The words of its national motto “from sea to sea” (in Latin “mari usque ad mare”) vividly characterize it. This is the only country whose coastal borders are washed by three oceans: the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic. Canada is the second largest country in the world by area; it is distinguished by its diversity, diversity, diversity of landscapes and natural areas.

General information

Canada's form of government is a federal state. It consists of 10 provinces united by the Canadian constitution (Quebec, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Lambrador, New Brunswick, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) and 3 territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut). The capital of Canada, Ottawa, is located in the province of Ontario. The official state languages ​​of the country are English and French.

Dream country

The geographical location of Canada, stretching across several natural zones from the Arctic deserts occupying almost all of Greenland and the Arctic Archipelago, to the forest-steppes and steppes covering the Great Plains, has determined the diversity and richness of its natural conditions and resources. This served as a favorable factor in the development of the country's economic condition. And the presence of access to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans contributed to the increase in its status in the system of international relations and in key international organizations in nearby regions.

A high standard of living, a well-developed economy, an education and health care system, clean and safe modern cities, many different cultures - this is not the entire list of advantages that distinguish Canada. In 1992, the UN declared it “the most attractive country in which to live.”

The United States of America neighbors Canada to the south and northwest. About half of Canada's territory is occupied by the Laurentian Rise, the western border of which is formed by the line between Great Bear Lake in the north and Lake of the Woods in the extreme south. Geologists call this vast zone the Canadian Shield. The average height of the local landscape is about 500 m, but at the end of the Ice Age, the remains of ancient folded mountains up to 1190 m high were exposed in some places. The Laurentian Upland lies in the Atlantic Ocean and is famous for its picturesque lake-hilly terrain. The central part of the Canadian Shield is filled by Hudson Bay. On its shores lies a lowland of the same name, which arose as a result of the rise of the relief and the retreat of the sea after the melting of glaciers. Relatively recent tectonic processes led to the formation of the Arctic archipelago. The marginal ranges of the American Appalachians enter Canada. They border the valley of the St. Lawrence River from the south and stick out like sharp teeth from the islands off the east coast. These old mountains, dissected by steep gorges, form a system of small plateaus no more than 800 m high. The variety of rocks and geological structures suggests the presence of rich mineral resources in these areas. The highest point of this part of the Appalachians is Mount Jacques-Cartier (1268 m). At the junction of the Laurentian Upland and the Appalachians lies the valley of the St. Lawrence River, which is a tectonic-tectonic depression.

The total length of Canada's heavily indented coastline is approximately 244,000 km. The sea coast is replete with peninsulas, bays and coastal archipelagos. In the north, huge bays protrude deep into the land. The largest of them, Hudson Bay, covers an area of ​​848,000 square meters. km (together with the adjacent secondary James Bay). Canada's largest peninsula is Labrador (1,430,000 sq. km). Along the northern coast of the country lies the Arctic archipelago (the largest island is Baffin Island). The largest island off the east coast is Newfoundland, and in the Pacific Ocean is Vancouver.

Administrative divisions of Canada

Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories.

Population of Canada

The indigenous people of Canada are Indians and Eskimos. The majority of the Indian population is scattered across taiga reservations, and a certain part of them still lives from hunting and fishing. The main occupation of the Eskimos inhabiting the northern coast of Canada, Baffin Island and the Labrador Peninsula is sea fishing. The national composition and distribution of the population were formed as a result of the colonization of this part of the continent by European settlers that began in the 16th century. For hundreds of years, these regions were the scene of fierce confrontation between English and French colonists. While the French settled in the valley of the St. Lawrence River, the British settled firmly in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and the Great Lakes region. However, by the end of the 19th century, only a negligible part of Canada’s territory had been developed, and only the construction of the transcontinental railroad gave impetus to the mass settlement of the prairies. In those years, Canada received several million immigrants from Western and Eastern Europe, including immigrants from Russia and Ukraine.

Economy of Canada

About 74 million hectares are occupied by agricultural land in Canada (the average area of ​​one farm is over 240 hectares). There are two large agricultural regions in the country. The first is located on the flat plains along the shores of the Great Lakes and in the valley of the St. Lawrence River. All Canadian corn and soybeans, 90% of grapes and tobacco, as well as a good half of potatoes and vegetables are grown here. The same region supplies 50% of milk and eggs to the national market. The second most important agricultural region is the prairies, famous for high wheat yields and developed livestock farming. An excellent raw material base serves as a reliable basis for the development of forestry. According to some estimates, Canada owns more than 9% of all forest areas on the planet. Modern pulp and paper production is directly related to logging and wood processing. One of the oldest sectors of the national economy is fishing. A significant part of the catch is obtained in the coastal waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, although inland waters are also of considerable commercial importance. Possessing rich mineral reserves, Canada ranks first in the world in the production of nickel and zinc ores. The country has large deposits of copper, iron, gold, lead and molybdenum, and coal is one of the leading exports. Uranium mined in the country is used as fuel for nuclear power plants. Natural gas and oil deposits are being developed.

World War II gave a powerful impetus to the development of the Canadian economy. The country's military industry grew, a number of new industries emerged, the influx of American investment increased, and large-scale trade developed between neighboring states. The deepening of US-Canadian economic integration continues today. The United States is Canada's main export partner, and about 30% of Canadian enterprises are owned by American companies.

Introduction.

I chose the country of Canada as the main object of consideration in my course work. The purpose of this work is to study and most fully consider all the geopolitical characteristics of a given state.
According to the goal, the following tasks are defined.
Consider:

Geographical location of Canada;
Socio-economic development;
Canada's role in the international arena.

Canada is one of the most environmentally friendly countries in the world;
Canada is one of the richest countries in the world with a high per capita income;
Canada is one of the few countries in the world that, in accordance with its immigration policy, allows people who do not have close relatives in Canada to obtain a residence permit quite easily and legally, which is a good help for obtaining a second citizenship.

Chapter I. Geopolitical position of Canada.

1.1. Description.

1.2. Geographical location of Canada.

1.3. Historical reference.

1.4. Natural conditions and resources.

British Columbia and Ontario are known for their intensive vegetable gardening.
The steppes in the west of the country contain large areas of extensive grain crops.
Quebec is the largest producer of dairy products.
Prince Edward Island is where most of Canada's potatoes are grown.

1.5. Religion.

1.6. Culture.

1.7. Political structure.

Chapter II. Social and economic development of Canada.

2.1. Population.

1.1 Geographical location of Canada

Canada See Appendix 1 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 landmass 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, and the US land border is considered the longest unguarded border in the world. The “border” with Russia is the shortest, since it is simply a mathematical point - the North Pole, where the boundaries of the polar sectors of these countries converge. In the north, Canada is washed by the Arctic Ocean. In the northeast is Baffin Bay and Davis Strait, in the east is the Atlantic Ocean, and in the west is the Pacific Ocean.

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

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

The highest point in Canada is Mount Logan at 5950 m above sea level.

Physical-geographical location of Canada:

Physiographically, Canada is divided into five main parts: the Appalachian-Acadian region (southeast of the country), the Canadian Shield, the Interior Lowlands, the Great Plains (in the center) and the Cordillera (in the west). The territory of the country is a complex geological structure, where there are rocks of various ages. Next to the oldest geological formation, which is the Canadian Shield, there are young mountains - the Cordillera.

More than half of the country's territory is occupied by the Laurentian Plateau, which is part of the Canadian Shield. This is the oldest part of the Canadian landmass, covered in the recent past by a glacier and still bearing traces of glaciation: smoothed rocks, moraines, chains of lakes. The plateau is a gently undulating plain. This is the most rugged and uninhabited part of the country, but with huge mineral reserves.

From the north and south, the plateau is surrounded by large lowlands - the Interior Plains, the Laurentian Lowlands and the Hudson Strait Lowlands, which represent a characteristic picture of the Canadian landscape and brought Canada the glory of a country of boundless expanses with favorable natural conditions.

In spring, the boundless expanse of steppes is covered with a green carpet, in summer - with a golden blanket, and in winter - with a white blanket. Such steppes are mainly located in the southern parts of the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, which is why these provinces are called steppe. The Laurentian Lowland is located in the most favorable climatic conditions - a temperate climate and fertile soils. That is why the main economic region of the country is located here.

In the southeast of the country lie the Appalachian Mountains, an ancient mountain system rich in minerals like our Urals. Their average height does not exceed 600 m. The Appalachians are covered with dense forests. To the northwest of the Appalachians is the Canadian Shield, consisting of granites and gneisses. There are many swamps, lakes, and rapids rivers. From the west and south, the shield is bordered by a chain of lakes - from Great Bear Lake to the Great Lakes. The Canadian Shield region is a rugged and sparsely populated part of the country.

West of the Canadian Shield lie the Great Plains. Their southern part - the Interior Lowlands - is the breadbasket of Canada (75% of the country's arable land). In the western part of Canada on the Pacific coast there is one of the greatest and most beautiful mountain systems in the world - the Cordillera, stretching for 2.5 thousand km from north to south and 750 km from west to east. Within Canada, they are divided into the Rocky Mountains (in the east), the Coast Range (in the west) and the plateau that lies between them. The height of the mountains is 2000-3000 m above sea level. These relatively young mountains are also rich in mineral resources, most of which are being mined.

Economic and geographical position of Canada:

Canada occupies most of the northern part of North America. 75% of the territory is the north zone. Canada shares a land border with the United States in the south and northwest (between Alaska and Yukon) and stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Arctic Ocean in the north. It also shares maritime borders with France (Saint Pierre and Miquelon) and Denmark (Greenland). Since 1925, Canada has owned part of the Arctic between 60? w.d. and 141? z.d., however, these possessions are not generally recognized.

The USA is a developed country. It ranks fourth in the world in terms of territory. The United States borders Mexico in the south and also has a maritime border with Russia. The USA has the largest economy in the world. Many natural resources, including energy and raw materials. High-tech production. Scientific research is developed. The service sector and competitive industry are well developed.

The country's transport system includes more than 1.1 million kilometers of highways, ten major international and about three hundred regional and local airports, 72,093 kilometers of railways and more than 300 commercial seaports providing access to the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans , the waters of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. In 2005, revenues from the country's transportation sector accounted for 4.2% of Canada's GDP -- 0.5% more than revenues from oil and natural gas production.

Canada can be divided into 7 physiographic regions. Arctic mountains. Much of Ellesmere Island and the northeast coast of Baffin Island is occupied by a series of high mountains and steep slopes. This area is high latitude and exceptionally cold. The surface is bound by permafrost, and most of the territory is covered with ice sheets.

Laurentian (Canadian) shield. The territory of this area is characterized by outcrops of ancient crystalline bedrock. Local landforms are a legacy of the Ice Age. As the massive ice sheets retreated north, they cleared and smoothed the surface. There are thousands of lakes within this area, with Hudson Bay at the center. The entire area, shaped like a circle, covers almost half of Canada (4.6 million km). The area is extremely rich in mineral resources; deposits of almost all elements of the periodic table have been found here.

Appalachian Mountains. The Maritime Provinces and the insular portion of Newfoundland represent the northernmost edge of the Appalachian System, which runs through the eastern United States into Canada. This is a mountainous area of ​​ancient rock formations.

Inland plains. Bordering the Canadian Shield to the west, this region of plains and gently undulating terrain extends from the United States into the Steppe Provinces and continues in the northwest to the Pacific Coast. The Canadian Shield and Interior Plains are an area of ​​low relief that covers approximately 60% of the area of ​​Canada and the United States.

The Rocky Mountains rise sharply along the western edge of the Interior Plains. Contrasting with the gently undulating plains, the Rocky Mountains have peaks that often exceed 3 thousand meters.

Intermountain regions. To the west lies a relatively narrow corridor of plateaus and valleys that separates the Rocky Mountains from the mountain ranges along the Pacific Coast. This region, extremely complex geologically, is a labyrinth of plateaus, low ridges and valleys.

Pacific mountain system. The western edge of the continent is mountainous country stretching from Alaska through the Yukon Territory and British Columbia to the Sierra Nevada in Southern California.

The climatic regions of Canada and Russia are very similar. 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. South of the tundra is a vast region of subarctic climate, running from the Yukon and Northwest Territories east across the country to Hudson Bay and continuing into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In the south, this zone reaches the northern shore of Lake Superior. South of the subarctic belt is a region of humid continental climate, extending through the southern part of the Steppe Provinces and through the Great Lakes region into the Maritime Provinces. However, all natural zones in Canada, compared to Russia (especially its European part), are shifted to the south. The fact is that instead of the warm Gulf Stream, its eastern shores are washed by the cold Labrador Current, and the North Pole, according to scientists, in the distant past was located on the territory of what is now Canada, where the Earth’s north magnetic pole still remains. Here in much more southern latitudes than here - sometimes even in Montreal! - you can see the northern lights. The climate in Montreal is approximately the same as in Moscow, although Montreal, like the capital, Ottawa, is located at the latitude of Simferopol. And at the latitude of Moscow in eastern Canada there is already tundra. As in Russia, approximately 70% of Canada's territory is usually classified as the Northern region.

Political-geographical position of Canada:

Canada is a federal state that occupies most of the North American mainland and numerous adjacent islands. Today, Canada is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system, a bilingual and multicultural country where English and French are recognized as official languages ​​at the federal level.

It is washed by the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, bordered by the United States in the south and northwest, and Denmark (Greenland) and France (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon) in the northeast. Canada's border with the United States is the longest shared border in the world. The capital of Canada is Ottawa.

Over the past 60 years, Canada has emerged as a champion of diversity, working to resolve international conflicts in cooperation with other countries.

As a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Canada has a defensive army without nuclear weapons. There are currently 62,000 permanent military personnel in service and 26,000 in the reserves. The Canadian Armed Forces consists of infantry, navy and air force. The bulk of the weapons include 1,500 infantry fighting vehicles, 34 warships and 861 aircraft.

Canada participated in the First and Second World Wars on the side of the Allies. She also served in the Korean War on the side of the United States. Canada has been active in international missions under UN and NATO command since 1950, including peacekeeping operations, various missions in the former Yugoslavia, and supporting Coalition forces in the 1st Gulf War. Since 2001, Canada has had a presence in Afghanistan in partnership with US stabilization forces and NATO international forces with UN support. The Disaster Relief Team was involved in three significant rescue operations following the December 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, the September 2005 Hurricane Katrina on the American coast, and the October 2005 Kashmir earthquake.

Canada consists of ten provinces and three territories. See Appendix 2. Canada's newest administrative unit is the territory of Nunavut (created in 1999).

Provinces are states that exist under the Canadian Constitution and have the highest authority within their jurisdiction, independent of the federal government.

Canadian territories are administrative units administered by the Canadian federal Parliament, which by ordinary law grants certain powers to their local governments.

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1. Using the map of world religions, determine which religions adherents live in Canada. Explain the distribution of areas of these religions.

The overwhelming majority of Canada's population are Christians (mainly Catholics and Protestants), since historically Canada's population was largely represented by immigrants from Western Europe: Catholic France and Protestant England.

2. What are the features of Canada's geographic location?

Canada is the only country that is washed by the waters of three oceans at once: the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific, and therefore it has the longest coastline in the world. In the south, Canada borders on America, and in the north, thanks to the large number of polar islands (Victoria, Baffin Island, Newfoundland, Devon, Ellesmere, Banks and others), they go 800 kilometers deeper into the Arctic Circle.

3. How does Canada resemble Russia?

Russia and Canada have long been called twin countries. These two countries are the largest states in the modern world by territory. In terms of natural conditions and wealth of resources, Canada has many similarities with our country, and the natural landscapes are very reminiscent of Russian ones. Although our common border is not even a line, but simply a geographical point - the North Pole, where the conventional boundaries of the Arctic polar sectors of both countries meet - Russia and Canada are considered neighboring countries. In the world, only Russia and Canada have vast undeveloped territories left, where there are many natural resources, but difficult climatic conditions.

4. Choose the correct answers:

1) A distinctive feature of the Canadian economy is the large role of extractive industries and primary processing of raw materials.

2) In the structure of the manufacturing industry, the leading positions are occupied by the chemical and light industries.

3) Pipeline transport has received great development in Canada.

4) A characteristic feature of Canada is the uneven distribution of the population and economy.

6. What are the similarities and differences between the forms of government in the USA and Canada?

The USA and Canada are federal states, however Canada is a constitutional monarchy (kingdom) with a parliamentary system, its monarch is the monarch of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and the USA is a presidential republic.

7. What are the characteristics of the ethnic composition of the USA and Canada? What are the similarities between them?

The populations of the USA and Canada are represented by a very wide ethnic spectrum, but the national backbone of both countries is formed by immigrants from Western European countries.

8. Name the branches of international economic specialization in the USA and Canada.

Canada is a highly developed country, although its face in the world economy is determined by its specialization in the production and export of mining, forestry, energy, and agricultural products. The face of the United States in the world economy is the automotive industry, electronics, electrical engineering, and aerospace industry.

9. One of the provinces of Canada is called the “bread basket”. What province is this? Why is she called that?

The province of Saskatchewan is called the bread basket of Canada. It is famous for its prairies and wheat fields. Saskatchewan is located in the western part of the country and borders Manitoba, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and the United States.

10. There is a common expression among Canadians: “Canada has too little history and too much geography.” How do you understand it? Can it also be attributed to Australia?

Canada and Australia are young states. They are former British colonies and cannot boast of a rich history, but their territories are huge. Australia occupies an entire continent, and Canada is the second largest country in the world.