Socio-economic characteristics. Canada. Geography, description and characteristics of the country

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Canada See Appendix 1 is the second largest country in the world (10 million sq. km.), which is 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 is Baffin Bay and Davis Strait, in the east is the Atlantic Ocean, and in the west is the Pacific Ocean.

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.

The highest point in Canada is Mount Logan at 5950 m above sea level.

Physical-geographical location of Canada: Physiographically, Canada is divided into five main parts: the Appalachian-Acadian region (southeast of the country), the Canadian Shield, the Interior Lowlands, the Great Plains (in the center) and the Cordillera (in the west). The territory of the country is complex geological structure

More than half of the country's territory is occupied by the Laurentian Plateau, which is part of the Canadian Shield. This is the oldest part of the Canadian landmass, covered in the recent past by a glacier and still bearing traces of glaciation: smoothed rocks, moraines, chains of lakes. The plateau is a gently undulating plain. This is the most rugged and uninhabited part of the country, but with huge mineral reserves.

From the north and south, the plateau is surrounded by large lowlands - the Interior Plains, the Laurentian Lowlands and the Hudson Strait Lowlands, which represent a characteristic picture of the Canadian landscape and brought Canada the glory of a country of boundless expanses with favorable natural conditions.

In spring, the boundless expanse of steppes is covered with a green carpet, in summer - with a golden blanket, and in winter - with a white blanket. Such steppes are mainly located in the southern parts of the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, which is why these provinces are called steppe. The Laurentian Lowland is in the most favorable climatic conditions- temperate climate and the most fertile soils. That is why the main economic region of the country is located here.

In the southeast of the country lie the Appalachian Mountains, an ancient mountain system rich in minerals like our Urals. Average height they do not exceed 600 m. The Appalachians are covered dense forests. To the northwest of the Appalachians is the Canadian Shield, consisting of granites and gneisses. There are many swamps, lakes, and rapids rivers. From the west and south, the shield is bordered by a chain of lakes - from Great Bear Lake to the Great Lakes. The Canadian Shield region is a rugged and sparsely populated part of the country.

West of the Canadian Shield lie the Great Plains. Their southern part - the Interior Lowlands - is the breadbasket of Canada (75% of the country's arable land). In the western part of Canada on the Pacific coast there is one of the greatest and most beautiful mountain systems in the world - the Cordillera, stretching for 2.5 thousand km from north to south and 750 km from west to east. Within Canada, they are divided into the Rocky Mountains (in the east), the Coast Range (in the west) and the plateau that lies between them. The height of the mountains is 2000-3000 m above sea level. These relatively young mountains are also rich in mineral resources, most of which are being mined.

Economic and geographical position of Canada:

Canada occupies most of the northern part of North America. 75% of the territory is the north zone. Canada shares a land border with the United States in the south and northwest (between Alaska and Yukon) and stretches from Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific - in the west and the Arctic - in the north. It also shares maritime borders with France (Saint Pierre and Miquelon) and Denmark (Greenland). Since 1925, Canada has owned part of the Arctic between 60? w.d. and 141? z.d., however, these possessions are not generally recognized.

The USA is a developed country. It ranks fourth in the world in terms of territory. The United States borders on Mexico in the south and also has a maritime border with Russia. In the USA largest economy peace. Many natural resources, including energy and raw materials. High-tech production. Developed Scientific research. The service sector and competitive industry are well developed.

The country's transport system includes more than 1.1 million kilometers of roads, ten major international and about three hundred regional and local significance, 72,093 kilometers of railway tracks and more than 300 commercial seaports providing access to the Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic oceans, the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. In 2005, revenues from the country's transportation sector accounted for 4.2% of Canada's GDP - 0.5% more than revenues from oil and gas production. natural gas.

Canada can be divided into 7 physiographic regions. Arctic mountains. Most of Ellesmere Island and north east coast Baffin Island is occupied by a series of high mountains and steep slopes. This area is high latitude and exceptionally cold. The surface is constrained permafrost, most of the territory is covered with ice sheets.

Laurentian (Canadian) shield. The territory of this area is characterized by outcrops of ancient crystalline bedrock. Local landforms - heritage ice age. As the massive ice sheets retreated north, they cleared and smoothed the surface. There are thousands of lakes within this area, with Hudson Bay at the center. The entire area, shaped like a circle, covers almost half of Canada (4.6 million km). The area is extremely rich in mineral resources; deposits of almost all elements of the periodic table have been found here.

Appalachian Mountains. The Maritime provinces and insular Newfoundland represent the northernmost edge of the Appalachian system, which runs through eastern part USA to Canada. This is a mountainous area of ​​ancient rock formations.

Inland plains. Bordering the Canadian Shield to the west, this region of plains and gently undulating terrain extends from the United States into the Steppe Provinces and continues in the northwest to the Pacific Coast. The Canadian Shield and Interior Plains are an area of ​​low relief that covers approximately 60% of the area of ​​Canada and the United States.

The Rocky Mountains rise sharply along the western edge of the Interior Plains. Contrasting with the gently undulating plains, the Rocky Mountains have peaks that often exceed 3 thousand meters.

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.

Pacific mountain system. The western edge of the continent is mountainous country stretching from Alaska through the Yukon Territory and British Columbia to the Sierra Nevada in Southern California.

The climatic regions of Canada and Russia are very similar. In the North, the tundra region extends from the Canadian Archipelago through the Ungava Peninsula east of Hudson Bay and ends 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. In the south, this zone reaches the northern shore of Lake Superior. To the south of the subarctic belt there is a region of humid continental climate, spreading through southern part Steppe provinces and through the Great Lakes region to the Maritime provinces. However, everything natural areas in Canada compared to Russia (especially its European part) are shifted to the south. The fact is that instead of the warm Gulf Stream, its eastern shores are washed by the cold Labrador Current, and the North Pole, according to scientists, in the distant past was located on the territory of what is now Canada, where the Earth’s north magnetic pole still remains. Here in much more southern latitudes than here - sometimes even in Montreal! - you can see the northern lights. The climate in Montreal is approximately the same as in Moscow, although Montreal, like the capital, Ottawa, is located at the latitude of Simferopol. And at the latitude of Moscow in eastern Canada there is already tundra. As in Russia, approximately 70% of Canada's territory is usually classified as the Northern region.

Political-geographical position of Canada:

Canada is a federal state that occupies most of the North American mainland and numerous adjacent islands. Today Canada is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system, a bilingual and multicultural country where English and French languages recognized as official at the federal level.

It is washed by the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, bordered by the United States in the south and northwest, and Denmark (Greenland) and France (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon) in the northeast. Canada's border with the United States is the longest shared border in the world. The capital of Canada is Ottawa.

Over the past 60 years, Canada has emerged as a champion of diversity, working to resolve international conflicts in cooperation with other countries.

As a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Canada has a defensive army without nuclear weapons. There are currently 62,000 permanent military personnel in service and 26,000 in the reserves. The Canadian Armed Forces consists of infantry troops, navy And air force. The bulk of the weapons include 1,500 infantry fighting vehicles, 34 warships and 861 aircraft.

Canada participated in the First and Second World Wars on the side of the Allies. She also served in the Korean War on the side of the United States. Canada has been active in international missions under UN and NATO command since 1950, including peacekeeping operations, various missions in former Yugoslavia, and supported Coalition forces in the 1st Gulf War. Since 2001, Canada has had a presence in Afghanistan in partnership with US stabilization forces and by international forces NATO with UN support. The emergency response team was involved in three important rescue operations following the December 2004 tsunami in South-East Asia, after Hurricane Katrina in September 2005 on the American coast and after the earthquake in Kashmir in October 2005.

Canada consists of ten provinces and three territories. See Appendix 2. Canada's newest administrative unit is the territory of Nunavut (created in 1999).

Provinces are states that exist under the Canadian Constitution and have the highest authority within their jurisdiction, independent of the federal government.

Canadian territories are administrative units administered by the Canadian federal Parliament, which by ordinary law grants certain powers to their local governments.

The ten modern provinces are: Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan. Three territories: Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon.

During the classes

general characteristics

Canada is the second largest country in the world (9,970,610 sq km), surpassed in size only by Russia.

Canada is located in the northern United States, between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. From west to east it reaches 7,700 km, and from north to south - 4,600 km. Almost 90% of Canada's total population lives within 160 km of the US border.

• Area - 9970.6 thousand km 2 (2nd place among the countries of the world)
• Population - 31.3 million people. (34th place)
• GDP (2000) - $729 billion (11th place)
• GDP per capita: $23,300 (13th place)
• Political system: federal parliamentary state within the Commonwealth

The capital of Canada is Ottawa.

Main features of the EGP

• Located in the northern part of North America, it has a large area; in addition to the mainland, it includes numerous islands

• Washed by the waters of three oceans - the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic

• It borders with the USA (6 thousand km of unguarded border), in the polar sectors it borders with Russia

• Most of the territory is located in cold zones - arctic and subarctic, the south - in temperate

Natural resource potential

Natural conditions

• Relief:

Ecological direction (numerous national parks)

Ski and mountaineering destination (Cordillera)

Extreme destination (northern islands)

• Water

Dense river network, largest rivers- Mackenzie, Nelson, St. Lawrence, many lakes

• Land

Only 15% of the territory is suitable for agriculture; soils: gray forest soils, chernozems, chestnut soils

• Forest

Increase in coal production ( open method) and oil

3rd place in the world in natural gas production

HPP - 60%, TPP - 30%, NPP - 10%

• Metallurgy

Declining rate of development of ferrous metallurgy

Export importance of non-ferrous metallurgy, leading places in the production of cobalt, copper, zinc, nickel

Aluminum industry based on cheap energy resources and imported bauxite

Smelting of rare earth metals

Mechanical engineering

Transport (cars, airplanes, diesel locomotives, ships, snowmobiles) and agricultural, production of equipment for the forestry, paper, mining industries

Mining

Leading place in the world in production and export iron ore, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, molybdenum, cobalt, titanium, gold, silver, platinum, uranium, oil, gas, coal, asbestos, potassium salts and sulfur

Chemical

2nd place in the world in the production of potash fertilizers

Production explosives, pharmaceuticals, synthetic and polymer materials, organic chemicals

Paper

1st place in the world in newsprint production

2nd place in the world (after the USA) in terms of production volume

4th place in the world in paper and cardboard production

Food

Lightweight

• Agriculture

The video tutorial allows you to get an interesting and detailed information about Canada. From the lesson you will receive a complete description of Canada, the features of its geographical location and economy. The teacher will tell you in detail about the national composition of the country and the standard of living of the population.

Subject: North America

Lesson: Canada. Socio-economic characteristics

Canada- a state in North America, it ranks second in the world in terms of area (almost 10 million sq. km) after Russia. It is washed by the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, bordered by the USA in the south and northwest, Denmark (Greenland) in the northeast and France (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon) in the east. Canada's border with the United States is the longest shared border in the world. In addition, Canada ranks first in the world in terms of total coastline length. The capital is Ottawa.

In terms of its level of development, the country is one of the highly developed countries of the world; it is a member of numerous organizations, including a member of the G7.

The economic and geographical position of Canada is determined, first of all, by the fact that it has access to three oceans and borders the United States.

Canada is part of the Commonwealth, so the English monarch is nominally considered the head of the country, although in reality Canada is an independent state.

Canada is federal state consisting of 10 provinces and 3 territories. The province with a predominant French-speaking population is Quebec, the rest are predominantly English-speaking provinces, also called "English Canada" in comparison with French-speaking Quebec. As one of nine predominantly English-speaking provinces, New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual Canadian province. The Yukon Territory is officially bilingual (English and French), while the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Territory recognize 11 and 4 official languages, respectively. Canada is officially a bilingual country.

Rice. 2. Map of administrative divisions of Canada ()

The population of Canada at the beginning of the year is more than 34 million people. Despite its large area, approximately 3/4 of Canada's population lives within 160 km of the US border. Canada is a relatively sparsely populated country globe: per 1 sq. km there are 3.4 people. Most population growth is due to immigration.

Canada is a very diverse country from an ethnic point of view. The majority of the population is English-Canadian and French-Canadian. A large proportion of Irish, Scots, Italians, Chinese, Russians.

Indigenous people of Canada:

1. Indians.

2. Eskimos.

3. Indian-European mestizos.

The most common religions in the country are Protestantism and Catholicism.

HDI leaders by year (according to Wikipedia and UNDP)

2013 - Norway

2011 - Norway

2010 - Norway

2009 - Norway

2008 - Iceland

2007 - Iceland

2006 - Norway

2005 - Norway

2004 - Norway

2003 - Norway

2002 - Norway

2001 - Norway

2000 - Canada

1999 - Canada

1998 - Canada

1997 - Canada

1996 - Canada

1995 - Canada

1994 - Canada

1993 - Japan

1992 - Canada

1991 - Japan

1990 - Canada

1985 - Canada

1980 - Switzerland

Currently, Canada ranks 10th in the ranking of countries in terms of living standards. Some people believe that Canada is the most favorable country for people to live in.

Largest cities in Canada(more than 1 million people (Ottawa and Vancouver - together with their suburbs)):

2. Montreal

3. Vancouver

4. Calgary

Canada is one of the richest natural resources countries

The country ranks 3rd in terms of forest resources (after Russia and Brazil). More than 50% of Canada is covered coniferous forests. The country occupies a leading position in the production of paper and lumber, and 1st place in the production of newsprint.

Canada's soil resources are also rich; favorable agroclimatic resources in the southern regions of the country; huge water resources(10% of the world's fresh water reserves).

In terms of the quantity and variety of its mineral resources, Canada is one of the great mining countries.

Rice. 4. Structure mining industry Canada ()

The most important feature of Canada's mining industry is its export orientation: more than 4/5 of all mining industry products are supplied to the world market. Canada is the world's leading exporter of uranium, nickel, copper, zinc, titanium, molybdenum, silver, platinum, asbestos, and potassium salts. In value terms, about 60% of Canadian mineral exports go to the United States, 25% to Western Europe and 10% for Japan.

More than 4/5 of all reserves of potassium salts of Western countries, about 2/3 of nickel and zinc reserves, 2/5 of lead and uranium reserves, about 1/3 of iron and copper ore, titanium, tungsten. To this list we can add quite large reserves of oil and natural gas, coal, cobalt, platinum, gold, silver, asbestos and some other minerals.

This diversity is explained primarily by the peculiarities of the geological and tectonic structure of Canada. Basins and deposits of iron, copper, nickel, cobalt ores, gold, platinum, and uranium are genetically associated primarily with the Precambrian Canadian Shield, which is composed of crystalline rocks exposed to the surface. Occupying an area of ​​4.6 million square meters. km, it stretches from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago to the Great Lakes and the river. St. Lawrence. In the west of the country, where the region is mainly located Mesozoic folding and the Cordillera belt passes, basins and deposits of copper, polymetallic, molybdenum, tungsten, and mercury ores are especially common. And oil, gas, coal basins on a tectonic map of Canada should be sought within the Cordillera foredeep and smaller intermountain troughs.

Almost all sectors of the economy have developed in Canada. Canada's fuel and energy complex is one of the most developed in the world. Hydroelectric power plants are leaders in electricity generation.

The main areas of oil and natural gas production are in the western provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. The largest deposits are located here - Pembina, Redwater, Zama.

Mechanical engineering accounts for less than 30% of production and employment in manufacturing, which is lower than in other industries developed countries. The main industry is transport engineering (production of cars, airplanes, diesel locomotives, ships, snowmobiles), dominated by American capital, located in the southern part of the province of Ontario. Agricultural engineering, production of power equipment, equipment for the mining and forestry industries are also developed. The machine tool industry has received little development. The main centers of mechanical engineering are Toronto, Montreal, Windsor, Hamilton, Ottawa, Halifax, Vancouver.

Production in the iron and steel industry, which is in the hands of national capital, has stabilized. Leading metallurgical centers are located in the Lake District - Hamilton, Welland, Sault Ste. Marie, as well as along the Atlantic coast of the city of Sidney.

In the non-ferrous metallurgy, the positions of American and British capital are strong. The smelting of non-ferrous metals - especially copper, nickel and aluminum - has reached large volumes. The world's largest centers included Sudbury, Thompson, Sullivan, Arvida, Kitimat and Port Colborne. Most enterprises use local raw materials. Large-scale aluminum production has been created using imported raw materials.

Canada has a developed oil refining industry. The most important centers are in Montreal, Sarnia, Vancouver and Edmonton.

The chemical industry is well developed and, in particular, the production of sulfuric acid, mineral fertilizers, synthetic rubber, and plastics. Main centers chemical industry- Montreal, Toronto, Niagara Falls.

The timber and paper industry uses the richest forest resources. Canada ranks 5th in timber harvesting and 3rd in the world in lumber and paper production (provinces: Quebec, Ontario). The country's role in the export of lumber and paper is even more significant: Canada is a world leader. 2/3 of the paper and pulp production is located in the east, near the hydroelectric power station - on the St. Lawrence River. Large timber and paper mills are also located in the taiga zone in the north of the Steppe provinces and especially in British Columbia, where 2/3 of the sawmill industry is concentrated.

The food, clothing and textile industries are also well developed, with major centers in Montreal, Toronto and Quebec City.

Agriculture is a highly developed sector of the Canadian economy. It is characterized by a high level of marketability, mechanization and specialization of production. About 4/5 of the area of ​​agricultural land is concentrated in large farms, 50 hectares or more in size. Substantial part farms is an integral part of large agribusiness. Agricultural products on farms are produced on the basis of contracts with enterprises of the largest food industry monopolies. Central Canada is distinguished primarily by industries that meet the needs of the urban population: suburban vegetable growing, horticulture, dairy farming and poultry farming.

Rice. 5. Dairy products of Canada ()

At the end of the last century, the steppe provinces began to turn into one of the leading areas of grain specialization. And currently, grain cultivation determines Canada's specialization in the global agricultural market.

Fishing is also important, developing on the basis of rich biological resources coastal waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Inland fishing, like hunting, plays a lesser role.

Canada is one of the world's leading exporters of agricultural products.

Homework

Topic 9, P. 3

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

2. Tell us about the Canadian economy.

Bibliography

Main

1. Geography. A basic level of. 10-11 grades: Textbook for educational institutions/ A.P. Kuznetsov, E.V. Kim. - 3rd ed., stereotype. - M.: Bustard, 2012. - 367 p.

2. Economic and social geography of the world: Textbook. for 10th grade educational institutions / V.P. Maksakovsky. - 13th ed. - M.: Education, JSC "Moscow Textbooks", 2005. - 400 p.

3. Atlas with set contour maps for 10th grade. Economic and social geography of the world. - Omsk: FSUE "Omsk Cartographic Factory", 2012. - 76 p.

Additional

1. Economic and social geography of Russia: Textbook for universities / Ed. prof. A.T. Khrushchev. - M.: Bustard, 2001. - 672 pp.: ill., map.: color. on

2. Kulyshev Yu.A. Canada. - M.: Mysl, 1989. - 144 p. - (At the world map). - 100,000 copies.

3. Nokhrin I.M. Social and political thought of Canada and the formation of national identity (the latter third XIX- beginning of the 20th century). - Huntsville: Altaspera Publishing & Literary Agency, 2012. - 232 p.

Encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books and statistical collections

1. Geography: a reference book for high school students and applicants to universities. - 2nd ed., rev. and revision - M.: AST-PRESS SCHOOL, 2008. - 656 p.

Literature for preparing for the State Exam and the Unified State Exam

1. Thematic control in geography. Economic and social geography of the world. 10th grade / E.M. Ambartsumova. - M.: Intellect-Center, 2009. - 80 p.

2. The most complete edition of standard versions of real Unified State Examination tasks: 2010. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyova. - M.: Astrel, 2010. - 221 p.

3. The optimal bank of tasks for preparing students. Single State exam 2012. Geography: Tutorial/ Comp. EM. Ambartsumova, S.E. Dyukova. - M.: Intellect-Center, 2012. - 256 p.

4. The most complete edition of standard versions of real Unified State Examination tasks: 2010. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyova. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2010. - 223 p.

5. Geography. Diagnostic work in the format of the Unified State Exam 2011. - M.: MTsNMO, 2011. - 72 p.

6. Unified State Exam 2010. Geography. Collection of tasks / Yu.A. Solovyova. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - 272 p.

7. Geography tests: 10th grade: to the textbook by V.P. Maksakovsky “Economic and social geography of the world. 10th grade” / E.V. Baranchikov. - 2nd ed., stereotype. - M.: Publishing house "Exam", 2009. - 94 p.

8. The most complete edition of standard versions of real Unified State Examination tasks: 2009. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyova. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2009. - 250 p.

9. Unified State Exam 2009. Geography. Universal materials for preparing students / FIPI - M.: Intellect-Center, 2009. - 240 p.

10. Unified State Exam 2010. Geography: thematic training tasks/ O.V. Chicherina, Yu.A. Solovyova. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - 144 p.

11. Unified State Exam 2012. Geography: Model exam options: 31 options / Ed. V.V. Barabanova. - M.: National Education, 2011. - 288 p.

12. Unified State Exam 2011. Geography: Standard exam options: 31 options / Ed. V.V. Barabanova. - M.: National Education, 2010. - 280 p.

Materials on the Internet

1. Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements ( ).

2. Federal portal Russian Education ().

Canada is an independent state in North America, its area is 9.98 million square kilometers, which is 8.62% of the total earth's surface and second place in the world after Russia. The form of government in the country is a constitutional monarchy with a functioning parliament, the head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who is the monarch of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Canada is a country with two official languages- French and English, its capital is Ottawa, the largest cities are Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary. The population as of 2016 is 36 million people, the average density is low - 3.5 people per square meter. kilometer (one of the lowest in the world).

Geographical characteristics

Canada occupies more than 40% of the North American continent, more than 75% of its territory is located in the northern part of the continent. Canada occupies a huge area of ​​almost 10 million km2 between the USA, Alaska, the Arctic Ocean and the island of Greenland. It is washed by the waters of three oceans: the Arctic in the north, the Atlantic in the west and the Pacific in the east. The south and north-west of the country has borders with the United States (the southern border with the United States is the longest border between countries in the world), the north-east borders by sea with Denmark (the island of Greenland), the eastern regions - with the French islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.

Nature

Mountains and plains

The topography of the country is complex and diverse, most of the territory is occupied by hilly plains, which in the western part, along the coast Pacific Ocean, are limited by the Cordillera (the highest point in Canada is located here - Mount Logan, 5956 m high), in the eastern part (the Atlantic coast) - the northern spurs of the low Appalachian mountains, located in the United States. To the east of the Rocky Mountains, which are part of the Pacific Cordillera, are the Canadian Prairies (part of the Great Plains), these are foothill plateaus stretching from north to south for more than 3.6 thousand kilometers. In the northern part of the country, starting from the St. Lawrence River and Lake Superior, the Canadian Crystal Shield is located, which stretches all the way to the North Arctic Ocean, it is composed of such hard crystalline rocks as granite, gneiss, slate...

Rivers and lakes

Canada has a dense, well-developed river network. Canadian rivers have a considerable length and are full of water; they belong to the basins of three oceans: the Arctic (most of them), the Pacific and the Atlantic. The most significant rivers in Canada are the St. Lawrence River and its numerous tributaries (Ottawa, Saguiney, St. Maurice), Niagara, Fraser, Mackenzie, Nelson, Saskatchewan.

Canada is one of the countries leading in the world in the number of lakes; there are about 4 million of them. The largest of them: the five Great Lakes (Supreme, Huron, Michigan, Erie, Ontario), partly located in Canada, as well as lakes in the north-west of the country such as Great Bear Lake, Great Slave Lake, Winnipeg, Athabasca, Manitoba, etc. ...

Oceans and seas surrounding Canada

Canada is surrounded on three sides by oceans: in the west by the Pacific, in the east by the Atlantic, and in the north by the Arctic. As a result, it has a long coastline, creating favorable conditions for the creation trade relations with other countries. The largest Canadian ports are the cities of Vancouver and Montreal...

Forests

Almost half of Canada is covered in forests. average forest cover is 45%. The taiga zone stretches from northwest to southeast to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean at a distance of about 5 thousand kilometers. More than 150 species of trees grow here, of which 30 coniferous species having important economic importance(pine, spruce, fir, larch) and 119 species deciduous trees, of which 7 types of hardwood trees are used on the farm. In the Atlantic provinces of Quebec and Ontario, the zone of broad-leaved and mixed forests. Here, along with numerous coniferous trees, a large number of different types oak (red, white, northern), maple (sugar, red, silver), ash and linden. Red-yellow tint autumn leaves The maple tree gives Canadian forests a unique uniqueness and special charm, and maple syrup as an excellent sugar substitute is widely known throughout the world; for these and other merits, a maple leaf is even included on the flag of the Canadian state...

Plants and animals of Canada

The far north of the country lies in the zone arctic desert, to the south of it there is a zone of tundra and forest-tundra. Here the vegetation is very poor and consists of mosses, lichens, dwarf trees and shrubs. In the taiga zone they predominate coniferous trees: black and white spruce, pines, larches, thujas, Douglas and Sitka firs, red and Alaskan cedars grow on the Pacific coast, balsam firs, black and red firs, American larches grow on the Atlantic coast. To the south of the taiga there is a zone of mixed and deciduous forests, which are characterized by the growth of birches, lindens, maples, poplars, and oaks. In the west of the country, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, stretches the Canadian prairies, lying in steppe zone, there is a lot of agricultural land with wild vegetation including wormwood, feather grass, and various steppe herbs.

The fauna of Canada is rich and diverse; bears live in the tundra, reindeer, musk oxen, tundra wolves, polar hares, arctic foxes, lemmings. The Canadian taiga is the habitat of lynx, puma, wolverine, grizzly bear, moose, caribou and wapiti deer, martens, and beavers. Bighorn sheep and bighorn goats live in mountainous areas, in nature reserves and national parks The bison population has been preserved, there are many different rodents in the steppes, and there are numerous colonies on the lakes various types birds, fresh and sea waters are rich in fish...

Climate of Canada

The Canadian temperate climate, within which most of the country lies, is characterized by harsh, Cold winter With big amount precipitation in the form of snow and cool summers. The average January temperature ranges from -35 0 C in the northern regions influenced by the subarctic climate zone and cold masses of the Arctic Ocean, up to +4 0 C in the south of the Pacific coast. In July, sharp temperature fluctuations within the country are also noticeable: from -4 0 , +4 0 C in the north, to +21 0 , +22 0 C in the south. In the north there is an insignificant amount of precipitation (100 mm), much more on the eastern coast of the Atlantic (1200 mm) and on the western Pacific coast (1500 mm)...

Resources

Natural Resources of Canada

Canada has a rich and diverse mineral resource base, it is rich in non-ferrous ores and noble metals, iron ore, large reserves of oil and natural gas are located here, coal, potassium salts, asbestos, raw materials for the production of building materials...

Industry and Agriculture of Canada

In terms of GDP, Canada's economy ranks 14th in the world, the leading industries of Canada industrial production are the mining and fuel and energy industries, non-ferrous metallurgy, chemistry and petrochemicals, oil refining, automotive and precision engineering, forestry and wood processing industries.

For Agriculture Canada is characterized by a high level of intensification, its structure is dominated by livestock farming: reindeer husbandry (northern regions), pig farming, dairy cattle breeding and poultry farming (southeast), beef cattle breeding in the steppe, sheep breeding in the western mountainous regions. Canada is one of the world's largest grain exporters, with wheat primarily grown in the southern lowlands...

Culture

Peoples of Canada

Canada's culture is multifaceted and diverse due to the fact that its population has a diverse ethnic composition, here almost every 6th resident of the country comes from another state. Canada is a country with two official languages: English and French, the third, most common language is Chinese, 850 thousand Chinese live here (4% of the population). The French population of Canada is about 6 million people (23% of the total population), they live mainly in the provinces of Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick, the English-speaking population (23 million people, 75% of the population) live in nine Canadian provinces, as well as in Yukon and Northwest Territories...

This country welcomes the development of a policy not only of bilingualism, but also of multiculturalism. In summer and spring major cities Holiday festivals are held for various peoples inhabiting Canada: Scots, Irish, French, Filipinos, Japanese, Chinese, etc. On city streets you can see the influence of the culture of ancient Eskimo and Indian tribes that once lived in Canada: these are totem poles painted with ancient ritual signs, and other objects of art of Indian and Eskimo cultures.

The United States of America neighbors Canada to the south and northwest. About half of Canada's territory is occupied by the Laurentian Rise, the western border of which is formed by the line between Great Bear Lake in the north and Lake of the Woods in the extreme south. Geologists call this vast zone the Canadian Shield. The average height of the local landscape is about 500 m, but at the end of the Ice Age, the remains of ancient folded mountains up to 1190 m high were exposed in some places. The Laurentian Upland lies in the Atlantic Ocean and is famous for its picturesque lake-hilly terrain. The central part of the Canadian Shield is filled by Hudson Bay. On its shores lies a lowland of the same name, which arose as a result of the rise of the relief and the retreat of the sea after the melting of glaciers. Relatively recent tectonic processes led to the formation of the Arctic archipelago. The marginal ranges of the American Appalachians enter Canada. They border the valley of the St. Lawrence River from the south and stick out like sharp teeth from the islands off the east coast. These old mountains, dissected by steep gorges, form a system of small plateaus no more than 800 m high. Diversity rocks and geological structures suggests the presence of rich mineral resources in these areas. The highest point of this part of the Appalachians is Mount Jacques-Cartier (1268 m). At the junction of the Laurentian Upland and the Appalachians lies the valley of the St. Lawrence River, which is a tectonic-tectonic depression.

The total length of Canada's heavily indented coastline is approximately 244,000 km. sea ​​coast replete with peninsulas, bays and coastal archipelagos. In the north, huge bays protrude deep into the land. The largest of them, Hudson Bay, covers an area of ​​848,000 square meters. km (together with the adjacent secondary James Bay). Canada's largest peninsula is Labrador (1,430,000 sq. km). Along the northern coast of the country lies the Arctic archipelago (the largest island is Baffin Island). Largest island off the east coast is Newfoundland, and in the Pacific Ocean is Vancouver.

Administrative division Canada

Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories.

Population of Canada

The indigenous people of Canada are Indians and Eskimos. The majority of the Indian population is scattered across taiga reservations, and a certain part of them still lives from hunting and fishing. The main occupation of the Eskimos inhabiting the northern coast of Canada, Baffin Island and the Labrador Peninsula is sea fishing. National composition and the distribution of the population developed as a result of the colonization of this part of the continent by European settlers that began in the 16th century. For hundreds of years, these regions were the scene of fierce confrontation between English and French colonists. While the French settled in the valley of the St. Lawrence River, the British settled firmly in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and the Great Lakes region. However, by the end of the 19th century, only a negligible part of Canada’s territory had been developed, and only the construction of the transcontinental railway gave impetus to the mass settlement of the prairies. During those years, Canada received several million immigrants from Western and of Eastern Europe, including immigrants from Russia and Ukraine.

Economy of Canada

About 74 million hectares are occupied by agricultural land in Canada ( average area one farm – over 240 hectares). There are two large agricultural regions in the country. The first is located on the flat plains along the shores of the Great Lakes and in the valley of the St. Lawrence River. All Canadian corn and soybeans, 90% of grapes and tobacco, as well as a good half of potatoes and vegetables are grown here. The same region supplies 50% of milk and eggs to the national market. The second most important agricultural region is the prairies, famous for high wheat yields and developed livestock farming. An excellent raw material base serves as a reliable basis for development forestry. According to some estimates, Canada owns more than 9% of all forest areas on the planet. Modern pulp and paper production is directly related to logging and wood processing. One of the oldest sectors of the national economy is fishing. A significant part of the catch is obtained in the coastal waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, although inland waters are also of considerable commercial importance. Possessing rich mineral reserves, Canada ranks first in the world in the production of nickel and zinc ores. The country has large deposits copper, iron, gold, lead and molybdenum, and coal is one of the leading exports. Uranium mined in the country is used as fuel for nuclear power plants. Natural gas and oil deposits are being developed.

II gave a powerful impetus to the development of the Canadian economy World War. Grew up in the country military industry, a number of new industries emerged, the influx of American investment increased, and large-scale trade developed between neighboring countries. Deepening US-Canadian economic integration continues today. The United States is Canada's main export partner, and about 30% of Canadian enterprises are owned by American companies.