of its natural conditions and natural resources. Canada is rich in a variety of mineral resources. There are significant reserves of non-ferrous metal ores (nickel, copper, zinc, lead), iron ore, uranium, oil and natural gas, potassium salts, asbestos, and coal. This contributes to Canada being the largest supplier mineral raw materials in the industrialized countries of the world, and above all in the USA. Climatic conditions Canada is diverse. In most of the territory the climate is harsh, which makes economic activity difficult. The amount of precipitation varies greatly: from 250-500 mm in the interior steppe regions of the Great Plains to 1000-2000 mm per year on the coasts of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. A significant part of Canada's territory (about 45%) is covered with forests. The country ranks 3rd in the world in terms of total timber reserves. The resources of the animal world are of great importance - fur-bearing animals, commercial fish(salmon, herring, halibut, cod). Water resources occupy a special place in Canada's natural potential. By reserves fresh water it also has 3rd place after Russia and Brazil. The Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River are important for transportation and energy. Natural features have led to uneven economic development of the territory.

Question 2. What are the nature features of the northern part North America?

Answer. In winter, the weather depends significantly on solar radiation, and in summer - from the influence of the oceans. In the north of the mainland in January, frosts reach -20...-25 degrees, and in the central part of Greenland they can reach -55 degrees. In Alaska and most of the Hudson Bay, winter temperatures drop to -15...-20, and in summer the air warms up to +5...+10. In areas with a temperate climate (north of the mouth of the Columbia), the temperature in winter is -5...-10 degrees, and in summer it does not exceed +20. The area from Florida to California belongs to the subtropical zone. In the Mississippi Lowland, summer temperatures average up to +25...+30, and in winter frosts can reach -15 degrees. Arctic As the map of North America (physical) shows, the northernmost part of the continent is not at all monotonous. Depending on the relief, nature also changes. Everything that is not covered with ice is saturated with water. The color of the tundra is sometimes even brighter than the Russian autumn forest. Ocean ice produces an amazing range of colors with a smooth transition from white to black. Ice is often colored with greenish and blue hues. Polar bears and walruses live here, but there are not so many birds, although the abundance of insects serves as rich food for them. The nature of North America is rich in forests. To the south of the tundra aspen-like poplars and spruces grow, to the southwest - spruce and pine forests, which in the south are replaced by a transition zone with coniferous and deciduous vegetation. Canada's northern region is striking in its silent beauty at any time of the year, but in the summer, when the spruce forest sparkles with bright colors, it is especially beautiful here. The Yukon and British Columbia are covered in an ocean of trees. The plants and animals of North America in this area are represented by many species. Representatives of the fauna here include white-tailed deer, wood bison, coyotes, beavers, moose, gray and red lynxes, forest caribou, rabbits and hares, wolverines

Page 79

How do you think

Question. What is Canada's role within Anglo-America?

Answer. Canada is one of the eight largest developed countries. Its GDP in 2005 was $1.114 trillion and its per capita GDP was $34,273, indicating a high level of economic development in the country. Canada ranks 13th among countries in terms of GDP.

Traditionally, Canada's economy has been influenced by two main factors - the presence of rich natural resources and its proximity to the powerful United States.

The country is rich in mineral resources (semi-metals, nickel, uranium, iron ore, copper, oil, natural gas, gold, platinum, asbestos, potassium salts), water and forest resources. The use of natural resources in hard-to-reach northern territories is becoming increasingly important.

Canada has a highly developed manufacturing industry, simultaneously occupying a leading position in the world in the extraction and production of many types of raw materials - nickel, uranium, asbestos, aluminum. Traditionally, the leaders in terms of growth rates of production and investment were corporations in the “resource” industries - the oil and gas industry, the timber industry, non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy.

In the 90s The Canadian government is directing efforts to build an “open” economy, expand the country’s participation in the processes of globalization of the world economy, and maintain economic independence and equality with its powerful southern neighbor.

Due to weakening demand and falling prices on world markets for traditional Canadian industries, revenue growth and capital investment have declined in most businesses in these industries. At the same time, production volumes and investments in high-tech industries - electronic, electrical and heavy engineering, telecommunications, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, as well as in the automotive industry and production of structural materials - have increased significantly.

The most important feature of Canadian industry is that the share of foreign-owned assets in the country's industry exceeds 40%, of which over 70% are owned by US corporations. In particular, in Canada's electric power industry, foreign companies own 63% of assets, in chemical industry- 68%, in the automotive industry - 92%.

Canada is one of the leading countries in the world in the production and export of agricultural products. Features of the organization of labor in agriculture include pronounced territorial and sectoral specialization: about 90% of all Canadian farms are specialized in certain types crop and livestock farming. The main producers of commercial agricultural products are increasingly large enterprises: over 3/4 of agricultural land is owned by farms with an area exceeding 40 hectares.

The state traditionally plays an active role in the economic and social life. Activity government agencies is aimed primarily at encouraging the development of the manufacturing industry, mastering the production of high-tech products, strengthening the position of national firms and limiting the expansion of foreign capital.

LET'S TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Question 1. What is the population of Canada?

Answer. Despite its huge territory, Canada does not have a very large population - more than 30 million people.

Question 2: What are the two large ethnic groups that make up the bulk of the country's population?

Answer. Two ethnic groups make up almost 70% of Canada's population. These are English-Canadians, whose share in the country's population is close to 40%, and French-Canadians - about 30%.

Question 3. What natural resources is Canada rich in?

Answer. Canada is rich in natural resources. There are large reserves of almost all important species mineral resources. Canada has large reserves of oil, gas, coal, iron ore, non-ferrous and precious metals, and uranium. This wealth, combined with its proximity to the United States, has led to Canada exporting most of its raw materials to the United States.

Canada has enormous water resources. These are not only numerous large and small rivers, but also a huge number of lakes of various sizes. Located in the northern forest belt, Canada has rich forest resources. Almost half of Canada's territory is occupied by coniferous forests - almost 10 million km2. In terms of timber reserves, Canada is second only to two countries: Russia and Brazil.

Agroclimatic resources south of 60° north latitude can be assessed very highly. Here, in the steppes, there are the most fertile black soils, and the climate is quite mild and humid. Only 7% of the country's territory is used in agriculture. The country's recreational resources are quite modest.

Question 4. What industries are the basis of the country's economy?

Answer. Canada is a highly developed country and has long been a member of the G7. At the same time, there are some economic features that greatly distinguish Canada from other developed countries. First of all, there is a clear predominance of extractive industries. The main ones are: gas, oil and forestry. Canada is a major global exporter of uranium, nickel, zinc, iron ore, gold, and silver. The main flows of raw materials go south, to the USA.

Canada is one of the leaders in electricity generation and one of the first in the world in electricity production per capita. Canada is one of the top three world leaders in aluminum smelting. Mechanical engineering, which employs almost a third of the economically active population, provides another 30% of GDP. The industry is almost completely controlled by US capital. In fact, Canadian engineering plants are branches of American companies producing equipment for the mining and forestry industries, metallurgy, energy and Agriculture, as well as automotive products.

Canada has a large forestry industry that relies on its own resources. The pulp and paper industry is especially developed in Canada.

Question 5: What agricultural products does Canada export?

Answer. The main direction of Canadian agriculture is farming. Although Canada has a developed livestock industry, it is known on the world market primarily as a major exporter of wheat.

AND NOW FOR MORE COMPLEX QUESTIONS

Question 1. What are the features of Canada's geographic location?

Answer. Canada is located in the north of the American continent and has a total area of ​​9976 thousand square meters. km. (the second largest country in the world). It is washed by the waters of the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as a result of which it has the largest coastline in the world. In the south it borders with the USA, and in the north, thanks to its polar islands, it goes 800 km deep. beyond the Arctic Circle.

Canada owns a number of islands - Baffin Island, Victoria, Ellesmere, Devon, Banks, Newfoundland, etc. The highest point is the city of Logan in the northwest (5951 m).

The rocky Pacific coast of the country is indented by fjords and fenced off from the main territory by the powerful mountain range of the St. Elijah Mountains, the Beregovoy and Boundary ridges. The famous Canadian prairie stretches across the entire south of the country to the Atlantic coast. The Atlantic regions of the country are occupied by low hilly ridges interspersed with vast plains. The Polar and Hudson Bay regions are vast low-lying plains crossed by thousands of rivers and lakes, often swampy or tundra-like.

Speaking about the peculiarities of the geographical location of Canada, it should be noted that the rocky Pacific coasts are indented by fjords and fenced off from the main territory by the powerful ridge of the St. Elias Mountains, the Boundary and Beregovoye ridges. The famous prairie stretches from the south all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic coast has low hills with vast plains. The Hudson Bay region (Hudson Bay) and the polar zone are represented by huge low-lying plains that are crossed by thousands of marshy lakes and rivers.

Question 2. What is the reason for the high concentration of the country's population along the border with the United States?

Answer. Main reasons:

1. Due to the harsh northern climate, only 12% of Canada's territory is suitable for agriculture. As a result, the majority of Canada's population (almost 27 million) live within 200 to 300 kilometers along the southern border, where the climate is mildest, a long thin strip stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

2. Economic benefit. Since most of the economy is concentrated on the border with the United States.

Question 3. What features of the nature of the distribution of natural resources and the population of Canada bring it closer to Russia?

Answer. Only 1.5% of its inhabitants live in the resource-rich northern regions, which occupy 70% of the country's territory. This is due not only to the more severe natural and climatic conditions of the northern regions (the climate of the “Mid North” adjacent to the developed southern regions is not much different from the climate of the latter), but also to the historically determined features of the development of the country’s economy.

Question 4. What is the reason for the close connection between the economies of Canada and the United States?

Answer. Canada's economy benefits from its proximity to the United States and various trade agreements, such as the 1965 Canada-United States Automotive Agreement, the 1989 Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement (ALE) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). ) and others

Relations with the United States have always been an important component of Canada's economic development. The intensive exchange of goods, capital, and services suggests close economic integration between these two countries, one of the manifestations of which was the conclusion of numerous trade agreements.

After the signing of the FTA and NAFTA agreements, the development of economic integration between the two countries rose to a new qualitative level. The established economic relations between Canada and the United States are unmatched in scope and content among other pairs of industrialized countries. It is important to note that Canada received the status of a privileged economic partner of the United States and easier access to the world's largest market.

Today, the United States is Canada's largest foreign trade partner. Thus, in 2002, the United States accounted for 87.68% of Canadian exports and 62.65% of Canadian imports. During the NAFTA period, the growth of mutual trade was observed almost constantly. The only exception is the period 2001-2002. due to the economic turmoil that occurred in the United States after September 11. Thus, for Canada, foreign economic relations with the United States are extremely important, since the main consumer of Canadian goods and services is the US market.

Question 5. What interethnic problems are typical for Canada?

Answer. There are three main problems of this kind.

The first of these is the problem of French-Canadian nationalism. There is perhaps no more pressing problem in Canada's recent history.

At first glance this may seem strange. In fact, French-Canadian Quebec is the largest in area (its territory could accommodate three Frances) and the second most populous province of Canada, providing more than 1/5 of the country's total GNP. A deep-sea waterway along the river passes through the territory of Quebec. St. Lawrence. On this river there are cities such as Montreal, where almost half the population of the province lives and which is often called the Canadian Paris, and Quebec, almost the entire population of which is French Canadian. But what is especially important is that French, along with English, serves as the official language of Canada. The equality of these two languages ​​is strictly observed. Not only official documents, but even labels of goods sold, advertisements and inscriptions throughout the country are made in two languages.

The second pressing national problem is the problem of the indigenous peoples of Canada. Indigenous people in Lately also intensified the fight for their rights. To a certain extent, this is explained by the reorientation of part of it from hunting to hired work and, accordingly, relocation to the cities of the Canadian North. Aboriginal peoples have long demanded a special amendment to the country's constitution providing for their right to self-determination. As a result, in 1993, a provision was introduced into the Constitutional Act stating that the country's indigenous peoples have an inalienable right to self-government within Canada.

The third problem is the problem of foreign immigration. Immigration has always been a feature of Canada. But recently its composition has changed noticeably. In contrast to the past, now among immigrants (about 200 thousand people annually) immigrants from Europe account for only 19%, while immigrants from Asia - 57%, Latin America - 13%, Africa - 7% (the rest are from the USA). From the above figures it follows that nowadays “colored” immigration to Canada sharply predominates, which has become widespread.

FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE

Question 1. Using statistical materials from the textbook, select socio-economic parameters that characterize Canada.

Answer. Territory: in terms of total area (9985 thousand sq. km), Canada is second only to Russia. The territory is divided into the Arctic region, the central plains, the Pacific coast, eastern and western geographical zones. It has many islands on the east, north and west coasts. It lies in the Arctic, subarctic and temperate climatic zones. The topography of the center of the mainland and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago is flat, while the western and eastern parts of the country are mountainous. The territory has a dense network of rivers and lakes and diverse vegetation.

The population is 33.4 million people, the average annual growth rate is 0.9%. Birth rate - 10.75, mortality - 7.9 per 1 thousand people. Growth due to immigrants, mainly from Asian countries, 262 thousand people. in year. About 11% of all Canadians are considered to be of British ancestry (Anglo-Canadians), 9% are of French ancestry (French Canadians), 13% are from other European countries, 4.5% are from Eastern and Eastern Europe. South-East Asia, 35.8% are of mixed origin, 18.6% are of Canadian origin; 1.7% belong to the indigenous people - Indians and Eskimos (Inuit). About 46% of believers are Catholics, 36% are Protestants; Muslims number 7.5%, Orthodox Christians - 1.4%. Canada has two official (state) languages ​​- English and French; at the level colloquial speech 17% of the population speaks both, 67% only speaks English, and 14% only speaks French.

Level and system of education. School education compulsory for children from 6 to 14–16 years old (depending on the province). At the last step high school Education is divided into academic and practical (professional) areas. Completing senior secondary school gives you the right to enter university. There are 75 universities and 195 colleges in the country. More than 99% of adults are literate.

9.6% of GDP is spent on health care, about 70% of total expenses are covered by the state. Average life expectancy is 80 years (men - 77 years, women - 84 years).

The standard of living is one of the highest in the world. Human Development Index - 0.936 (second place in the world along with Australia and Sweden).

Administratively, Canada is divided into 10 provinces (Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia) and 3 territories: Yukon, Nunavut and Northwest Territory . The capital is Ottawa (1.1 million people), other major cities are Toronto (5.0 million people), Montreal (3.5 million people), Vancouver (2.1 million people) .

Canada is one of the most big countries by occupied area. Its wonderful and extraordinary nature attracts a huge number of tourists. An economic assessment of Canada's natural conditions and resources shows that natural complexes The countries have been preserved to this day in a natural, pristine state, despite the close proximity of large modern settlements.

About a tenth of the state's area is untouched wilderness. Local residents are proud of this and protect natural complexes in every possible way. In Canada you can find a large number rare representatives fauna and flora.

Minerals

Speaking about what natural resources Canada is rich in, it is necessary to dwell specifically on minerals. The bowels of the country contain inexhaustible riches, which are represented by almost the entire periodic table. These are rare, non-ferrous, noble metals, uranium, natural gas, oil, coal, potassium salts, asbestos. This diversity is primarily explained by the peculiarities of the geological structure. The plains of the north and west are rich in energy raw materials, and the areas of the Canadian Shield are rich in metal ores.

Coal deposits are mainly located in the Appalachians, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, in the coastal provinces. Iron ores occur in the area of ​​the Labrador Peninsula, Lake Superior and the Cordillera. The provinces and Quebec contain rich deposits of asbestos.

An economic assessment of Canada’s natural conditions and resources allows us to conclude that the country’s treasure trove is the Canadian Shield, where huge deposits of nickel, copper, iron, cobalt, uranium, platinum, silver, and gold lie. In the Appalachians there are deposits of coal, asbestos, precious and non-ferrous metals. The Cordilleras are also famous for their metal deposits.

Canada in the world market

Among other countries, Canada stands out for its production of various ore raw materials. In the Western world, it ranks first in the production of nickel - 70%, zinc - 30%, uranium - 25%, silver - 20%. It is in second place in the production of titanium, lead, platinum, and gold. It ranks third in the production of cobalt, iron ore, and tungsten. The country also has a strong position in the production of non-metallic raw materials. Thus, Canada's resources allow it to be a world leader in the production of asbestos - 50%, potassium salts - 40%. The country ranks second in the world in sulfur production. As for the extraction of fossil fuels, despite its vast territories, Canada is not so successful in this, although gas and oil occupy first places in the mining industry.

Animal world

Canada's natural resources are rich in wildlife. The most famous representative of the fauna here is the beaver. He is a symbol of the state. Thanks to beavers, a large area was previously developed and explored.

The most dangerous and largest Canadian animal is the bear. There are several varieties found throughout the country:

1. Grizzly bears. The most aggressive representatives of the bear family. They live in the north-west of the country.
2. They are smaller in size than grizzly bears and live near the Pacific coast.
3. Polar polar bears. They are protected by the state because they are very rare.
4. Black bears. They live throughout the country.

Natural Resources of Canada: Fauna

The country's fauna is very diverse and rich. There are many fur-bearing animals in wild forests. Predators include foxes, wolves, coyotes, and lynxes. The southern part is home to deer and pronghorn antelope. In the north and west live moose, bison, musk oxen, and caribou. In British Canada you can find bighorn sheep, which are also called bighorn sheep, and wild gray cats, considered unique animals.

City parks are home to raccoons, porcupines and skunks. Canada's natural conditions and resources allow it to offer a variety of entertainment for tourists. One of them is whale watching off the ocean.

Birds and fish

There are about five hundred families of birds in the country. The most popular birds are the great blue heron, the loon and the wild Canada goose.

Canada's natural resources are also characterized by a great abundance of fish. The country's water bodies are literally filled with various vertebrates. The beautiful wild world can be seen in national parks, of which there are many in Canada. The largest and most famous of them is Wood Buffalo.

Canada: natural resources. Vegetable world

The country's vegetation is directly related to the local climate. The largest natural zones are the tundra and taiga. The north of the mainland is almost all year round is under cover of snow, so in the northern parts of Canada vegetation characteristic of the tundra zone is observed. There are coniferous forests on the ocean coasts, and taiga in the south. The east of the country is famous for its deciduous forests, and in western Canada there are prairies (steppe zones).

Willows and birches are common in the tundra; wild rosemary, primrose, fireweed, and cranberries are also found. In summer, lupins, dryads and buttercups grow on the lawns.

A zone of coniferous forest with aspens and black spruce passes through the entire area of ​​the country. Also in the taiga there are oaks, maples, poplars, larches, white birches, rowan trees, cedars, and aspens.

The Great Lakes region is dominated by birch, maple, beech, aspen, spruce, and pine trees. In addition, chestnuts, firs, and magnolias are found in this area. The Acadian forests are dominated by conifers: black and red spruce, balsam fir, American beech, cedar, larch, and yellow birch.

In British Columbia you can find different varieties of pine trees, Oregon oak, Douglas fir, and aspen. Due to low rainfall, cacti can be found in some places.

Finally

Canada's natural resources are vast and varied. Every year, thousands of tourists visit the country to admire the wildlife, because it is the leading state in the world in terms of the number of areas untouched by humans.

Canada is the second largest country in the world (10 million sq. km.), surpassed in size only by Russia. Canada occupies 1/12 of the earth's landmass and has the longest coastline, equal to 3 equators. Canada is located in North America. It borders the United States to the south and northwest, and the US land border is considered the longest unguarded border in the world. The “border” with Russia is the shortest, since it is simply a mathematical point - the North Pole, where the boundaries of the polar sectors of these countries converge. In the north, Canada is washed by the Arctic Ocean. In the northeast by Baffin Bay and Davis Strait, in the east - Atlantic Ocean, and in the west – Quiet.

Canada's climate ranges from temperate in the south to arctic in the north.

Although most of the land is occupied by lakes and forested lowlands, Canada also has mountain ranges, plains and even a small desert. The Great Plains or prairies cover Manitoba, Saskatchewan and parts of Alberta. Now this is the main agricultural land of the country. Western Canada is known for its Rocky Mountains, while the east is home to the country's most important cities, as well as Niagara Falls, the Canadian Shield, an ancient mountainous region formed by more than 2.5 billion. years ago, covers most of the north of the country. In the Arctic region you can only find tundra, which further north is divided into islands covered with ice almost all year round.

Most high point Canada is Mount Logan with an altitude of 5950 m above sea level.

Climate of Canada

Due to the huge extent of the country from north to south (5 thousand km) and from west to east (6.5 thousand km), the climate is very diverse. Part of mainland Canada and most of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago are located in the permafrost zone. The rest is in Northern temperate zone. In the coastal provinces, winters are not so cold. And summer is not so hot due to the influence of the ocean. average temperature January in the north - 35 C, in the south - 20 C, in the Atlantic - 5 C, in the Pacific - 4 C; July temperatures range from 5 C on the islands of the Canadian Arctic archipelago to 22 C in the south of the country. On the western coast of the country, the climate is influenced by warm ocean currents, causing, among other things, high humidity. There are areas in the mountainous regions that are quite dry, despite frequent rain and snowfall in the Selkirk Mountains. Precipitation decreases as you move from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to the central regions. Annual precipitation in the east is 1000-1400 mm, in the central part - 200-500 mm, in the far west - up to 250 mm, in the north less than 150 mm. In winter, Canada turns into a fairyland, where giant mountains, impenetrable forests, and endless steppes are covered with thick ice. The maximum thickness of snow cover is up to 150 cm (Labrador Peninsula). In general, winters in the country are characterized by heavy snowfalls and frosts, and summers are characterized by moderate temperatures.

Vegetation

In the far north, on the northern islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, there is a zone arctic deserts with a sparse cover of lichens and a few herbaceous species. To the south it is replaced by a tundra zone located on the Southern Islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and the mainland coast. Further to the south, stretching in a strip from the foot of the Cordillera to the Atlantic coast, there is a zone of forest-tundra and pre-tundra woodlands on frozen-taiga, mostly rocky soils and a zone of taiga forests, which are dominated by plantations of white and black spruce, American larch, Banks pine and balsam firs. On South central regions The taiga gives way to zones of forest-steppe and steppe with characteristic park forests of aspen and the dominance of dry-steppe vegetation, such as koviel and grama grass. In the extreme southeast, south of the taiga, there is a zone of coniferous-deciduous forests; forests have been preserved mainly in relatively inaccessible areas, such as the Appalachian uplands. In the Cordillera it is observed altitudinal zone. In the north, mountain-taiga forests of valleys on the slopes are replaced by mountain-taiga woodlands, turning into mountain tundra. In the south, in the interior mountainous regions, the valleys are occupied by mountain steppes, which above are replaced by belts of mountain forest-steppes, park forests, and mountain coniferous forests. The Pacific slopes of the Cordillera from the foot to the top are occupied by tall coastal forests of giant thuja, western gelpok, Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, giant fir and other very productive trees. The average annual growth of trees here is 10 cubic meters. m/ha, and the century-old reserve is 900-940 cubic m/ha (versus 5-6 cubic m/ha and 500-550 cubic m/ha in coniferous-deciduous forests and 1-3 cubic m/ha and 100 -300 cubic m/ha in the taiga). The total forest area of ​​Canada is over 440 million hectares (more than 1/3 of Canada's territory). Industrial forests occupy 240 million hectares, containing a timber reserve of about 21-22 billion cubic meters. m.

Wildlife of Canada

The territory of Canada belongs to the non-Arctic zoogeographic region. On the islands of the Canadian Archipelago and in the tundra zone on the mainland there are reindeer, musk ox, polar bear, arctic fox. Lemmings, arctic hare, tundra partridge, snowy owl. The taiga zone and partly in the forest-tundra are inhabited by elk, forest deer, bison, red squirrel, northern flying squirrel, porcupine, hare, marten, bear, lynx, red fox, wolf, and beaver. The coniferous-deciduous forests of eastern Canada are characterized by Virginia deer, tsaliti deer, marmot, hares, raccoon, gray squirrel, and red lynx. The southern treeless areas are inhabited by burro deer, pronghorn antelope, pouched rat gophers, ground squirrels, prairie dog. Steppe ferret. Steppe fox, badger. Coyote.

In the Cordillera, specific high-mountain species of animals predominate: mountain goat, mountain sheep, grizzly bear, puma. Rivers and lakes. The coastal waters are also rich in fish. In Atlantic waters, cod, herring, haddock, flounder, and crabs are of greatest commercial importance; In Pacific waters, mainly salmon are caught: sockeye salmon. Pink salmon, etc. The main game fish in the lakes are whitefish and lake trout. Insects and reptiles in Canada are not at all different and they are found only in the south. In Canada a large number of reserves and national parks. They occupy an area of ​​730,000 square meters. km. The most famous: Wood-Buffalo National Park, which has the largest herd of bison; Kootenay, Tlassier and Yoho national parks, famous for their glaciers and waterfalls; Jasper National Park – Glaciers, lakes. Hot springs, animals include bears, mountain goats and moose; Canada's oldest national park, which is a mountain resort with hot springs - Bauff Park; Elk Island National Park (elk island) – a large number of beautiful forest lakes. Animals include moose and bison.

Water resources

The area of ​​the country is 9,970,610 square meters. km, of which 755,180 sq. km are occupied by freshwater lakes and rivers. The rivers are fed primarily by snow and rain; on the plains there is a high spring flow. In the Cordillera there are summer floods. The duration of freeze-up ranges from 3 months in the south to 9 months in the north. Canada has more lakes than any other country in the world. In addition to the Great Lakes, which are partly located in Canada, there are 31 other large lakes in the country. The most famous are the Great Bear, Great Slave, lakes Winnipeg, Athabasca, Manitoba, Nipigan, Mistasini. The largest rivers in Canada are the St. Lawrence River, the St. John River, the Saskatchewan River, the Mackenzie River along with the Slave River, the largest river in Canada, flowing into Pacific Ocean- Fraser River.

Relief

The central part of the mainland and the adjacent land of the Canadian Aurctic Archipelago is occupied by plains that are located no higher than 200 m above sea level, i.e. lowland plateau, i.e. plains lying relatively high above sea level and separated from neighboring areas by steep slopes. The following stand out: the lowlands of Hudson Bay, which have an extremely flat topography; Lavreptian Upland, its height reaches up to 1000 m and has a characteristic lake-hilly topography; central plains (Mackenzie River lowlands. Manitoba lowlands, Alberta and Saskatchewan plains, area. Enclosed between Lakes Erie, Huron and Ontario, the so-called “Ontario Peninsula”, and the lowlands of the St. Lawrence River Valley), the topography of which is dominated by glacial-accumulative forms; foothill plateau. Great Plains, whose heights range from 500 to 1500 m, as well as with characteristic erosional dissection and forms of glacial accumulation. The western edge of Canada is occupied by the Cordillera mountain system. The height of the Cordillera is 3000 - 3500 m, the highest Mount Logan is 6050 m high. This mountain system includes Mount Saint-Epias (5483 m), Mount Lucania (5226 m), Mount King Peak (5173 m), in the northeast along the coast of Canada The Arctic archipelago and in the north of the Labrador Peninsula - a strip of mountains with an altitude of 1500-2000 m. In the extreme southeast, the region of the Appalachian hills with low-mountain terrain. The Appalachian Mountains are located in eastern North America. They lodge in Canada and the USA. They form a strip of ridges, valleys, plateaus and plateaus, 300-500 km wide. They stretch from southwest to northeast from 33 degrees north latitude. up to 49 degrees N at 2600 km. The Appalachians are divided into northern and southern. The northern Appalachians border in the northwest along a major fault (Logan Line) with the Canadian Shield.

Canada can be divided into 7 well-defined physiographic regions:

1. Arctic mountains

Much of Elslier Island and the northeast coast of Baffin Island is occupied by a series of high mountains and steep slopes. This area is high latitude and exceptionally cold. The surface is bound by permafrost, and most of the territory is covered with ice sheets, reminiscent of the conditions that prevailed in much of North America during the Pleistocene period.

2. Laurentian (Canadian) shield

The area is limited by outcrops of ancient crystalline bedrock. Local landforms are a legacy of the Pleistocene. As massive ice sheets disappeared to the north, they cleared and smoothed the surface. Within this area there are thousands of lakes reminiscent of the last ice age in North America. In the center of the area is Hudson Bay. The entire area, shaped like a circle, covers half of Canada. The southern part of this area extends beyond Canada and extends to Northern regions Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and New York.

3. Appalachian Mountains

The Maritime Provinces and insular Newfoundland represent the northernmost edge of the Appalachian System, which begins in Alabama and runs through the eastern United States and Canada. This mountainous region of ancient rocks is also the first area with permanent European settlements.

4. Inland Plains

This region of plains and gently undulating topography, bordering the Canadian Shield to the west, extends from the United States into the steppe provinces and continues in the northwest to the Pacific coast. Together, the Canadian Shield and the Interior Plains constitute an area of ​​low relief that covers approximately 60% of the area of ​​Canada and the United States.

5. Rocky Mountains

Rocky Mountains rise sharply to impressive heights along the western edge of the Interior Plains. In marked contrast to the gently undulating plains, the Rocky Mountains have peaks often exceeding 3,000 meters.

6. Intermountain regions

To the west lies a relatively narrow corridor of plateaus and valleys that separates the Rocky Mountains from the mountain ranges along the Pacific Coast. This region, extremely complex geologically, is a labyrinth of plateaus, low ridges and valleys.

7. Pacific Mountain System

The western edge of the continent is a wall of mountains stretching from Alaska through the Yukon Territory and British Columbia to the Sierra Nevada in Southern California.

The climatic regions of Canada are very similar to those of the Russian Federation. In the north, the tundra region extends from the Canadian Archipelago through the Ungava Peninsula east of Hudson Bay and ending on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland. South of the tundra is a vast region of subarctic climate, running from the Yukon and Northwest Territories east across the country to Hudson Bay and continuing into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Canada is a country “From sea to sea.” This is the motto of the state. Canada is an unusual country. This concerns the political system, historical and cultural development.

Founding of Canada

The story about Canada should begin with the history of its founding. This happened in 1534. The beginning of Canadian history is a French colony on the site of modern Quebec. Indigenous people lived there back then. The formation of British colonies in New France marked the beginning of the Canadian Confederation. Canada (the official language is both French and English) is still a country of two nationalities. Some provinces, such as Quebec, are predominantly French, the majority are English, and the Yukon is bilingual.

The country received its name from the Iroquois tribe, who wintered near modern Quebec. The word “kanata” means “village” - this was the name of the wintering place, and soon spread to other territories.

Long before the colonization of Canada, Vikings lived in these territories. This has been proven by archaeological research on the island of Newfoundland. It was this territory that was first explored by Europeans who sailed to the shores of North America.

Geographical location

The geography of Canada is one of its greatest features. This concerns the area, the location of the territory relative to other countries, oceans, seas, and poles.

• The border with the United States is the longest land border in the world.
• Canada is the second largest country in the world by area.
• Parts of the Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwestern territories are located above the Arctic Circle.
• Canada's possessions are located in the Arctic, but they are not recognized by the majority
• It borders with the USA, Denmark (via Greenland), France (via the islands of Miquelon and Saint-Pierre).
• The northernmost settlement in the world is located on Canadian territory - it is an armed forces base.
• Queen Elizabeth Islands - location magnetic pole Northern Hemisphere. Although in 2005 a statement was made that the pole had “left” the country. It was in Canada for about 400 years.

About flora and fauna

A third of the territory is covered with forests. Vegetation - deciduous and coniferous forests, located in the south and center of the country.

Canada has the largest inland body of water - Hudson Bay.

About language and names

As already mentioned, the presence of two official languages in Canada is determined historically. English is spoken in the country and French languages with the dominance of the first. English uses the rules of British grammar.

Almost a third of the country speaks French. There is a settlement in Canada whose name is considered one of the longest in the world - it has 35 letters, and translated it means “a place where trout is caught with a fishing rod.”

And one city is called “Saint Louis Du Ha!” Ha!". There is no ridicule in the name - “Ha! Ha!" derivative of one French word, which denotes a surprise along the way or the end of the road.

The capital of the state, Ottawa, was originally named after the military man John Bay, whose headquarters was located in this territory. The first name is Bytown.

The world's largest French-speaking city (after Paris) is not in France. This is the Canadian city of Montreal.

Inventions

The characterization of Canada as a country that played a large role in the development of technology and science is confirmed by the many inventions made. Let's consider the most significant and Interesting Facts about Canada:

• Canadian poet Charles Fanerty was the first to propose the use of wood pulp to make paper.
• The invention of the electric organ, which we owe to Lawrence Hammond.
• The appearance of important household appliances - for example, electric stoves.
• Kerosene and snowmobiles appeared for the first time in Canada.
• Basketball was invented in Canada.

Society

Social characteristics of Canada are a country with a high standard of living and per capita income. The population density is one of the smallest in the world.

Canada is a country with low corruption and crime. Although there were cases of terrible crimes here too. In the 80s, serial killer Allan Ledger, better known as the “Beast of Miramisha,” hunted here. A series of crimes related to the disappearances of women on Highway 16 near Prince George have never been solved.

The city of Edmonton has the most large park entertainment located in an enclosed space.

Oddly enough, the most common surname in Canada is Lee. Canada can be called a “country of middle-aged people” - average age residents of the country are 40 years old.

Most residents profess Catholicism, and about 20% call themselves Protestants. Toronto has the largest Muslim community.

In the country high level education - about 50% of the population graduated from higher education educational establishments. According to UN research, Canada is among the top ten countries with a highly educated population, along with New Zealand, the USA, Norway, Australia, Ireland, South Korea, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Germany. At the same time, there is no Ministry of Education in the country!

The country has a high level of protection of the rights of women and children.

A fifth of the population are emigrants from other countries.

If you decide to listen to music, it will most likely be from Canadian artists - they account for about half of the airtime on radio stations. It is prohibited to distribute comics that promote violence and crime.

and state symbols

Canada is part of the British Commonwealth, a dominion state. The formal head is the Queen of Great Britain. The Queen's representative is the Governor-General, who is appointed by the Prime Minister and the Monarch.

There is no single Constitution in the country - the legislative system is based on a system of acts and other documents. The fundamental law of the country is considered to be the Constitutional Act, issued in 1982. It proclaims the rights and freedoms of Canadians.

The government of the country is decentralized - this is due to the functioning of the federation. Each province has a local prime minister and legislative bodies.

The official symbols of Canada are: maple (the leaf is depicted on the flag), beaver, and a local breed of horse. Local symbols are: caribou, polar bear, loon. They are depicted on coins and postage stamps.

Canada has not been without crises. One of them is the separatist movement for the independence of Quebec. This province has its own Ministry of Revenue. In addition, Quebec joined UNESCO as an associate member.

Instead of a conclusion

Canada is an unusual country with many peculiarities.

So, we continue to learn interesting facts about Canada:

• More than 80% of homes are connected to the Internet.
• Nanaimo hosts an annual bath swim.
• In Canada, you can write a letter to Santa Claus and receive a guaranteed response.
• The country has huge reserves of cesium.
• Canada is the world's largest consumer and producer of cheese.
• Canada is the birthplace of maple syrup.
• Beer is very popular here - about 80% of all alcohol consumed.
• The national sport is hockey.
• Until 2007, the Toronto television tower was the tallest structure in the world.
• A UFO landing site has been built in Canada.
• The province of Ontario has the deepest laboratory - 2 km underground.

Today, Canada is one of the most economically developed countries in the world. there is a special climate here, geographical position, social development.

Banff, Banff National Park, Improvement District No. 9

Banff National Park is Canada's oldest park. It is located on the border of Alberta and British Columbia. Since 1885, the park has attracted the attention of tourists and climbers. First of all, it surprises with the beautiful landscapes of the Rocky Mountains, lakes, glaciers and coniferous forests, where wild animals live. Also open in the park ski resorts, the most famous of which is located near the city of Banff.