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. Canada gained legislative independence from Britain in 1931 and formalized its constitutional independence from the UK when it passed the Canada Act in 1982. Economically and technologically, the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across the world's longest international border. Canada faces the political challenges of meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care, education, social services, and economic competitiveness, as well as responding to the particular concerns of predominantly francophone Quebec. Canada also aims to develop its diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the environment.

Location

Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US

Area Comparative

Slightly larger than the US

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

Climate

Varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north

Population Distribution

Vast majority of Canadians are positioned in a discontinuous band within approximately 300 km of the southern border with the United States; the most populated province is Ontario, followed by Quebec and British Columbia

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 east of the mountainsvolcanism: the vast majority of volcanoes in Western Canada's Coast Mountains remain dormant

Geography Note

Note 1: second-largest country in world (after Russia) and largest in the Americas; strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km (100 mi) of the US border

Note 2: Canada has more fresh water than any other country and almost 9% of Canadian territory is water; Canada has at least 2 million and possibly over 3 million lakes - that is more than all other countries combined

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 2015

9,045 sq km

Area 2023

Total

9,984,670 sq km
Land

9,093,507 sq km
Water

891,163 sq km

Coastline

tndefined202,080 km

Geographical Coordinates

60 00 N, 95 00 W

Land use 2023

Agricultural Land
6.8%
Arable Land
4.7%
Permanent Crops
0.5%
Permanent Pasture
1.6%
Forest
34.1%
Other
59.1%

Terrain

Mostly plains with mountains in west
Lowlands in southeast

Elevation

Highest Point: Mount Logan 5,959 m
Lowest Point: Atlantic/Pacific/Arctic Oceans 0 m
Mean Elevation: 487 m

Land Boundaries

Total
8,892 km
km

Natural Resources

Bauxite
Iron ore
Nickel
Zinc
Copper
Gold
Lead
Uranium
Rare earth elements
Molybdenum

Potash
Diamonds
Silver
Fish
Timber
Wildlife
Coal
Petroleum
Natural gas
Hydropower

Canada