CANADA

The name of this country came from Indian language from the word canata – this word is village or settlement. Indians live now mainly in territories in north Quebec.
Canada is situated in northern part of North America. There are many islands – New Foundland, Prince Edward Island, Vancouver. The area is about 10 000 000 square km – it is the second largest country in the world. Canada is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the east, the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Arctic Ocean ino the north. Its neighbour are the USA – both in the south and in the west – because Alaska is a part of the USA. Geographically Canada can be divided into 5 major regions:
• The Appalachian region, most of which is forested, with farmland being concentrated in coastal New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. There are many mountains along the coast in this region. It’s hilly woodland (wood, timber, lumber)
• The second region comprises the lowlands near the Great Lakes and the River St. Lawrence. The temperate climate (mild climate) and fertile soil make the area suitable for dairy farming and specialized crops, such as fruit and tobacco. Cheap hydroelectric power from the St. Lawrence waterway has helped to concentrate industrial development (=center of industry). The Lakes are connected together and create water system together with the St.Lawrence. Cattle are raised there. It’s the most important part and only industrial region – because power is cheap here. There is iron and steel industry, foodstuff i., machinery i.
• The Canadian Shield constitutes almost half of Canada. This horseshoe-shaped area of ancient rock, surrounding Hudson Bay, and stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arctic Ocean (very cold climate), is made up of rounded hills, a profusion of lakes and areas of swamps. Most of this region is unsuitable for agriculture but its richness lies in its forests and minerals (nickel, platinum, cobalt, uranium, gold, silver, copper and iron) -rich natural resources (oil, coal) and its waterpower. Part of it is forested; they take share in production of wood.
• West of the Shield lie the interior (central) plains. The southern part is known as the Prairies, which are the great Canadian wheat lands. (It is similar to Great Planes in the USA). The remainder of the area is largely forested. In the higher and rougher country cattle are raised. Barley and oats are grown as well. The northern part is very hilly.
• The Cordilleran region is a strip of mountainous terrain, which includes most of British Columbia, the Yukon Territory, Nunavat (established in 1999) and the islands off the west coast of Canada. The highest mountain in Canada is Mount Logan in Yukon Territory. This region doesn’t almost have any inhabitants. It’s ideal place for fishing and hunting. People hunt fur bearers – all animals hunted for fur (esp. grizzly).

Rivers and lakes
Canada has about one third of the world’s known fresh water areas. Part of 4 of the Great Lakes, namely Superior, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, lie in Canadian territory. The St. Lawrence – Great Lakes waterway system carries shipping from the Atlantic Ocean to the center of Canada. The large lakes lying entirely in Canada include Great Bear Lake, Great Slave Lake, Lake Winnipeg and Athabasca. The longest Canadian river, the Mackenzie, flows into the Arctic Ocean. The Yukon, the Columbia, and the Fraser flow into the Pacific and the Saskatchewan, Churchill and Nelson Rivers flow into Hudson Bay.