Canada Travel Guide

Fact file
• Canada is the world's second-largest country (after the Russian Federation), covering almost ten million square kilometres. About a quarter of this comprises an Inuit homeland, Nunavut. Canada extends across six time zones, and shares a border with the US of 8900km. The highest point is Mount Logan (5959m).

• The population is around 30 million. Almost a half claim British ancestry, a quarter French ancestry and just under a million (3.3 percent) claim some aboriginal ancestry. Canada ranks first in the world for literacy and fourth for life expectancy (almost 80 years).

• Canada has colossal natural resources: it's the world's largest exporter of timber and the largest producer of zinc and uranium. Almost two-thirds of its power is hydroelectric.

• Canada is a confederation comprising ten provinces and three territories. It has been self-governing since 1867, but retains ties to Britain: the Canadian head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a Governor General. The bicameral parliament consists of the elected House of Commons and the appointed Senate. The official languages are English and French.
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