Geography 2 nd Largest country –1 st is Russia U.S./Canadian border is longest undefended border in the world –5,522 mi long

Carved land thousands of yrs ago –Created a large, low basin –More lakes and waterways than any other country in the world Glaciers

Tundra Arctic Islands = Northern Canada Tundra: Vast rolling, treeless plains. Only the top few inches of soil thaw in the summer.

The Canadian Shield Horse-shoe shaped region Wrapped around the Hudson Bay Wilderness Thousands of lakes

Cordillera Group of mountain ranges, running side by side

Shared Landforms Niagara Falls Great Lakes Rocky Mountains Great Plains –Prairie: Rolling grassland w/ fertile soil Appalachian Mountains

Natural Resources Fertile farmland Large reserves of oil and natural gas –Carried by huge pipelines –5 th largest energy producer in the world Forests = leading producer of newsprint NAFTA –North America Free Trade Agreement –Set up by Bill Clinton –Removed trade barriers among U.S., Canada, and Mexico

History Inuits – Arrived 1000s of yrs before European settlers arrived Vikings – 1 st European explorers –Arrived 1000 AD s – Britain and France claimed areas 1763 – Britain gained control from France –Most Native American cultures destroyed by warfare/disease

History, cont. Allies of U.S. in both World Wars Gained full independence from Britain 1982 –Peacefully

Government Parliamentary DemocracyParliamentary Democracy: voters elect representatives to parliament. –Representatives elect Prime Minister British Monarch - ceremonial position with no real power. –Appear on Canadian currency. Provide health care for citizens Regulate power companies, broadcasting, and transportation –Made these available in remote areas Limits fishing Prime Minister: Stephen Harper Stephen Harper

Provinces 10 provinces –Regional/political divisions New Foundland Labrador Nova Scotia New Brunswick Prince Edward Island Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta

Territories 3 territories –Yukon Territory –North West Territory –Nunavut Territory: Homeland of the Inuit

Nunavut 1999 Created for the Inuit Nunavut: “Our Land” –3X size of Texas Inuit control gov’t and mineral rights Autonomy Government: Right to govern themselves –Issues involving other nations lies with national gov’t. Not many jobs – many depend on wellfare

Cities Ottawa: National Capital

Toronto – Largest City

Culture 32 mill. Population Diverse cultures Bilingual – 2 official languages –English –French –**All official public documents, street signs, etc. show both languages –**School children required to learn both languages

Religious Diversity Roman Catholicism Judaism Buddhism Hinduism Islam

Food, Sports, and Recreation Food –Variety due to ethnic diversity Ukraine, Greece, Italy, Caribbean, Asia Sports –Ice Hockey –Baseball –Skiing –Skating –Curling –Snowboarding –Sailing –Pro Football