Canada's position relative to large landforms. Geographical position and natural conditions of Canada

GEOGRAPHY OF CANADA

1. Geography

2. Population

3. Climate

4. Provinces and territories

o Alberta

o British Columbia

o Manitoba

o New Brunswick

o Newfoundland

o Nova Scotia

o Ontario

o Prince Edward Island

o Saskatchewan

o Northwest Territories

5. Nature

6. Ecology

GEOGRAPHY

Canada is the second largest state in the world (after Russia) and the first in North America, washed from the east by the Atlantic, from the west by the Pacific, from the north by the North

Arctic oceans.
The territory of Canada is 9,976,140 km2. Land occupies 9,220,970 km 3, and water space - 755,170 km 2.
In the south, Canada has a long border with the United States of America, amounting to 8,893 km (including 2,477 km of the border with Alaska).
The largest lake - 82,100 km 2 (of which 23,600 km 2 in the United States) - Upper (Superior) in the province of Ontario.
The largest island - 507,451 km 2 - Baffin Island (Baffin Island) In the north of the country.
The highest waterfall - 440 m - Delta Falls in British Columbia.
The longest river - 4241 km - Mackenzie (Mackenzie) . It flows into the Arctic Ocean.
The highest peak - 6050 m - Logan(Mount Logan) in the Yukon.
There are 38 national parks in the country, covering 2% of its territory, and their number is planned to be increased.

POPULATION

At the beginning of 2000 - the population of Canada was 31 million people. 90% of the population is concentrated on a 200-kilometer strip along the US border. The largest cities: Toronto - about 5 million people, Montreal - 3.5 million people, Vancouver - about 2 million people.

The percentage of the population is as follows: at the age of 0-5 years - 6.33%; 5-19 years old - 20.14%; 20-44 years old - 39.53%; 45-64 years old - 21.7%; over 65 years old - 12.3%. The average life expectancy for men is 76 years, for women - 83 years.

The following analysis of the quantitative characteristics of fertility, mortality and migration (immigration minus emigration) is evaluated in the context of socio-economic indicators - the level of education, income, consumption of certain products depending on age.

So, if in 1954 in Canada 28.5 children were born per 1000 inhabitants, then in 1999 - 12.7. In connection with the previous periods of the population explosion, an increase in mortality is predicted. Calculations show that by 2016 population growth due to the difference between births and deaths will be 0.9%. by 2030 - 0%, and after 2030 the death rate will exceed the birth rate.

Therefore, Canada attaches great importance to international migration. If in 1961 population growth due to migration amounted to 4%, then in 1981 - 6%, and in the 90s. - approximately 8%. In 1992 and 1993 population growth due to migrants exceeded natural growth,

The composition of the 15 main ethnic groups in Canada (1996):

Between 1991 and 1996 43% of Canadians have moved from one area of ​​the country to another. This is less than in 1986-1991. (47%), although the figure is still quite impressive. British Columbia, Alberta. Yukon and Prince Edward Island were replenished with migrants from other regions of Canada, the rest of the provinces, on the contrary, lost their inhabitants. The most mobile age of internal migrants, men and women, is 25-29 years.

Basically, the migration trend is associated with a change in the socio-economic lifestyle of Canadians. 23% of migrants settle in cities, 17% - in rural areas, the rest - in border areas. Migration flows in recent years: in Alberta come mainly from British Columbia and Ontario, there is a return flow to British Columbia from Alberta and Ontario. The province of Ontario is attractive to residents of Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia. Of those leaving Atlantic Canada, half choose Ontario, the rest migrate between the Atlantic provinces (Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick).

CLIMATE

The climate is characterized by four distinct seasons. It is very heterogeneous, which is explained by the extent of the territory and the influence of three oceans. So, the south of the western part of the country is included in the "banana belt", in the central part the climate is sharply continental, in the north it is arctic, on the east coast it is temperate.

The direction of air flows over the territory is from west to east; cold winds blow from the Arctic in winter, warm winds from the south in summer. These streams mix and go to the Atlantic.

British Columbia, located on the West Coast of Canada, has the mildest climate thanks to the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. Summers are dry, winters are short and wet, and snow is rare.

mountain system Rocky Mountains prevents warm air flows from the Pacific Ocean from entering the prairies of the central regions of Canada, so the winters are cold there, and the summers are quite warm. Precipitation falls from 300 to 500 mm per year. It usually rains in spring, and dry in autumn, which is very beneficial for obtaining the highest grain yields in the world.

More than half of the country's population lives near the Great Lakes along the river St. Lawrence (St. Lawrence) . Here, heavy snowfalls occur in winter, and the warm period lasts longer in summer than in other parts of the country. The average temperature from mid-June to mid-September is 20°C.

On the Atlantic coast, as a result of the combination of continental air masses with flows from the Atlantic, the weather is the most unstable, storms occur in winter. The average July temperature is 16-18 °C.

The northern territories are usually covered with snow for half a year, and the summer lasts no more than two months.

Average daily temperature in some cities, in Celsius temperature:

PROVINCE AND TERRITORY

ALBERTA

The area is equal to Texas and has the richest reserves of natural gas and coal. Population 2,696,826 people (1999). Area 661,190 km2. In confederation since September 1, 1905
The capital is Edmonton. Population 716,014 (1999).
Climate: a large temperature difference in the regions: in summer above 32 ° C, in winter below -45 ° C.
Gross national product CAD 101,069 million (CAD 34,936 per capita). Unemployment 6% (1999).
Food, oil, chemical, mining, construction industry, agriculture, various production.

BRITISH COLOMBIA

Westernmost province, most mountainous region, gateway to the Pacific Ocean and Asia.
Population 3,724,500 (1999). Area 947,800 km2. In confederation since July 20, 1871. Capital - Victoria. Population 279,138 (1999).
Climate: mild maritime on the coast and continental in the interior and north.
Gross national product CAD 109,347 million (CAD 27,620 per capita). Unemployment 8.7 % (1999). Forestry, woodworking, paper, mining, tourism, agriculture, fishing, various industries.

QUEBEC

Three times the size of France and seven times the size of the UK. Population 7,138,795 (1999).
Area 1,540,680 km3. In the confederation since July 1, 1867. The capital is Quebec. Population 609,353 (1999).
Climate: from subarctic to continental. Gross national product CAD 185,366 million (CAD 24,885 per capita). Unemployment 11.4% (1999). Mining, paper industry, various manufacturing, power generation.

MANITOBA

Most of the territory lies below sea level (from 150 to 300 m). Population 1,113,898 people (1999). Area 649,950 km2. In confederation since July 15, 1870
The capital is Winnipeg. Population 621,887 (1999).
Climate: sharply continental.
Gross national product CAD 29,246 million (CAD 25,587 per capita). Unemployment 6.6 % (1999). Food, mining, construction industry, various production, agriculture.

NEW BRUNSWICK

Twice a day, with the Atlantic tide, 100 billion tons of water enters the Bay of Fundy, which is equal to the daily flow of water from all the rivers in the world.
Confederate since July 1, 1867. Population 738,133 (1999). The area is 73,440 km2.
The capital is Fredericton. Population 48,233 (1999).
Climate: humid continental.
Gross national product CAD 17,061 million (CAD 22,449 per capita).
Unemployment 12.8% (1999).
Mining, forestry, paper industry, various production, fishing, agriculture.

NEWFOUNDLAND

The easternmost province of Canada. Population 551,792 (1999). Area 405,720 km2. In confederation since March 31, 1949
The capital is St. John's. Population 126,175 (1999).
Climate: from subarctic (Labrador Peninsula) to humid continental.
Gross national product CAD 10,880 million (CAD 19,603 per capita). Unemployment 18.8% (1999). Mining, forestry, various industries, fishing, power generation, tourism.

Canada has more lakes and rivers than any other country in the world. It is famous for its extensive forests, which cover almost half of its entire area. Mountains dominate the western regions of the country. The Coast Range stretches along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, and in the depths of the mainland to Montreal, parallel to it, is the chain of the Rocky Mountains. They are part of the Cordillera mountain range, which stretches from north to south across the continent as far as Mexico. The eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains descend to the Great Plains, covered with evergreen coniferous forests in the north and prairies in the south. Adjacent to these plains is the vast Canadian Shield Plateau, which is U-shaped and surrounds Hudson Bay. This rocky plateau, one of the oldest in the world, is replete with lakes and low hills and occupies almost half of Canada.

From the northern outskirts of Canada lying in the Arctic, masses of icy air are moving south, so in most of the country the temperature drops significantly below zero in winter. Only in the south and in the western province of British Columbia is the climate milder. Warm winds blowing from the Gulf of Mexico bring hot summers to the southern regions of the country, including the province of Ontario and the St. Lawrence River basin. On the west coast of Canada, the climate is humid.

Canada occupies almost the entire northern half of the mainland of North America and the numerous islands adjacent to it, including the Canadian Arctic Archipelago in the north, Newfoundland in the east, and Vancouver in the west. In the east, the coast of the country is washed by the Atlantic, in the west - by the Pacific, and in the north - by the Arctic Ocean. The territory of the country extends from 83 degrees north latitude in the north (Cape Columbia on Ellesmere Island) to 41 degrees north latitude in the south (Mild Island on Lake Erie), that is, almost 4600 km and from 41 degrees west longitude in the west ( Mount Elias) to 52 degrees west longitude in the east (Cape Spear on the island of New Foundland), that is, approximately 5100 km. The territory of the country is 9974 thousand sq. km, of which approximately 755 thousand sq. km. km (approximately 8%) are inland waters.

The capital of Canada - the city of Ottawa - is located in a picturesque area on the banks of the Ottawa River. The name of the city itself comes from the Algonquian word for "exchange". In 1857, Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as her capital city, which was largely facilitated by the city's position - between the French and English parts of Canada. As the city grew, enterprises producing office equipment, printing, food, and perfume enterprises appeared here. Ottawa is a city of bridges. Four bridges support traffic between Ottawa and its suburb of Hull, about 10 bridges are thrown over the river. Rideau and 6 through the navigable canal. Ottawa is known for parks and alleys. In the spring, about a million tulips are planted here. The most fashionable quarters of the city are located in the Rockcliff Park area. The buildings of foreign embassies are located here. The capital has many beautiful churches, including the English Cathedral of Christ Church and the Roman Catholic Notre Dame Basilica.

Population - 23.1 million people. The capital is Ottawa (700 thousand inhabitants). The official languages ​​are English and French.

The geography of Canada is wide and varied. Occupying the northern part of the North American continent (approx. 40%), Canada is the second country in the world after Russia in terms of area. Canada occupies a vast territory between the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Atlantic in the east (hence the country's motto "From Sea to Sea"), between the USA in the south and northwest (Alaska), the Arctic Ocean in the north and Greenland in the northeast . On the latitude of the southern coast of Newfoundland is the French overseas territory of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Since 1925, Canada has been asserting its rights to the Arctic region between 60°W. and 141°W. to the North Pole; however, these rights are not universally recognized.

Covering an area of ​​9,984,670 km2 (land: 9,093,507 km2; water: 891,163 km2), Canada has an area slightly smaller than three-fifths that of Russia; Canada is about 1.3 times the size of Australia, although slightly smaller than Europe, but more than 40.9 times the size of the United Kingdom. In terms of total area, Canada is slightly larger than the United States or China; however, it is slightly smaller than these two countries in terms of land area (China occupies 9,596,960 km2, and the United States - 9,161,923 km2), becoming the fourth in this calculation.

The northernmost settlement in Canada (and in the world) is the Canadian Forces Station Alert (in Nunavut, north of Alert) at the northern tip of Ellesmere Island - 82.5°N. - only 834 kilometers from the North Pole. The north magnetic pole is inside Canadian borders; however, recent observations suggest that it is moving towards Siberia.

Most of the country is located in the same geographic latitudes as the CIS. The extreme south of Canada lies on the same latitude as Georgia, and the islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago are located at a distance of about 1000 km from the North Pole.

Canada is rich in forests, minerals, fur-bearing animals; on its territory there are many rivers with large reserves of water energy. In the south - vast arrays of fertile lands.

The first colonists of Canada were immigrants from France who settled in the early 17th century. on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Canada at that time was called New France. French trading companies founded trading posts here and quickly grew rich, buying valuable fur-bearing animals for next to nothing from the Indians. The fur wealth of Canada also attracted the attention of the British. Armed clashes constantly took place between the detachments of the British and French. Competing fur companies tried to attract Indian tribes to their side by deceit and bribery, inciting enmity between them. The indigenous population was pushed back into remote areas and died out. Now Indians and Eskimos are slightly more than 1% of the population.

As soon as the United States gained independence, they began to covet the English colonies. In 1846, it was determined that the 49th parallel would become the border between the United States and Canada. But even after that, there were armed clashes over Canadian lands. To protect its colonies in North America, England needed to unite them politically and economically. To do this, in 1867 they were transformed into a federation, one of the first dominions of Great Britain. The British government encouraged emigration from the mother country to Canada. In 1885, the Atlantic and Pacific coasts were connected by the Trans-Canada Railway.

In Canada, American methods of developing capitalism in agriculture have become widespread. In the fertile steppe provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta), a system of almost free distribution of large plots of land to settlers was used. At the beginning of the 20th century, Canada became the largest supplier of wheat to the world market.

Following the construction of railways and the settlement of the prairies, the development of the mineral and energy resources of the country began. At the beginning of the XX century. American and British companies built the first mines, hydroelectric power plants, pulp and paper and metallurgical plants here. Canada has become one of the largest producers of non-ferrous metals (aluminum, lead, zinc, nickel, copper), wood pulp, newsprint, lumber. Between 1903 and 1914, 2.5 million new settlers arrived in Canada. In addition to the British, among them were immigrants from Germany, from the Scandinavian Peninsula, from the former Austria-Hungary, from Tsarist Russia (especially from Ukraine) and other countries. Now Anglo-Canadians - about 1/2 of the population, French-Canadians, more than 1/4. Quite a lot of Germans, Italians, Ukrainians, Dutch live here.

Statistical indicators of Canada
(as of 2012)

Canada is a developed industrial and agricultural country. It ranks sixth among the capitalist countries in terms of industrial output. In terms of industrial and agricultural output per capita, Canada is second only to the United States and Switzerland among the capitalist countries. The share of Canada in the industrial production of the capitalist world reaches 3.1%, while its population, respectively, is only 0.6%.

Most of the products of agriculture, mining and forestry are exported. In the post-war period, the penetration of US monopolies into the economy of Canada intensified, while the historically established economic ties between Canada and Britain weakened to a large extent. In addition to large manufacturing plants, the American monopolies have set up enterprises in Canada that exploit the vast natural wealth of that country.

To better imagine Canada, let's look at this country through the eyes of a tourist traveling through it from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. When the plane flies up to Canada, numerous fishing boats are visible in the ocean through its windows. Icebergs gleam in the sun here and there. Here, near the island of Newfoundland, there are vast shoals (banks) where huge shoals of cod accumulate. More than 500 thousand tons of fish are caught annually on banks, that is, half of the Canadian catch. Vessels of the USA, Japan, England, France, and Spain also come here to fish.

Newfoundland Island is located at the entrance to one of the most important waterways in North America - the St. Lawrence River. There are few cities on the island. The bulk of the population lives in fishing villages scattered along the coast. The western edge of the island is covered with dense coniferous forest. There are many pulp and paper mills here. In the production of pulp and paper pulp, Canada ranks second in the capitalist world (after the USA), and first in newsprint. Canada exports most of it to the USA and England.

The coastal provinces of Canada - Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island - played a leading role in the country's economy in the early period of history. But they lost their importance as the central and western parts of the country were colonized. Most of the inhabitants of the maritime provinces are descendants of immigrants from the British Isles; they are fishermen, sailors and lumberjacks, stern-looking people accustomed to hard work. The most developed industry in Nova Scotia. Here, in the city of Sydney, in the area of ​​coal deposits, ferrous metallurgy arose. In the main city of the province, Halifax, the oil refining industry, shipbuilding and aircraft building are developed.

The coast of the Atlantic Ocean is connected to the Great Lakes by the St. Lawrence River, an important transport route. But the rapids prevented the passage of ships from the ocean to the lakes. In 1959, the construction of a sea route along the St. Lawrence River was completed. Ships travel down the river to the Great Lakes. This waterway transports goods from Canada and the industrial regions of the northeastern United States. The river flows through the densely populated southern regions of the province of Quebec, numerous farms are scattered along its banks, surrounded by cultivated fields, vegetable gardens and orchards. In the main city of the province - Quebec - 500 thousand inhabitants. In the same province is the largest city in Canada - Montreal (about 3 million inhabitants). No city in the world other than Paris has as many French-speaking people as Montreal. The city is spread over a vast island. Skyscrapers of banks, insurance companies, trade and industrial firms rise in its business center. Montreal is located near the industrial states of the northeastern United States. In the immediate vicinity of the city there are large tracts of coniferous forests, large iron ore deposits and rivers rich in water energy. Montreal is Canada's largest industrial center. There are enterprises of oil refining, energy, food and half of the enterprises of the Canadian light industry. Montreal's economic development is facilitated by its convenient transport location. The St. Lawrence River links the city to the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. Montreal is the most important transport and transshipment point in Canada. This is the largest cultural center of the country. There are three universities - French and two English, theaters, museums, the country's largest television and radio studios. 1967 marked the centenary of the unification of the disparate British colonies of North America into the Canadian federation. The opening of the World Exhibition "Expo-67" in Montreal was timed to coincide with this event. One of its largest pavilions was the Soviet one.

From Montreal close to the capital of Canada - the city of Ottawa. It is a relatively small, quiet city. There are no large industrial enterprises here, but there are many buildings of ministries, embassies of foreign states, mansions of officials and diplomats. In the center of Ottawa is the Parliament of Canada - a somewhat smaller copy of the parliament building in London. The city has two universities, English and French, large libraries, the National Gallery, the National Museum, and a research center.

There are many farms to the south of the capital, and each of them specializes in growing a certain crop: cabbage or lettuce, cucumbers or berries. On the shores of the Great Lakes, there are dozens of cities that seem to pass into each other. This is the industrial heart of Canada. Many of these cities play a leading role in certain branches of Canadian industry: in Sarnia - chemical plants, in Hamilton - iron and steel industry, in Oshawa, Windsor - car manufacturing, in Port Colbourn nickel is smelted. The main city of the province of Ontario - Toronto is dominated by machine-building and electrical plants, printing and footwear enterprises.

To the north of the industrial cities of the central provinces lie underdeveloped territories. Geologists call this region the Canadian Shield, as its soil lies on solid crystalline rocks. The Canadian shield is covered with coniferous forests, there are many lakes and swamps. The richest deposits of iron ore, asbestos, uranium, polymetallic ores and ores of rare metals have been discovered in its bowels. The rivers of the region are very rich in water energy and are convenient for the construction of hydroelectric power stations. All this made it possible to create large centers of non-ferrous metallurgy and the pulp and paper industry in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

To the west of the Great Lakes are vast expanses of steppes. Farms are scattered far apart. Only occasionally rise concrete elevators and oil derricks. More recently, only agriculture was developed in this region, and now industry has become the leading sector of the economy. In 1947, gas and oil fields were discovered, and oil refineries and chemical plants grew here.

At the western border of Alberta, the majestic Cordillera rises. The mountains cover the entire province of British Columbia, which Canadians call the Sea of ​​Mountains. Snow-capped peaks sparkle in the sun. Dark green coniferous forests envelop the slopes with an almost continuous cover. Glaciers descend into the valleys like white tongues. Noisy mountain rivers run through the gorges. The largest river in British Columbia - the Fraser - flows in the canyon. At its confluence with the Pacific Ocean lies the city of Vancouver - the main economic center of all of Western Canada. The city descends like an amphitheater to the Pacific coast. Protected by high mountains, Vancouver is almost unaffected by arctic winds. The warm and humid breath of the Pacific Ocean creates here the mildest climate in all of Canada. Nearly 10 months of the year, Vancouver residents bathe in the ocean, and you can ski in the mountains surrounding the city for most of the year. The main wealth of the province of British Columbia is the forest. In warm and humid climates, trees grow three times faster than in other parts of Canada. There are a lot of dark coniferous arc-lasovy fir and giant arborvitae in the forests. The height of the thuja reaches 80 m, the diameter of the trunk is 4.5 m, its wood does not rot.

The Pacific coast of Canada is cut by deep fjords. On the shores of one of these fjords, called Douglas Bay, lies the city of Kitimat. It houses a large aluminum smelter. Electricity comes here from the Kemano underground hydroelectric power plant. Turbines are installed in the engine room, carved into the rock. Water to the turbines goes through a tunnel from a reservoir built high in the mountains. The fall height of this artificial waterfall is about 700 m, 14 times more than that of the famous Niagara Falls.

The population of the northern part of the West of Canada is peculiar. The “spirit of pioneers” is still preserved here. There are many Indians among the inhabitants. Tourists rarely visit this remote area of ​​Canada, so the local Indians (unlike their southern counterparts) do not paint their faces with tattoos and do not dress up in colorful clothes and colorful feathers. The main occupation of the local Indians is gardening, fishing, and hunting.

The Canadian North contains gold, iron ore, oil, natural gas, uranium and rare metals.

There are very few inhabitants here - about 60 thousand people, mostly Eskimos and Indians. They are engaged in fishing, reindeer herding and hunting, some work as laborers at military bases, airfields and radar stations created by the United States.

After the Second World War, the mining industry began to develop rapidly in the Canadian North, despite difficult climatic conditions and a lack of labor. To organize profitable production, large (sometimes the largest in the world) enterprises are created here, using the most advanced technology. Before the war, Canada imported iron ore, but now, thanks to the development of the iron ore deposits of Labrador, it has become one of the first places in the world in the export of iron ore.

Canada is part of the Commonwealth led by Great Britain. The head of state is the Queen of England, represented by the Governor General. It is appointed with the consent of the Canadian government. Since 1949 Canada has been a member of the aggressive NATO bloc. Canadian working people are becoming increasingly convinced that participation in blocs is not in the interests of the country, and are intensifying the struggle for peace. Canada has several political parties. The Liberal Party holds the largest number of seats in Parliament. The second largest party is the Progressive Conservative. Both parties represent the interests of the big bourgeoisie.

The Communist Party of Canada was founded in 1921. It is fighting for social transformation, for the creation of a united front of all the democratic forces of the country. The Canadian communists are demanding Canada's withdrawal from NATO, they are in favor of a policy of neutrality, against the dominance of US monopolies, for an end to the sale of the country's natural resources, and for the nationalization of the main branches of industry.

Canada is the second largest country in the world (10 million sq. km.), which is surpassed in size only by Russia. Canada occupies 1/12 of the earth's land 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, the US land border being considered the longest unguarded border in the world. The "border" with Russia is the shortest, as it is just a mathematical point - the North Pole, where the borders of the polar sectors of these countries converge. In the north, Canada is washed by the Arctic Ocean. Baffin Bay and Davis Strait to the northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Canada's climate varies from temperate in the south to arctic in the north.

Although most of the land is occupied by lakes and lowlands overgrown with forests, Canada also has mountain ranges, plains and even a small desert. The Great Plains, or prairies, cover Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and parts of Alberta. Now it is the main agricultural land of the country. Western Canada is known for its Rocky Mountains, while to the east are the country's most important cities, as well as Niagara Falls, the Canadian Shield, an ancient mountainous region formed over 2.5 billion years ago. years ago, covers most of the north of the country. In the arctic region, only tundra can be found, which breaks up into islands to the north, covered with ice almost all year round.

The highest point in Canada is Mount Logan at 5,950 meters above sea level.

Climate of Canada

Due to the vast 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 the Canadian mainland and most of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago lie in the permafrost zone. The rest is in the Northern temperate zone. In the coastal provinces, winters are not so cold. And the summer is not so hot because of 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 temperature ranges from 5 C on the islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago to 22 C in the south of the country. On the west coast of the country, the climate is influenced by warm ocean currents, which cause, among other things, high humidity. In the mountainous regions, there are areas that are quite dry, despite the fact that rain and snowfall are frequent in the Selkirk Mountains. Precipitation decreases as you move from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to the central regions. The annual precipitation in the east is 1000-1400 mm, in the central part - 200-500 mm, in the extreme west - up to 250 mm, in the north - less than 150 mm. In winter, Canada turns into a fairy tale country, where giant mountains, impenetrable forests, endless steppes are covered with thick ice. The maximum thickness of the snow cover is up to 150 cm (Labrador Peninsula). In general, winters in the country are characterized by heavy snowfalls and frosts, and summers 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 a rare cover of lichens and a few herbaceous species. To the south, it is replaced by the tundra zone, located on the Southern Islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and the mainland coast. Further south, stretching as a strip from the foothills of the Cordillera to the Atlantic coast, there is a zone of forest-tundra and pre-tundra woodlands on permafrost-taiga, mostly stony soils and a zone of taiga forests, which are dominated by stands of white and black spruce, American larch, Banks pine and balsam firs. In the south of the central regions, the taiga is replaced by zones of forest-steppes and steppes with characteristic park forests of aspen and the dominance of dry-steppe vegetation, such as kovyel, 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, like the Appalachian Uplands. Altitudinal zonality is observed in the Cordillera. In the north, the mountain-taiga forests of the valleys on the slopes are replaced by mountain-taiga light forests, turning into mountain tundra. In the south, in the interior of the mountainous regions, the valleys are occupied by mountain steppes, which are replaced higher by belts of mountain forest-steppes, park forests, and mountain coniferous forests. the Pacific slopes of the Cordillera, from foot to peak, are occupied by tall coastal forests of giant arborvitae, western gelpok, Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, giant fir, and other very productive species. The average annual growth of trees here is 10 cubic meters. m/ha, and the age-old reserve is 900-940 cubic meters/ha (against 5-6 cubic meters/ha and 500-550 cubic meters/ha in coniferous-deciduous forests and 1-3 cubic meters/ha and 100 -300 cubic meters/ha in the taiga). The total forest area of ​​Canada is over 440 million hectares (over 1/3 of the territory of Canada). Industrial forests occupy 240 million hectares, concentrating in themselves a timber reserve of about 21-22 billion cubic meters. m.

Animal world of Canada

The territory of Canada belongs to the non-Arctic zoogeographical region. On the islands of the Canadian Archipelago and in the tundra zone on the mainland, reindeer, musk ox, polar bear, arctic fox are found. Lemmings, polar hare, tundra partridge, snowy owl. Elk, forest deer, bison, red squirrel, northern flying squirrel, porcupine, hare, marten, bear, lynx, red fox, wolf, and beaver live in the taiga zone and partly in the forest-tundra. The coniferous-broad-leaved forests of eastern Canada are characterized by the virgin deer, tsaliti deer, marmot, hares, raccoon, gray squirrel, and red lynx. The southern treeless regions are inhabited by donkey deer, pronghorn antelope, pouched gopher rats, ground squirrels, and prairie dogs. Steppe ferret. Steppe fox, badger. Coyote.

The Cordillera is dominated by specific high-altitude animal species: mountain goat, mountain sheep, grizzly bear, cougar. Rivers and lakes. The coastal waters are also rich in fish. In Atlantic waters, cod, herring, haddock, flounder, and crabs are of the greatest commercial importance; in the Pacific waters, mainly salmon are caught: sockeye salmon. Pink salmon, etc. In the lakes, the main commercial fish are 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 equal to 730,000 sq. km. The most famous are: Wood Buffalo National Park, which houses the largest herd of bison; national parks Kootene, Tlassie and Yoho, famous for their glaciers and waterfalls; Jasper National Park - Glaciers, lakes. Hot springs, among animals - bears, mountain goats and elks; the oldest national park in Canada, which is a mountain resort with hot springs - Bauff Park; national park "Elk - Island" (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 sq. km, of which 755.180 sq. km is occupied by freshwater lakes and rivers. The rivers are fed mainly by snow and rain, on the plains - by a high spring rein. Summer floods in the Cordillera. The duration of freeze-up is from 3 months in the south, up to 9 months in the north. Canada has more lakes than any other country in the world. In addition to the Great Lakes, partly located in Canada, there are 31 other large lakes in the country. The most famous are the Great Bear, Great Slave, Lakes Winnipeg, Athabasca, Manitoba, Nipigan, Mistasini. The largest rivers in Canada are the St. Lawrence, St. John, Saskatchewan, the Mackenzie River along with the Slave, the largest river in Canada that flows into the Pacific Ocean is the Fraser River.

Relief

The central part of the mainland land and the adjacent land of the Canadian Aurktic Archipelago is occupied by plains that are located no higher than 200 m above sea level, i.e. plateau lowlands, i.e. plains lying relatively high above sea level and separated from neighboring areas by steep slopes. Stand out: the lowland of the Hudson Bay, which has an exceptionally flat relief; Lavreptian upland, its height reaches up to 1000 m and has a characteristic lacustrine-hilly relief; the central plains (the Mackenzie River Lowland, the Manitoba Lowland, the Alberta and Saskatchewan Plains, the section enclosed between Lakes Erie, Huron and Ontario, the so-called "Ontario Peninsula", and the lowland of the St. Lawrence River Valley), in the relief of which glacial-accumulative forms predominate; foothill plateau. The Great Plains, whose height is 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 - 3500m, the highest Mount Logan with a height of 6050 m. This mountain system includes Mount St. Epias (5483 m), Mount Lucania (5226 m), Mount King - Peak (5173 m), in the northeast along the Canadian coast The Arctic archipelago and in the north of the Labrador Peninsula - a strip of mountains with a height of 1500-2000 m. In the extreme southeast, the region of the Appalachian Uplands with a low-mountain relief. The Appalachians are located in eastern North America. They lie in the territory of Canada and the USA. They form a strip of ridges, valleys, plateaus and plateaus, 300-500 km wide. They stretch from the southwest to the 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 large fault (Logan Line) with the Canadian Shield.

Canada can be divided into 7 well-defined physiographic regions:

1. Arctic mountains

Much of Elslier Island and the northeast coast of Baffin Island is occupied by a series of high mountains and steep slopes. This region is high-latitude and extremely cold. The surface is bound by permafrost, most of the territory is covered by ice sheets, reminiscent of the conditions that prevailed in large parts of North America during the Pleistocene period.

2. Laurentian (Canadian) shield

The territory of this region is limited by outcrops of ancient crystalline bedrocks. Local landforms are the legacy of the Pleistocene. As massive ice sheets were absent 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 district is Hudson Bay. The entire region, which is shaped like a circle, covers half of Canada. The southern part of this region extends beyond Canada and extends into the Northern regions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and New York.

3 Appalachian Mountains

The Maritime Provinces and the insular Newfoundland represent the northernmost edge of the Appalachian system, which begins in Alabami and runs through the eastern United States and Canada. This mountainous area of ​​ancient rocks is also the first area with permanent settlements of Europeans.

4. Interior Plains

Bordering the Canadian Shield to the west, this region of plains and canopy-undulating relief 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 are an area of ​​low landform that covers approximately 60% of Canada and the United States.

5. Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountains rise abruptly to impressive heights along the western edge of the Interior Plains. In clear contrast to the gently undulating plains, the Rocky Mountains have peaks often exceeding 3,000 meters.

6. Intermountain regions

To the west is a relatively narrow corridor of plateaus and valleys that separates the Rocky Mountains from the mountain ranges along the Pacific coast. This area, extremely complex in geological terms, is a labyrinth of plateaus, low ridges and valleys.

7. Pacific mountain system

The western edge of the continent is a mountain wall 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 ends on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland. To the south of the tundra extends a vast region of subarctic climate, running from the Yukon and the Northwest Territories east across the country to Hudson Bay and continuing into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

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The form of government is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the Queen of England, represented by the Governor General. Territory - about 10 million km2 (2nd place after Russia).

In ancient times, Canada was inhabited by Indians and tribes who came from through. The first Europeans reached Canada in 1497. This was accompanied by the extermination of the indigenous population and was the beginning of the colonization of Canada. In 1605 the French and in 1623 the British founded their first settlements here. As a result of the war of 1756-1763, Canada was ceded to Great Britain. In 1791, a constitutional act was adopted, according to which the boundaries of the colonial possessions of Great Britain were finalized, and in 1867 the English Parliament granted Canada the status of a dominion. The creation of a centralized state was completed at the beginning of the 20th century, and in 1931 the British government recognized Canada's independence in domestic and foreign policy.

Canada occupies a prominent place in the world in terms of resource reserves: the central part of the plains is rich, Labrador has significant discoveries, for the extraction of which it ranks fifth among the capitalist; The Cordilleras are rich in copper and polymetallic ores: in the extraction of zinc, the country ranks first among the capitalist countries, and in the extraction of copper and lead, it ranks third.

Canada is covered with a dense and full-flowing river network. Its hydropower potential is one of the largest in the world. The true wealth of the country is, consisting of conifers and occupying almost half of the territory of Canada. In terms of wood reserves per capita, it has no equal. The best () are located in the south of the country. The population of Canada is 27.3 million people. The vast majority of modern residents are Anglo-Canadians and French-Canadians. The official languages ​​are English and French. Anglo-Canadians occupy key positions in the economy, and this leads to a constant aggravation of interethnic relations. Some of the French Canadians living compactly in the province of Quebec put forward demands for the creation of an independent French-Canadian state. The main religions are Protestantism. The main population of the country is located along the border with. This is due to many reasons: the harsh natural conditions of the north of the country, the orientation of economic ties to the United States, and poor development in the north. Canada is a country: about 76% of its inhabitants live in cities. The capital of the country is the city that performs administrative functions.

Modern Canada is a highly developed state, one of the "seven" leading countries in the world. As a country of resettlement capitalism, Canada quickly created an efficient market economy, the hallmark of which is the large role of the extractive industries. Canada exports about 80% of all mining products to the world raw materials market. At the same time, the United States is the most important market for Canadian goods. In the structure of the manufacturing industry, the leading positions are occupied by. based on rich domestic raw materials and cheap electricity (three Canadian plants smelt more aluminum than all enterprises in this industry in the West). Mechanical engineering produces various types of products: cars, ships, locomotives, etc.

Within Canada, there are differences in the orientation of industries in different provinces: Ontario and Quebec provide 3/4 of the manufacturing industry; the province of Alberta is the core of the country; - the center of the forest. In terms of paper production, Canada ranks second in the world. Canada is characterized by a high-quality, diversified, technically well-equipped country. The leading industry is the cultivation of cereals, primarily wheat, which occupies a major place in Canada's export structure (about 20% of world exports of this crop belongs to Canada). The main granary of the country is the region of the central plains. In addition, potatoes, oats, barley, flax, vegetables, and fruits are cultivated here.

The peculiarity of the country's transport lies in the great development of its pipeline variety. This is due to the significant reserves of oil and gas in the country. The Great Lakes region provides for the development of water transportation. Maritime and aviation are also developed.

The structure of Canada's exports includes the following sectors of the economy:

• industries (about 40%): industrial equipment, automobiles, electrical engineering, agricultural engineering;
• fuel industry products (about 10%): oil and oil products, natural gas;
• agricultural products: wheat;
• timber industry products: paper, pulp;
• metallurgy products: ores of various metals;
• non-metallic minerals: asbestos.

Canada is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and a member of the Military-Political Bloc.