Information on this page is
collected from different sources, some own stuff is added. However, there is no guarantee
for correctness or information being up-to-date. This collection is meant as a very brief
overview to give a feeling for the country.
With an Area of 9,975,000
kmē and a Population of approximately 31 Million people Canada is the world's
second-largest country. On the other hand it is quite uncrowded with persons of
40 % British Descent, 25% French descent, 3% German descent as well as
aboriginal peoples (4%) plus minorities of Italian, Ukrainian, Dutch, Greek, Polish and
Chinese descent. 90% of the countries' population crowds at the southern borders to USA.
The Westside is bordered by the Pacific, the Eastside by the Atlantic
Ocean. The Extension is 7700km East to West and 4600km North to South.
325000 inhabitants are living in
the Capital city Ottawa (Ontario).
English, French and some 53 native Languages are used in the country,
where Catholic and Protestant Religion are dominating besides most all
other world's major religions. Quebec as the French language quarter (not really French -
Quebecoise) and New Brunswick as the only officially bilingual area are distinguishing -
not only in the language - from the rest of the English speaking provinces. Quebec
therefore would like sovereignty in an association with the rest of the
country.
Wood and paper industry, food products (with a huge share in fish products and wheat
crop), transportation equipment, processed and unprocessed minerals, petroleum and natural
gas and chemicals are the major products of Canada.
Due to the multi-cultural society, containing
cultures with a basis from the Bristish and French majority, but also including all
European, Asian, Latin-Amerikan, aboriginal as well as US American elements, plus the
nature ranging from desert via lakes, forest, mountains to glaciers, from wilderness to
Million inhabitants cities, creates a really three-dimensional country offering ways more
than just maple-sirup and logging.
In addition to maple syrup from the sugar-maple trees, Canada
can offer a wide range of food, nothing really typical
"Canadian" though, due to the influence from so many different nations you can
find Chinese, Indian, Greek or Italian cuisine. Seafood can be recommended of course at
any of the coasts as delicious and not too expensive. The influence from USA can't be
overlooked: Kentucky Fried Chicken, Mac Donalds and Dairy Queens are always welcoming for
a fast snack.
Eight vegetation zones cover the country. Native fauna contains species like Black, Grizzly and Polar bears,
beaver, coyote, racoons, wolf, lynx, cougar, elk, moose, caribou and hundreds of different
birds.
The flora is dominated by forests including Douglas firs, western
red cedar and sugar maple ("THE" symbol of Canada!).
The Northern parts are dominated by the Canadian shield (glaciers and rock) and far
up North frozen tundra. The coast lines East and West are quite wet
(indicated e.g. by the tempered rain forests on Vancouver Island), the winters are
providing average January temperatures of -18°C in huge parts of the country.
This tremendous potential of Nature is partly taken account of
by 37 national parks and over 100 national historic parks. 12 areas are one the UN World Heritage list.
Some history in short form ?
Ancient times
Asian tribes come across Bering Strait
~ 1000 AD
Vikings
try to settle in Newfoundland; Indian tribes have developed a multitude of cultures
1534
The French Jacques
Cartier makes first claim on the area around St Lawrence River
Early 1600s
The French Samuel de
Champlain founds Quebec City
1663
Canada becomes province
of France, inhabiting 3000 French settlers
1670
British people found
the Hudson's Bay Company to compete in fur trading with the French,
becoming a peaceful coexistence
1745
Bristish troops capture
a French Fort in Novo Scotia - the fight begins
1759
The turning point of
the seven years war was enterted when the British defeated the French at
Quebec City
1763
France hands over
Canada to Britain at the Treaty of Paris.
1775-1783
50000 British
Loyalists from USA migrate after the end of the American Revolution
1867
Britain proclaims the British
North America Act establishing the Dominion of Canada (Canada's
equivalent to constitution)
1885
The Canadian
Pacific Railway is completed opening the way from Canada's East to the West
1912
All provinces are part
of the central government (except Newfoundland, who joined 1949)
1931
Canada becomes
voluntarily member of the Commonwealth.
Worldwar II
Canada fights
with Britain against Germany and enters into defence agreements with USA
After Worldwar II
Wave of European
immigration; Economic expansion and prosperity
1960s
Social upheavals
showed problems between English-speaking Canada and French-speaking
Quebec
1967
100th
anniversary and the world fair Expo in Montreal
1975-
Land rights
agreements are signed with the native people giving them control over big areas
of the Northern parts (Nunavut)
1995
In the vote about separatism
of French speaking Quebec the result was very close to break up Canada
