Canada

name from the original Indian name Kanata, which meant a village
discovered by John Cabot, an Italian seafarer
first settlers from Europe – the French – they settled down in St. Lawrence River Valley, they established a colony called New France
1763 they were defeated by the British and New France became an English colony
1867 Canada was granted self-government by the British Parliament, and thus Canada became a dominion
being a dominion it belonged to the British Empire
after WW II. It became the member of the British Commonwealth of Nations (because British empire ceased to exist)
Canada being a dominion has as a formal head the British monarch (in the British Commonwealth of Nations there are still about 50 states and approximately 16 of them the Queen is the head of the state; other famous dominions: New Zealand, Australia)
the Monarch is represented by Governor General (in every dominion)

most important person in the Canadian system of government is the Prime Minister – Jean Crétien
Canada is the federation of 10 provinces and 3 territories

British Columbia – the capital: Victoria; the most important city: Vancouver
Alberta – the capital: Edmonton; another important place: Calgary
Saskatchewan – the capital: Regina
Manitoba – the capital: Winnipeg
Ontario – the capital. Toronto; on the territory of this province there is situated the federal capital: Ottawa
Quebec – the capital: Quebec; the biggest city: Montreal
Newfoundland – the capital: St. John’s
Prince Edward Island – the capital: Charlottetown
New Brunswick – the capital: Fredericton
Nova Scotia – the capital: Halifax

the North-west Territories – the capital: Yellowknife
Nunavud – the capital: Iqaluid; this territory was established a few years ago; in Canada there were original inhabitants: Canadian Indians and Eskimos (Inuits). Eskimos were in the past persecuted and the present government wants to make up this injustice, this gesture is to reconcile these original inhabitants and recognize their dignity

at present: about 27 million people
2 official languages: English (70%) and French (30%)
the French speaking province is Quebec and New Brunswick
in Quebec there exists a very strong nationalists movement – the people there try to establish an independent state X the last referendum voted for staying within Canada
each province – its own parliament and government
territories – their own councils
in the federal capital of Ottawa – federal institutions: Federal Parliament (2 parts: Senate + House of Commons), Federal Government (headed by the Prime Minister)

along the western cost there stretches a huge mountain range called the Cordilleras
the highest mountain of Canada – in the Yukon territory: mount Logan
central part – relatively flat, covered with prairies – here is a very fertile soil, that is why the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba are known as wheat provinces
northern part – covered with tundra, almost all the year round there is snow and ice, the climate is very rough

Rivers

Lawrence River – in the east
Mackenzie River – in the north
Fraser River – in the west, famous for fishery
Niagara River – between Erie and Ontario; the Niagara Falls – the Canadian part is called Horses Shoe
Yukon River – flows to Alaska