Travel Info
Canada is the second largest country by area in the world (after Russia) and the largest in North America. Its only land border is with the United States, and remains the longest land border in the world. The US border is situated at Canada’s Southern edge, the 49th parallel (or 49 degrees N latitude) as well as a shorter one with Alaska in the Northwest. Canada is also a major tourist destination, and is one of the world’s wealthiest countries. The country is renowned worldwide for its vast, untouched landscape and its unique culture.
Visiting Canada all in one trip is an ambitious endeavour. When speaking of specific destinations within Canada, it is better to consider its distinct regions.
* Atlantic Provinces - maritime culture, small fishing villages, rich folk traditions
* Quebec - French-speaking province, stylish and romantic Montreal, festival culture, lush farmland, quaint villages
* Ontario - multicultural and vibrant Toronto, the Niagara wine region, the immense Boreal and Taiga forests, Ottawa - the capital, the Great Lakes coastal areas, small rural towns.
* Prairies - vast open and flat spaces, rocky mountains, forests, sleepy farm towns, Calgary stampede, and the West Edmonton Mall, RCMP Academy, RCMP Heritage Centre, Winnipeg Folk Music Festival
* British Columbia - cosmopolitan Vancouver city, the rocky mountains, ancient temperate rainforest, pristine wilderness, skiing and hiking opportunities abound
* The North - subarctic and arctic wilderness, mountains, glaciers and lakes
Geopolitically, Canada is divided into 10 provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador) and 3 territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut).
There are many cities in Canada (urban populations in brackets). Here is a small selection; others are listed under their regions.
* Toronto (5.1 million, 2006) - Canada’s largest city, main commercial centre
* Montreal (3.6 million, 2006) - Quebec’s largest city and only majority French-speaking metropolitan area, cultural centre; home of the 1967 universal exposition and of the 1976 Summer Olympics
* Vancouver (2.1 million, 2006) - beautiful and busy west coast city; third largest city in Canada; home of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
* Ottawa (1.1 million, 2006) - fourth largest city in Canada; national capital, high tech centre, tourist centre
* Calgary (1.0 million, 2006) - fifth largest city and quickly growing; oil, cowboys, development; home of the Calgary Stampede, the 1988 Winter Olympics
* Edmonton (1.0 million, 2006) - sixth largest city; capital of Alberta; northernmost metropolitan area in North America with a population greater than one million; home of the West Edmonton Mall - the world’s largest entertainment and shopping centre.
* Quebec City (715,000 2006) - capital of Quebec, tourist centre, oldest city in North America
* Winnipeg (695,000, 2006) - capital of Manitoba, Transportation hub of Canada and Gateway to the West. Canada’s midwestern Chicago.
* Halifax (373,000, 2006) - capital of Nova Scotia, major port city