GeoFroggy

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Background

A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified border. Its paramount political problem continues to be the relationship of the province of Quebec, with its French-speaking residents and unique culture, to the remainder of the country.

Location

Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US

Area Comparative

Slightly larger than the US

Maritime Claims

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate

Varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north

Natural Hazards

Continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow

Environment Current Issues

Air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Geography Note

Second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; nearly 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US/Canada border

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Map Reference

North America

Irrigated Land 1993

7,100 sq km

Area 2000

Total

9,976,140 sq km
Land

9,220,970 sq km
Water

755,170 sq km

Coastline

243,791 km

Geographical Coordinates

60 00 N, 95 00 W

Land use 2000

Arable Land
5%
Permanent Crops
0%
Permanent Pastures
3%
Forests And Woodland
54%
Other
38%

Terrain

Mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast

Elevation

Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest Point: Mount Logan 5,959 m

Land Boundaries

Total
8,893 km
US
8,893 km
(includes km
with km

Natural Resources

Iron ore
Nickel
Zinc
Copper
Gold
Lead
Molybdenum
Potash

Silver
Fish
Timber
Wildlife
Coal
Petroleum
Natural gas
Hydropower

Canada