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10 Traditional Canadian Dishes You Must-Try

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You Cannot Afford To Miss These 10 Fantastic Canadian Festivals

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From Punjabi music to French-influenced cuisine, Canada is known for its cultural diversity. These 10 festivals of Canada are not to be missed in 2022!

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OFFICIAL NAME: Canada

FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Federal parliamentary state

CAPITAL: Ottawa

POPULATION: 35,881,659

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: English, French

MONEY: Canadian dollar

AREA: 3,849,674 square miles (9,970,610 square kilometers)

MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Rockies, Coast, Laurentian

MAJOR RIVERS: St. Lawrence, Mackenzie

Canada is a vast and rugged land. From north to south it spans more than half the Northern Hemisphere. From east to west it stretches almost 4,700 miles (7,560 kilometers) across six time zones. It is the second largest country in the world, but it has only one-half of one percent of the world's population.

Canada features black-blue lakes, numerous rivers, majestic western mountains, rolling central plains, and forested eastern valleys. The Canadian Shield, a hilly region of lakes and swamps, stretches across northern Canada and has some of the oldest rocks on Earth.

Canada's far north lies in the frozen grip of the Arctic, where ice, snow, and glaciers dominate the landscape. Few trees grow here, and farming is not practical. Native Canadians, called First Nations people, live in this region by hunting and fishing.
Map created by National Geographic Maps

PEOPLE & CULTURE

In some ways Canada is many nations in one. Descendents of British and French immigrants make up about half the population. They were followed by other European and Asian immigrants. First Nations peoples make up about four percent of the population.

Inuit people live mostly in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Many Native Canadians live on their traditional lands, but many others have moved to cities across Canada. First Nations artwork is widely recognized and is seen as a symbol of Canadian culture.

Canada's remote north and extensive forests are home to wildlife, from bears, wolves, beavers, deer, mountain lions, and bighorn sheep to smaller animals like raccoons, otters, and rabbits. The country's lakes and rivers, which contain about 20 percent of all fresh water on Earth, are full of fish such as trout and salmon.

Canada's prairies in the south are home to bison and pronghorn antelope. Farther north are Canada's sprawling evergreen forests, which have lots of wildlife, including moose and black bears. Even farther north is the cold, bare tundra, where herds of caribou and musk ox live.

Canadians work hard to protect the native wildlife. Canada has 41 national parks and three marine conservation areas. Nevertheless, species like wolves, lynx, and Atlantic fish have been overhunted and overfished.

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY

The British monarch is the head of state of Canada. The monarch is represented by a governor-general, who has very limited powers. Laws are made by Canada's elected federal government, which includes a parliament and a prime minister.

Britain's Quebec Act of 1774 granted Quebec its own legal and religious rights. Despite this concession, many Quebec citizens have long sought independence. In votes held in 1980 and 1995, Quebec decided to stay in Canada. But the second vote was very close, and the debate is still alive.

Canada has provided fish, furs, and other natural resources to the world since the 1500s. Today, it is a world leader in agricultural production, telecommunications, and energy technologies. The vast majority of Canada's exports go to the United States.

The first people to come to Canada arrived between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago across a land bridge that joined Asia and North America. Around A.D. 1000, the Viking explorer Leif Eriksson reached Newfoundland, Canada. He tried to establish a settlement, but it didn't last.

In the 16th century, French and British settlers arrived. Land disputes between farmers and fur traders led to four wars between 1689 and 1763. The final war, called the French and Indian War, left the British in control of Canada, but French influence remains strong even today.

In 1867, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick combined to form a dominion with its own government, parliament, and prime minister. Manitoba joined soon after. In 1931, Canada became an independent nation.

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Canada Country Profile - National Geographic Kids

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Canada is a vast and rugged land. From north to south it spans more than half the Northern Hemisphere.

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Big Muddy Valley, Saskatchewan

With its vast terrain and history of harboring bandits, Big Muddy Valley exudes a mysterious and captivating atmosphere. Formed by ancient glacial melts, the valley is a sea of sturdy cacti, dramatic cliffs, plunging sandstone ravines and mystifying aboriginal stone effigies. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these isolated badlands were often traversed by bank robbers and thieves smuggling horses across the US border. With many caves acting as convenient hideouts, the badlands are said to have sheltered the likes of Dutch Henry, Sam Kelly and the Sundance Kid.

Nahanni National Park Reserve, Northwest Territories

Nahanni National Park Reserve is the epitome of the Canadian wild and remote natural beauty. Stretching across 11,583sqmi (30,000sqkm), this spectacular park encompasses enormous waterfalls, limestone caves, rugged canyons and hot springs. The park takes its name from the South Nahanni River, a powerful stream that rushes through the Mackenzie Mountains. Nahanni National Park Reserve attracts nature enthusiasts eager to take on its craggy mountains or try canoeing and rafting in its winding rivers; or those in search of wildlife, including Dall sheep, black bears, wolves and caribou.

Long Beach, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

As the name suggests, Long Beach is one of the longest sand beaches on Vancouver Island. Located between the villages of Ucluelet and Tofino, the beach is part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, occupying the west side of a thin peninsula that projects out into the Pacific Ocean. Considered to rank among the best surfing spots on the continent, this beach is popular with water-sports enthusiasts and offers excellent kayaking, swimming and jogging spots. Gray whales can often be spotted in the waters off the coast when they migrate through the area during the spring and fall.

Mount Thor, Nunavut

The intimidating Mount Thor in the Nunavut territory features the world's longest vertical drop, plunging 4,101ft (1,250m) with an average angle of 105 degrees. The mountain's sharp granite peak is set against a backdrop of glaciers, including the Penny Ice Cap, which formed during the last Ice Age. The surrounding Auyuittuq National Park is one of the world's largest areas of unexplored wilderness. Inhabited mainly by Inuit people, the daunting park takes its name from an expression meaning "the land that never melts."

Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick/Nova Scotia

Separating the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the Bay of Fundy is known for having the highest tidal range in the world. Its high tides reach heights of 53ft (16m), with more than 160bn tons of water flowing in and out of the bay twice a day. The diversity of the bay's marine life has been compared to that of the Amazon rainforest, making it one of the top bird- and whale-watching destinations in North America. This unique site is home to towering cliffs, sandstone pillars, hiking trails and beaches.

Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve & Haida Heritage Site, British Columbia

This Unesco World Heritage site provides a glimpse into the peerless landscapes of the West Coast of Canada, with its verdant rainforest and rich wildlife. Accessible only by boat or plane, the site comprises 137 islands. The islands receive higher-than-average rainfall, and as a result, everything grows bigger, faster and wildly. The area is the historic home of the Haida, a native North American tribe known for its excellent seamanship. More than 500 ancient Haida sites have been uncovered, including the renowned SGang Gwaay where eerie cedar mortuary poles stand guard over the sea.

Whitehorse, Yukon

Spread across the west side of the Yukon River, Whitehorse is the capital of the Yukon and the starting point for many explorations of Canada's remote north. The town initially flourished during the 1890s as a layover point for prospectors heading north during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush. The walkway along the Yukon River is lined with historic Gold Rush buildings painted in bright colors. The same area is home to an unusual building consisting of log cabins stacked on top of each other, once used by engineers building the Alaska Highway.

Lake Louise, Alberta

With turquoise waters framed by perfectly weathered mountains and the majestic Victoria Glacier, Lake Louise is a truly remarkable sight. The hotel found adjacent to the lake is almost as famous as its namesake. Originally built as part of the famous Canadian Pacific Railway hotel chain, the Chateau Lake Louise is, like the Banff Springs and Chateau Frontenac, modeled after French and Scottish castles. In the winter, the Lake Louise Mountain Resort is one of the largest ski areas in North America, while in the summer, the mountains behind the lake offer some of the region's most rewarding hiking trails.

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The Most Beautiful Places in Canada You Need to See

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With its vast terrain and history of harboring bandits, Big Muddy Valley exudes a mysterious and captivating atmosphere. Formed by ancient glacial melts, the valley is a sea of sturdy cacti, dramatic cliffs, plunging sandstone ravines and mystifying aboriginal stone effigies.