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Canada (pronounced /'kænada/ in English and /kanada/ in
Canadian French) is the world's second-largest country by total area,
occupying most of northern North America. Extending from the Atlantic
Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, Canada
shares land borders with the United States to the south and to the northwest.
Inhabited first by aboriginal peoples, Canada was founded as a union
of British and former French colonies. Canada gained independence
from the United Kingdom in an incremental process that began in 1867 and
ended in 1982; it remains a Commonwealth Realm.
Canada is a federal constitutional monarchy with parliamentary
democracy. Comprising ten provinces and three territories, Canada is a
bilingual and multicultural country, with both English and French as official
languages at the federal level. A technologically advanced and industrialized
nation, Canada maintains a diversified economy that is heavily reliant
on trade—particularly with the United States, with which Canada
has had a long and complex relationship—and
When traveling to Canada...
Top 10 things to do when traveling to Canada:
- CN Tower: A visit to Toronto is never complete without visiting
the world's tallest building, the CN tower. Standing at 553m above the
ground the views of Toronto and Lake Ontario are unbeatable. Take the
elevator to the top and then to the SkyPod - the world's highest observation
deck at 147 storeys (1,465ft / 447m). In 1995, the CN Tower was classified
as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World!
- Rocky Mountains (snow train to Jasper): The Rocky Mountains
are an icon of Canada and an unparalleled sight that is impressive in
every way. VIA Rail offers a train service from Toronto - Winnipeg -
Saskatoon - Edmonton to Jasper in the Rocky Mountains or from Vancouver
to Jasper. The Rocky Mountain Rail Tour company offers a similar service
further south from Vancouver to Banff and on to Calgary.
- Banff National Park and Lake Louise: In the heart of the Canadian
Rockies is Banff National Park, a World Heritage Site designated by
the UN. Lake Louise and the Lake Louise Ski Resort are nearby. If you
want to enjoy snowsports, wildlife watching or explore the beautiful
mountains, Banff is a good place to start.
Banff, Alberta
- Stanley Park: A pride of Vancouver and the biggest park in
the city. Stanely Park is over 1,000 acres in size. Surrounded by the
Seawall, a walking, rollerblading and bicycle route that stretches 8km
around the park, through original rainforest and past sandy beaches.
The Vancouver Aquarium Children's Farmyard, Miniature Railway, tennis
courts, putting course, beaches, a children's water park, a heated ocean-side
swimming pool, Theatre Under the Stars, and miles of trails are all
inside the free to enter park minutes from downtown Vancouver.
- Whistler Blackcomb: One of the largest ski and snowboard resorts
anywhere in the world. Whistler Blackcomb offers world-class snowsports
on 8,000 acres of terrain. Whistler Blackcomb is one of the sites for
the 2010 Winter Olympics. Whistler Village is a pleasant place to stay
with high quality hotels and great restaurants. Activities on and off
the mountain are available all year and are suitable for everyone -
skier or not.
- Quebec Winter Carnival: Carnaval de Québec in Quebec
City is the world's biggest winter celebration, and the third largest
carnival. Held annually from the end of January for 2 and a half weeks,
the carnival attracts people from all over the world to experience snow
baths, night parades, slide runs, ice fishing, concerts, snow sculptures,
horse-drawn sleigh rides, husky powered dogsled rides, Ice Tower and
skating. Make your visit even more interesting by staying at the famous
Ice Hotel!
- Watch Polar Bears at Churchill: Every year around September
the small, northern Manitoba town of Churchill on the edge of Hudson's
Bay welcomes its furry white visitors - Polar Bears. The bears move
between the ice and the land during this time and pass by the town making
polar bear watching tours possible.
- Peggy's Cove: According to legend, Peggys' Cove was named after
the only survivor of a schooner that ran aground and sank in 1800. A
lighthouse was built on this spot in 1868 and 100 years later the Sou'Wester
Restaurant opened. The lighthouse is one of the most photographed buildings
in Canada and Peggy's Cove is popular among tourists year round.
- Calgary Stampede and Rodeo: The annual Calgary Stampede features
the famous million dollar rodeo, world-famous chuckwagon races and spectacular
evening grandstand show. The city of Calgary comes alive during this
unique event.
- Canada's Parliament buildings: Loosely modelled after the
British houses of Parliament, the Parliament Hill in Ottawa is the centre
of Canada's federal government. Centre Block (the main parliament building)
is free to visitors and it is possible to see the Commons and Senate.
Traveling to Canada info sites:
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