The nature of Canada is diverse. Its vast expanses, flora and fauna, many different trails with amazing landscapes amaze the imagination.

Mixed forests, green meadows, snow-capped mountains and ocean bays create an amazing atmosphere.

Description

In the west of the country there is a wide Mountain chain Cordillera. In the northern part of the Cordillera are the Rocky Mountains, famous for their glaciers.

Features of Canada

In the north, the country is located in the Arctic and subarctic climatic zones. The Northern Islands are the largest and least populated. They are covered with ice. There are harsh winters and short summers. Here, in the northern part of the country, there is almost no sun, but in the south of the country there is light 8 hours a day.

nature canada photo

In the south and west the climate is mild - moderate, with a lot of rainfall. Canada has a huge number of forests, and the most beautiful of them grow in the Cordillera region.

Animals of Canada

The most commonly found mammals in Canada are wolves. They live in all regions of the country. Porcupines, rabbits, badgers, raccoons, foxes, chipmunks, and skunks live in the forests and meadows. Squirrels are common in Ontario. In Southern Ontario there are flying squirrels. But due to the reduction in the number of deciduous forests, this type of squirrel began to be classified as a rare species.

Plants

In the south of the tundra there are coniferous forests in a wide strip. They have a large variety of spruces: gray, black, Engelmann, Sitka, red. Pacific fir and Canadian cedar are found in places.

Canadian forests photo

Deciduous forests predominate in the central region of the country. They grow there different types maple trees, birch, oak, willow, poplar. Along the coast of the Hudson, in the clearings you can see many flowers: daisies, buttercups, primroses. Northern cranberries grow near the swamps.

Lakes and rivers of Canada

There are many lakes and rivers in Canada - a whole network of rivers and lakes connected to each other. In addition to small bodies of water, this includes the Great Lakes and major rivers of the country. Let's list some famous lakes:

• Verkhneye is the largest freshwater lake in the world by area.
• Kliluk is an unusual lake due to its unique spots on the water. It contains a huge amount of minerals, its water has a healing effect.
• Emerald - located in the Rocky Mountains. Due to the presence of limestone in the water, it has an emerald color.

For 5 to 9 months of the year, Canada's rivers and lakes are covered with ice.

• The Mackenzie is the largest and deepest river in Canada, its length is 4000 km.
• St. Lawrence - greatest river countries. Its peculiarity is the miscibility of fresh and salt water.
• Niagara is the most beautiful river; it forms a whole complex of waterfalls. One of them is the most famous - Niagara Falls.

Nature reserves of Canada

• Cathedral Park - in its vicinity there are majestic rocks and snowy mountains, alpine meadows with lakes.
• Parc Rouge – nature reserve on the territory of Toronto near the Rouge River. Tourists come here to admire the views river valley and the lake, which was formed since the times ice age.
• Jasper National Park is famous for the ancient Athabasca Glacier and waterfall. The mountain landscape is striking in its extraordinary beauty. Wild animals roam freely throughout the park without fear of people.

Jasper National Park photo

Sights of Canada

• Banff National Park is the oldest national park in Canada it is of interest for its icy valleys and fields, mountain peaks and hot springs.
• Niagara Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls on the planet, an amazing miracle of nature.
• Casa Loma Castle - reminiscent of a fairytale castle. The owner tried to make his childhood dreams come true, but never completed it.

Problems

Environmental problems are the most common in Canada. The further you move to the south of the country, the greater the impact of people on the environment. Water and air pollution, garbage dumping, deforestation, and acid rain destroy unique plants and trees, causing significant damage to Canada's nature.

There is only one desert in Canada called Carcross. This is no ordinary desert. It was formed after the Ice Age. It consists of sand dunes overgrown with wild drought-resistant plants. It is considered the smallest desert in the world.

Results

Many people come to Canada every year to admire the wild and amazing nature. Canada is a leader in protecting the environment. The government protects and protects organized parks and reserves. Here you can meet unique representatives of flora and fauna.

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. Formation of British colonies in the territory 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.
• The Queen Elizabeth Islands are the location of the magnetic pole of the 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 due to history. 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!" derived from a French word that denotes a surprise along the way or the end of a 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 he lived here Serial killer Allan Ledger, better known as "The Beast of Miramisha." 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 largest indoor amusement park in the world.

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.

The country has a high level of 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.

Fewer than 50 animal species live partly or entirely in the Arctic. Of these, 31 species live in the Canadian Arctic. This small figure is explained by harsh climatic conditions. Herbivores need to survive by eating the few plants scattered throughout the area. Just like predators, they have a hard time, since they find very little prey.

A National Historic Site of Canada, Butchart Gardens is stunning in its splendor and delights the eyes of millions of visitors every year. The gardens are located on a vast territory of Vancouver Island. Words cannot describe all the charm and magic of the colorful fragrant flower beds, green lawns, fountains, babbling brooks and branchy trees. All that remains is admiration and an indescribable feeling of fabulous beauty.

For those who have never been to Wood Buffalo, it is difficult to imagine all the splendor of this place. Wood Buffalo National Park, as the name of the reserve is translated, is located in northwestern Canada and covers a flat expanse of 44,807 square meters. km. It is the largest national park on the American continent, with a total length of 161 km from east to west and 283 km from north to south. Administratively, it is located in the Canadian provinces of the Northwest Territories and Alberta, geographically located between Great Slave Lake and Lake Athabasca.

Indigenous peoples in the northwest used rich Natural resources ocean, rivers and forests. Their material culture reached high level even before the arrival of Europeans. Both Indians and Europeans were attracted by the abundance of natural resources that led them to settle in British Columbia. Fur traders began flocking here first, followed by miners, fishermen, farmers and lumberjacks. And now the province's economy is heavily dependent on the use of natural resources that seemed inexhaustible.

The Bay of Fundy is a place of fantastic beauty located on the Atlantic coast of North America, between the two Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The bay inherited its unusual name in the 17th century from Portuguese explorers. Then it was called “Rio Fundo”, which means “deep river”. The length of the Bay of Fendi is 270 km, the average depth is 75 m. The Saint-Croix and Saint-John rivers flow into the bay. It has huge hydropower potential, so over time there are plans to build several tidal power plants.

Canada is a huge country, but its cool climate is not very favorable for flowers, which here mostly grow in greenhouses. In stores, of course, you can buy any bouquets, from standard to exotic. Judging by the sales ratings, roses, lilies, and gerberas are popular with local residents. The northernmost Canadian landscapes are not pleasing to the eye - snowy desert interspersed with sparse areas of lichen or stunted shale. But it is here, if you’re lucky, that you can see unique frosty flowers - incredibly beautiful crystals that grow for several days on the young, thin ice that covers the local bays.

Stunning coastal scenery, picturesque century-old villages, world-class historical sites and a large number of entertainment for the whole family has turned these three maritime provinces into one of the most sought-after tourism destinations. The rugged beauty of New Brunswick's Bay of Fundy is unexpectedly complemented by the soft landscapes of Acadian villages nestled in quiet coves and long sandy beaches. Nova Scotia has become the epitome of maritime romance. Canada's smallest province, Prince Edward Island is known for its green farmland, steep cliffs, deep waters and golf courses.

This is a ridge of several ridges with a length of almost 1000 km. These mountains belong to the Pacific Coldiriers. The Mackenzie Mountain Range is one of the three major chains of the eastern mountain upland system. Their height is small, only up to 1500 km. And a walk through these places can be called entertaining. You won't need it when traveling climbing equipment. However, it is better not to neglect safety precautions when climbing. Along the slopes there are unusually picturesque coniferous forests. Here originate numerous tributaries of the largest river, named Mackenzie precisely because of its beginning in these mountains.

Animal and vegetable world Canada is unique. But, unfortunately, many plants and animals are on the verge of survival. True, it’s hard to say that the country is not concerned about protecting its natural resources. In Canada there are 43 national parks, occupying 2.2% of the country's area, 145 national historical zones, 13 of them are included in the UN World Heritage List. Many rare and endangered representatives live under state protection wild world nature. So there is hope that Canadian biologists can preserve the richness of the natural world.

In this area, hot magma literally bubbles up from the ground, cracking the hard rocks of the Canadian Shield. This geological feature led to the formation of mineral veins. There are rich deposits of natural resources: gold and silver, nickel, cobalt, zinc, copper and iron. In the 19th and 20th centuries, gold miners flocked to this once uninhabited region of northern Ontario from all over. Since that time, developments have been carried out at many mines, but they were later abandoned. Some mines have been turned into museums. In other places, such as Sudbury, the Canadian Shield is still being exploited.

Downtown Toronto's many towers offer ocean-like views of Lake Ontario. Despite the fact that the lake seems huge, it ranks second to last in area among all five great lakes. Together they are the largest freshwater reservoir in Mithra. They carry their waters into the St. Lawrence River. The lakes basin is home to about half the population of Canada and 1/5 of the population of the United States. Trade, industry, communications and tourism are concentrated here.

On the vast plains of Canada, between the tundra in the north and the taiga in the south, the forest-tundra natural zone stretches. It occupies the southern edge of the subarctic zone, bordering the temperate zone. The width of this zone is only 200-400 km, but it intricately combines features inherent in both the tundra and taiga. This is due to the difference climatic conditions from subarctic to temperate zone, with the diversity of North American forest-tundra topography.

The building blocks of the Canadian Rockies are sedimentary rocks that formed at the bottom of ancient seas thanks to rivers that washed away the surface of the future Canadian Shield. For about a billion years, sand, silt, alumina and limestone silt accumulated on the ocean floor, in some places reaching a thickness of 19 kilometers. They eventually became sandstone, silt, shale and limestone.

Badlands stretch along the Red River Valley. Their appearance Reminiscent of a bizarre lunar landscape of deep ravines, hills, mountains with flat tops and mountains in the shape of mushrooms. They are also called “witches”. However, this is where the largest number of dinosaur remains were stored. This unusual landscape contrasts with the monotonous landscape of the prairies. There are deep channels here formed when the glacier melted (then the glacier turned into the River River).

There is a unique place on our planet, where people understand how beautiful nature can be. This is Canada's Moraine Lake, located in Banff National Park. Its beauty was discovered by Walter Wilcox in 1899. Since then, the site has become one of Canada's most visited natural attractions. Nature has created an unusually harmonious picture here, in which majestic mountains, the blue surface of a crystal clear lake and pine forests merge into a single whole.

The Rocky Mountains, Niagara Falls, and Banff National Park are just a few of the many places that make up its rich natural heritage. It is worth paying special attention to Hudson Bay. Hudson Bay is one of the most spectacular natural spaces in North America. A giant inland sea that forms part of the Arctic Ocean, with dozens of islands and a diverse fauna and flora, concentrated in two of the most valuable national parks. It is located in the northeast of Canada and washes the shores of the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and the territory of Nunavut.

Three provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Eastern Alberta) are located in the Prairie region. The landscape of these provinces is much more diverse than one might imagine. The cultural heritage of the region is also of great interest. The main feature of the prairie landscape is the flat nature of the territory. In such conditions, everything that rises above the ground, be it a grain elevator, an onion-shaped church or the city skyline, is very noticeable. The sky is especially beautiful.

The Rocky Mountains are one of the most picturesque places in Canada. The pristine nature attracts many tourists here. Most come to the Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay nature reserves, located in the heart of the mountains. These reserves (as well as Mount Robeson and Mount Assiniboine) were designated National Parks of International Importance in 1985. To the east, the Rocky Mountains are adjacent to the rolling prairies. To the west they are bordered by a huge rift valley.

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 - 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.

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 the North Temperate Zone. In the coastal provinces, winters are not so cold. And summer is not so hot due to the influence of the ocean. The average January temperature in the north is 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 time Canada is turning into a fairy-tale country, 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 of arctic deserts with 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 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, and prairie dogs. 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. In lakes the main commercial fish– whitefish and lake trout. Insects and reptiles in Canada are not at all different and they are found only in the south. Canada has a large number of nature 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; National parks Kootenay, Tlassier and Yoho, 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, the country has 31 more large lake. 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, largest river Canada, which flows into the Pacific Ocean is the 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 Canadian coast Arctic archipelago and in the north of the Labrador Peninsula - a strip of mountains 1500-2000 m high. 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

Most 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 constrained permafrost, over much of the territory there are glacial 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 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 into the northern regions of 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

The 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.

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The country of Canada is one of the countries with the largest territory in the world, ranking second after Russia. Canada's territory is 9,984,670 km², while the country's population in 2016 was 36,048,521 people. But the country’s density is only 3.5 people per km2, which is one of the lowest in the world. Canada is also famous for having the longest coastline in the whole world - 243,791 km! Canada is located on the North American continent, in its northern part. It has a land border only with the United States, and maritime boundaries has with Denmark (Greenland) and France (Saint Pierre and Miquelon).

Canada is washed in the north by the Arctic Ocean, in the west of the country by the Pacific Ocean, and in the east Canada is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The length of Canada from north to south of the country is 4600 km, and from west to east of the country – 7700 km.

The capital of Canada is Ottawa. The currency is the Canadian dollar. The current monarch of Canada is Elizabeth II.

Canada is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. It was founded back in 1534 by J. Cartier. The country consists of 3 territories and 10 provinces. The country has two official languages ​​– English and French.

Flag of Canada:

Today this country is an industrially and technologically developed state. Canada has a diversified economy that is based on trade and natural resources, which Canada is rich in.

Relief of Canada

The central part of the country is occupied by plains. We can distinguish the Hudson Bay Lowland, which is characterized by flat terrain, the Laurentian Upland, which is characterized by hilly terrain, and the central plains. In the west of the country is the Cordillera mountain system. The highest point is Mount Logan of this mountain system, which reaches an altitude of 5959 m above sea level. In the northeast of the country there is a strip of mountains up to 2000 m high, and in the southeast the region of the Appalachian Hills.

Climate of Canada

Canada's climate is quite varied, due to its large territory. In total, Canada has three types of climate zones - Arctic, Subarctic and temperate. The temperature in the north and south of the country is very different. In winter, the difference in average temperatures in the south and north reaches almost 30 units, and in summer it is slightly less.

For example, average Maximum temperature in the north in winter it reaches -28 degrees Celsius, and in the south of the country -0.4 degrees Celsius. In summer, the average maximum temperature in the north reaches 6 degrees Celsius, and in the south of the country 29 degrees Celsius. At the same time, in the summer in the south of the country the temperature can rise to 35-40 degrees Celsius, and in the north of the country it can drop to -45-60 degrees Celsius with strong icy winds.

Canada's climate is quite harsh. These are long lasting snowy winters, which last up to 8 months a year and short summer. Moreover, in winter in the south of the country the sun shines 8 hours a day, but in the north it does not shine at all. Since the country experiences icy winds from the north and warm winds blowing from the United States, a fairly large amount of precipitation falls over Canada.

Canadian inland waters

Canada ranks one of the first places in the number of lakes. About 10% of Canada's area is covered by water. Its territory contains the Great Lakes (Ontario, Superior, Erie, Huron), as well as smaller lakes and numerous rivers throughout the country. The most important river in Canada is the navigable St. Lawrence River, which connects the Great Lakes to the basin Atlantic Ocean. Thanks to Canada's climate, all its lakes and rivers are covered with ice from 5 to 9 months a year.

Flora of Canada

The vegetation in the country varies from deciduous and mixed forests in the south of the country to tundra and taiga, which turn into arctic deserts in the north of the country. Coniferous forests predominate among the forests in Canada. In forests you can most often find plants such as: black spruce, pine, white spruce, thuja, larch, oak, beech, chestnut, alder, birch, willow, cedar, fir, strawberry tree, elm and many other plants.

Wildlife of Canada

In the south of the country the fauna is most diverse, and in the north it is the most sparse. The country is home to deer, elk, sheep, goats, arctic fox, hare, chikari squirrel, chipmunks, jerboas, porcupines, American flying squirrel, beaver, raccoon, wolf, fox, bears and many other animals. There are also many migratory and game birds. Rivers and lakes are rich in fish. But the list of reptiles and amphibians is not so numerous.

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