Canada--An Introduction

Canada is a land of many moods. From the rocky coasts and inviting beaches of the Maritime Provinces, to huge Douglas firs of the British Columbia coast, from the Old-World charm of French-flavored Quebec City to the modern sparkle of Toronto and Montreal, from the vast plains of the central part of the country to the towering peaks of the majestic Canadian Rockies, from relatively temperate southern Ontario to the ice-rimmed bays north of the Arctic Circle, the country has something for everyone.

The Land and People of Canada

Canada is the second-largest country in the world, though it is relatively sparsely populated. Most of the country's population lives in a fairly narrow strip that borders the United States. Its culture, too, is similar to that of the United States, but with several important differences. The country has two official languages, French and English. The bastion of the French language in Canada is Quebec; more than three quarters of the population is of French origin. A traveler might go for days through the Quebec countryside without hearing a word of English. At the same time, English is spoken almost exclusively in the towns and cities of the Canadian east and the Canadian west. There is also a strong native influence in Canada; in fact, the name "Canada" comes from the Huron-Iroquois word "kanata," which means a village or settlement. Additionally, more than 30,000 Inuit people live in small groups in the area of the country near the Arctic Circle.

New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island are known as the Maritime Provinces. To their north is Newfoundland. The province of Quebec and its neighbor Ontario have a climate similar to that of the midwestern United States, with hot, humid summers and cold winters. Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, the Prairie Provinces, have hot summers, cold winters, and relatively little rainfall. British Columbia has a wet climate like that of the United States Pacific northwest, with moderate summers and moderate winters. Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, the territories of the Canadian North, have long cold winters and short cool summers.

Travel to Canada

The line between the United States and Canada is the longest peaceful border in the world, and Americans who wish to enter Canada need only present a valid form of identification and answer a few questions about the nature of their visit. Canada is easily accessible by car, and in fact, visitors who wish to drive across the country may wish to take advantage of the 5,000-mile long Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1), that stretches from Victoria, British Columbia in the west to St. John's, Newfoundland, in the east.

There are air routes to Canada from most major American cities. Amtrak also connects with Canadian destinations with trains from Chicago, Buffalo, and New York.