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.