Canada is the second largest country in North America, bordering the United States to the south and east. It has a diverse climate and geography, including the Great Lakes and Canadian Shield regions. Canada has two official languages, English and French, and the population is mostly descendants of European immigrants, with Indigenous peoples making up a smaller percentage. While having no official religion, most Canadians identify as Christian. Canada gained independence gradually over the late 19th and 20th centuries and is now a peaceful, democratic nation and ally of the United States.

1. Canada By: James Smith III

2. GEOGRAPHY Where IS CANADA? Canada is the second largest country in the world when it comes to land area, since it takes up forty-one percent of North America. Canada has ten different provinces which border the United States of America. Canada borders the Pacific Ocean, the Arctic Ocean What is the climate of CANADA? Canada like the United States has four different seasons, during the summer it can be as hot as 95 degrees Fahrenheit and during the winters it can be below freezing. The coast are “milder” during the seasons.

3. The Lakes and The Shield The Great Lakes The province of Ontario borders the Great Lakes During the colonization of Canada many forests around the Great Lakes were destroyed for agriculture and building shelter, today what is left of the forest is protected by the government. The Canadian Shield Is a area in Ontario that is home many rare minerals such as gold and nickel. The land is “new” in geological terms being that it is only between “600-1200 million years old”. They were created by volcanoes that have since become the bedrock and soil of the area. Because of it’s the volcanoes that once were there the area has been known to be a place to find diamonds also.

4. POLITICS OF GEOGRAPHY The Civil War During the Civil War, Canada was an ally of the United States of America which proved invaluable since the Soviet Union would have needed to fly over Canada to get to the United States quickly. Borders Canada and is the only country that borders Alaska directly. And with the lower 48 states Canada and the U.S.A. share the largest border without military arms. Global Warming With global warming becoming an increasing threat to the world , Canada has been put into a peculiar situation. The Northwest Passage which has been frozen since the last Ice Age may melt, putting the rights of that area up for grabs even though the area is in Canada.

5. ETHNICITY OF CANADIANS Who are the people of Canada? Most identify themselves as “Canadian”. Most immigrants to Canada have come from the “old world” nations of Europe include” England, France Scotland, Italy and Germany. The Native population of Canada makes up only 3.8 % of the population. Famous Canadians Include: Pamela Anderson, Actress/Model Aubrey Drake Graham, Actress/Singer Avril Lavigne, Singer Mike Myers, Actor/Comedian Aubrey Drake Graham

6. RELIGION OF THE PEOPLE The Nation of Canada has no official religion. 77% of Canadians identify themselves as Christian Followed by a plurality of people identifying themselves as no religion

7. Languages of Canada What is the official Language of Canada? Canada has two official languages which are French and English How Many Canadians can speak the languages? About sixty percent of Canadians can speak English while the other thirty percent can speak French. Through the countries census it has been determined that those who speak French on a regular basis are more than likely to also speak English while those who speak English on a regular basis are less likely to speak French. The State of Quebec is the province that has French as its official language.

8. THE FOUNDING OF CANADA It is believed that there has been an active population in Canada for at least twenty-five thousand years. These people are known as the aboriginals, but as time has gone on and there has been European colonization the number has decreased drastically. Europeans began colonizing the land of Canada during the late 1400s. The French arrived in the 1600s and began to set up colonies around Canada. During this time several wars between the French and the Indians and French and British, eventually most of Canada was given to Britain and Quebec was left for France, this was done through Royal Proclamation of 1793.

9. INDEPENDANCE As the United States of America became independent in 1783, Canada remained under control of the British Empire. In 1867 Canada passed the Confederation act which allowed it to set up its own laws and begin to carve out land for itself. Under this act the nation was still under British control, which ultimately included Canada into World War One. During this time the economy boomed. In 1931 the Statute of Westminster was passed giving Canada and other commonwealth nations legislative freedom to do what they want. In 1982, the Canada Act was past giving Canada its complete freedom, the act allowed Canada to officially make changes to its constitution without asking the Britain parliament if it was ok to do so.

10. MODERN CANADA The modern nation of Canada has become a powerful force in the world. Canada is a member of the United Nations. The nation is also one of the strongest allied nations of the United States. The nation has also become a nation of peace-keeping efforts.

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