Canada, map of Canada

Brief information about the country

Оfficial name:  Canada

Location: is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean. It is the world's second largest country by total area, and shares land borders with the United States to the south and northwest.

Total area: 9,984,670 sq km

Population: 33,390,141 (July 2007 est.). Ethnic groups: British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%.

Capital: Ottawa
 
Principal cities: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg.

Climate: varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north

Official language: English, French

The political structure: constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation. Governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a five-year term. Head of government: Prime Minister Stephen Harper (since 6 February 2006).

International organization participation: APEC, G-8, NATO, UN, UNESCO, WTO. Not a member of EU or Shengen zone.

How to get there: Ports and terminals are in Fraser River Port, Halifax, Montreal, Port-Cartier, Quebec, Saint John's (Newfoundland), Sept-Isles, Vancouver.

Time zone: Canada is divided into six time zones. 5-10 hours behind Moscow time.

Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD); 1 USD = 1.06 CAD, 10 CAD = 9.47 USD

Religion:  Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3%, other Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%.

National Holiday: Canada Day, 1 July (1867) (union of British North American colonies).

The reference web-site “Wikipedia”