Canada
Canada is the second largest
country in the world. Only Russia
has a greater land area. Canada
is situated in North America.
Most experts believe that the first people who lived on this land came
from Asia about 15,000 years ago. They came
over a land bridge that once connected Asia and North
America. Their descendants are known today as Indians. The ancestors
of the Eskimos came to Alaska
after them probably about 5,000 years ago.
In
1497 John Cabot found rich fishing grounds off Canada's south-east coast. He was
an Italian navigator in the service of England. His discovery led to the
European exploration of Canada.
France set up a colony in
eastern Canada
in the early 1600's. Great Britain
gained control of the country in 1763, and thousands of British emigrants came
to Canada.
In 1867, the French and English-speaking Canadians created a united colony
called the Dominion of Canada. Canada
gained its independence from Britain
in 1931. According to the Constitution Act of 1982 the British Monarch, Queen
Elizabeth II of the United
Kingdom, was recognized as the Queen of
Canada.
The population of Canada
is about 28 million. About 80% of the population live within 320 km of the southern
border. Much of the rest of Canada
is uninhabited or thinly populated because of severe natural conditions.
Canada is a federation of 10
provinces and 2 territories. There are two official languages in Canada. They
are English and French. About 57 per cent of all Canadians have some English ancestry
and about 32 per cent have some French ancestry. Most French Canadians live in
the province of Quebec. They have kept the language and
customs of their ancestors. Many of them believe that their province should
receive a special recognition in the Canadian constitution. About 2 per cent
of the country's population are American Indians and Eskimos.
Ottawa is the capital of Canada. Toronto and Montreal
are the largest cities of the country. Today Canada is one of the most highly
developed countries in the world. It is a major producer of electric power.
It is also a leading producer of wheat, oat and barley. Canada ranks
among the world's top manufacturing countries.
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