General characteristics of Canada. Complete Lessons - Knowledge Hypermarket

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1. Geographic location

2. Natural conditions

4. Tourism resources

5. Recreational resources

canada landform resource tourism

1. Geographic location

Canada is located in the north of the American continent and has a total area of 9976 thousand square meters. km. (second largest country in the world). Capital Ottawa. It is washed by the waters of the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as a result of which it has the largest coast in the world. In the south it borders on the United States, and in the north, thanks to its polar islands, it deepens for 800 km. for the Arctic Circle.

Canada owns a number of islands - Baffin Island, Victoria, Ellesmere, Devon, Banks, Newfoundland and others. The highest point is Logan in the northwest (5951 m.).

The rocky Pacific coast of the country is indented by fjords and fenced off from the main territory by the powerful mountain range of the St. Elijah Mountains, the Beregovoy and Boundari ridges. The famous Canadian prairie stretches throughout the south of the country to the very Atlantic coast. The Atlantic regions of the country are occupied by low hilly ridges interspersed with vast plains. The polar zone and the Hudson Bay area (Hudson Bay) are huge low-lying plains, crossed by thousands of rivers and lakes, often swampy or occupied by tundra landscapes.

2. Natural conditions

The relief of Canada is very many-sided and diverse. Most of the country is occupied by a hilly plain, bounded on the west and east by mountain ranges along the coast of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In the west, along the entire Pacific coast lies the huge mountain range of the Cordilleras. The width of this mountain belt is about 600 kilometers. The Canadian Cordillera reaches a height of 2700 meters, they begin with a series of small mountain ranges in Alaska. The Rocky Mountains pass south of the Layard River basin, divided by rivers into two located ranges.

The western slopes here are covered with dense coniferous forests, and the eastern slopes are rocky and bare, the height of individual peaks exceeds 4000 meters. The northern part of the mountain of the western ridge is called Caribou, to the south it is divided into several branches (Parcell, Selkirk, Golden Mountains). West of the Rocky Mountains is the volcanic plateau of the Columbia and Fraser Rivers. The highest areas in the western belt of mountains in the south are the coastal islands of Queen Charlotte, Vancouver, and in the north - the wide massifs of the mountains of St. Elias and Logan, with a height of 5959 meters. This is the highest point in the entire relief of Canada. The slopes of the mountains are covered with powerful glaciers, smoothly descending to the sea.

Mountain ranges stretch along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, which are a continuation of the Appalachian Mountains of the United States. They also include the Notre Dame Mountains, located on the right bank of the St. Lawrence River, the Kibkid Mountains, passing northeast of the Bay of Fundy, and the New Brunswick Upland. The height of the local mountains does not exceed 700 meters. The surface of Newfoundland rises to 805 meters.

To the north of Lake Superior and the St. Lawrence River to the shores of the Arctic Ocean lies a huge area of the Canadian Shield, consisting of hard crystalline rocks (granite, gneiss and shale). On the surface of the shield, traces of recent glaciation are visible, processed by ice into curly rocks, the so-called "ram's foreheads". Rapids rivers run along the Canadian Shield, there are numerous lakes, the surface is covered with a thin layer of soil.

In the relief of Canada, it is also worth noting the Labrador Peninsula, which is distinguished by bare stone hills and rocks. The height of the terrain on the southern and western coasts of Hudson Bay does not exceed 200 meters, in the east, near Lake Superior, the terrain rises to 500 meters. The low-lying strip stretches along the entire northern coast and goes deep into the mainland. To the west from the Canadian Shield to the Rocky Mountains is a plain that reaches the Mackenzie River basin. In the south of the country there are flat-topped Cypress and Wooded Mountains up to 1100 meters high.

Climate of Canada

The main factors in the Canadian climate are latitudinal variation (from 43° N to 80° N), the obstruction of the westerly ocean winds by the Rocky Mountains, the extent of continental territories at relatively high latitudes, resulting in severe cooling in winter, and the proximity the Arctic Ocean, which makes the summer cool. The Canadian climate is characterized by cold winters and cool to moderate and humid summers with long daylight hours. The climate and temperatures vary greatly depending on the area, so in the north the climate is polar, in the Prairies there is a large range of temperature fluctuations at different times of the year or even days, while in the west, in British Columbia, the climate is milder and more temperate, since the Arctic air does not skipped there by the Canadian Rockies. The west coast and Vancouver Island have a maritime climate, with mild and rainy winters due to the influence of the Pacific Ocean.

Average monthly winter temperatures can drop to -15°C even in the southern part of the country, although temperatures of -40°C can be expected there with strong icy winds. Average annual precipitation in the form of snow can reach several hundred centimeters (for example, in Quebec - 337 cm). In summer, real temperatures can rise to 35 ° C, and in the Canadian Prairies even up to 40 ° C.

The humidity index is often high in summer in the east of the country. In some villages in the far north of the country, temperatures up to -50 ° C were recorded in winter. Temperatures in Alerta rarely reach 5°C in summer. In addition, strong icy winds can drastically drop temperatures even to 60 degrees below zero.

In most of the territory, the climate is continental (cold or very cold of the Dxx type according to the Köppen classification in winter), in the southern part, close to the American border, the summer is relatively warmer and longer, in the north it is shorter and cooler. Humidity is negligible on the prairies to moderate in the north and center throughout the year, with summer rainfall predominating.

According to the Köppen classification, such a summer is Dfb (moderate summer) in the south, and Dfc (cool summer) in the north. In the southeast, the Atlantic influence moderates the winter slightly, but increases atmospheric disturbances and precipitation, which leads to heavy snowfalls, while the distribution of precipitation varies slightly in different areas: they can be distributed evenly throughout the year (Quebec) or even prevail in winter in the immediate vicinity. proximity to the ocean (Newfoundland and Nova Scotia). In the west, bags of a continental climate with a temperate and dry summer (a rare type of Dsb) are located in the mountainous regions of the Canadian Rockies, the Coast Range, the Mackenzie Mountains.

Also near the Rocky Mountains on the American border in Saskatchewan, in Saskatoon, there are bags of cold semi-desert climate (mark Bsk), protected from the westerly winds.

On the west coast - a narrow region west of the Rocky Mountains - the climate is milder and more temperate, thanks to oceanic influence. The winter there is very humid, in the south the summer is moderate (mark Cfb), in the north it is cool (mark Cfc). However, this climate does not extend deep into the continent, as the Rocky Mountains prevent it.

On the shores of the Arctic Ocean and the islands of Northern Canada with their arctic climate (ET mark according to Köppen), the highest average monthly temperature does not reach even 10 ° C, winter is about as cold as in the continental region.

Canada resources

In terms of natural conditions and deposits of natural resources, Canada is often compared with Russia. The mineral resources of Canada are very rich and diverse. Canada has significant reserves of non-ferrous metals (copper, nickel, lead, zinc), uranium, oil, iron ore, potash, asbestos, coal and natural gas. Therefore, Canada is the largest supplier of mineral raw materials to various countries of the world, and primarily to the United States. The country has very diverse climatic conditions.

Most of Canada has a harsh climate that makes it difficult to conduct business. Canada is very different in precipitation. In the steppe regions of the Great Plain, up to 250-500 millimeters of precipitation falls annually, and up to 1000-2000 millimeters falls on the coast of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. A significant part of Canada is covered with coniferous forests (about 45% of the territory). In terms of timber reserves, the country is in third place in the world. Wildlife stocks are of great importance for the country's economy - these are commercial fish (herring, halibut, cod, salmon), fur-bearing animals. A special place is occupied by its water resources. In terms of total fresh water reserves, Canada ranks third in the world after Russia and Brazil. The St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes are of great energy and transport importance. Features of natural conditions have led to uneven economic development and development of territories.

hydropower

Canada is rich in rivers with high water flow, which makes it possible to use hydropower. In addition, vast areas are uninhabited. This simplifies the implementation of large projects involving large reservoirs.

Between 2000 and 2002, Canada was the world's largest producer of hydropower, generating about 337 billion kilowatt-hours annually. It was followed by Brazil with 286 billion kilowatt-hours. The main producing provinces were Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador. The last three used mainly electricity from their own hydroelectric generation.

Quebec was also the largest producer of energy, about three times the size of British Columbia (the second largest hydroelectric producing province).

La Grande, Manicouagan and Churchill are the three Canadian rivers that contain the most powerful dams in the country.

In other provinces, other ways of generating electricity predominate. The province of Ontario is dependent on nuclear power as well as fossil fuels such as coal.

Timber

The Canadian timber industry produces timber. It is especially developed in British Columbia, where the humid oceanic climate is moderately influenced by the Pacific Ocean.

Minerals

Alberta and the north contain non-metallic minerals such as oil. Potassium salts are mined in the Saskatchewan Basin.

Canada has the richest mineral resources and ranks first in the world in the extraction of uranium, cobalt, potash salts and asbestos; second place - in the extraction of zinc ores and sulfur; the third is natural gas and platinoids; the fourth, copper ore and gold; the fifth for lead ores and the seventh for silver mining.

Fresh water

Canada has significant reserves of fresh water for which the United States makes payments in the Great Lakes region. Canada's export of fresh water to the US is the subject of recurring discussions.

Agriculture

The diversity of Canadian soils and climates explains the great variation in Canadian agriculture.

British Columbia and Ontario are known for their intensive horticulture.

In the steppes in the west of the country there are large areas of extensive grain crops.

Quebec is the largest producer of dairy products.

Most of Canada's potatoes are grown on Prince Edward Island.

and much more

Flora and fauna of Canada

Flora and fauna Much of Canada's land is tundra and taiga. Only 8% of the land is cultivated, and more than 50% of the territory is covered with forests, in which there are many valuable species of wood. Of particular value are conifers: Douglas, giant thuja, balsam fir, black and white fir. Poplar, yellow birch, oak and maple, the symbol of Canada, are characteristic of the south of the southeast of the country.

Of industrial importance is the fur-bearing animal, for which the taiga is rich. In terms of wood reserves, Canada is inferior to Russia and Brazil, and in terms of per capita, Canada is in first place in the world. Mosses, lichens, grass and flowers grow in the tundra in summer. In the forest-tundra - dwarf trees. Prairies and plains are covered with bearded vultures, sagebrush, and feather grass. The fauna of Canada is also diverse. Reindeer, tundra wolf, white hare, polar bear, arctic fox live in the tundra, bear, wolf, fox, lynx, squirrel, hare, marten, beaver, elk, deer live in the forests, field mice, moles live in the steppes and gophers. The lakes and arctic islands are home to millions of migratory birds.

In the reserves of Canada, you can find bison, which were almost completely exterminated with the arrival of European settlers on the mainland. Coastal waters are rich in fish: in the west - salmon (chinook salmon, chum salmon, pink salmon), and in the east - cod and herring. Climate The country's climate varies from arctic in the north to temperate in the south. Most of Canada has a continental climate, on the western and eastern coasts - maritime, in the south - temperate, close to subtropical. The average January temperature in the far north is 35 0 C, in the south - 20 0 C, on the east coast - 5 0 C, in the west - 4 0 C, in July - from 5 0 C in the far north to 22 0 From near the US border. Precipitation is greatest in coastal areas (up to 2,500 mm per year), and least of all in the central part of the country (200-500 mm).

In winter, all of Canada is covered with snow, and most rivers and lakes freeze.

The cold masses of air from the Arctic coast easily reach the south of the country, the cooled air mass reaches the temperate latitudes. The mountain ranges of Canada are located along the meridians and do not protect the southern part of the country from the influence of the Arctic cold. Only the southwestern and southeastern regions of the country are distinguished by a mild maritime climate. Rivers and lakes Canada is famous for its dense and full-flowing network of rivers. Canada is crossed by such mighty rivers as Mackenzie, Columbia, Niagara, St. Lawrence River and many others. Mackenzie is the longest river in the entire northern part of the mainland: its length is more than 4.5 thousand km.

Almost 2/3 of all rivers in Canada belong to the Arctic Ocean basin. Everywhere, except for the southernmost part of the country, rivers are covered with ice for a period of 5 to 9 months a year. Rivers such as the Niagara and the St. Lawrence River play an important role in Canada's economy. They serve as transport routes between Canada and the United States, as well as sources of electricity generated by hydroelectric power plants built on them.

Nature and landscape

Prime Minister W.L. Mackenzie King, complaining about the vast territory of the country, once remarked: "If there are countries in the world with a great history, then we are a country with a great geography." The territory of Canada occupies 10 million square meters. km. It is in second place among all countries of the world in terms of territory, second only to Russia. Cape Pili on Lake Erie is at the same latitude as Italy, while Canada's northernmost point is 800 km from the North Pole. If you travel from Cape Spear in the east to the border with Alaska in the west, you will cover a distance of approximately 5633 km and six time zones.

Canada is famous for its harsh winters, but on the ocean coast or near the Great Lakes, the climate is milder in winter and cooler in summer. The barren land beyond the Arctic Circle is literally uninhabited, with the Canadian Shield covering at least half of the country. The vast majority of the population lives along the US border, in cities and towns. The inhabitants of the Maritime Provinces are much closer to Europe than to their fellow citizens in British Columbia.

Canadian shield

A distinctive feature of the geographical map of Canada are the mountains, formed in the ancient period during the melting of glaciers. They occupy an area equal to approximately 5 million square meters. km. The shield is located in the form of a giant arc around Hudson Bay in the direction from northwest to northeast.

In the south, it borders the Great Lakes and reaches the outskirts of the cities of Ontario and Quebec. The long settled provinces of Canada to the east, such as southern Ontario and Manitoba, are separated from the later settled provinces to the west by this formidable barrier thousands of kilometers wide.

The rocks that make up the shield are among the most ancient on Earth. They were formed over four billion years ago and consist mainly of granite and gneiss. During the ice ages, the glaciers advanced and retreated, eroding the upper layers of the soil to their present level, forming numerous lakes and destroying almost the entire fertile layer. At the southern end of the shield, mountain ranges have formed, such as, for example, the Laurentian Upland, the highest point of which, Mont Tremblant, reaches 968 meters in height. The elevation then gradually declines to sea level along the coast of Hudson Bay. In the east, the Torngat mountain range rises above the Labrador Sea by more than 1524 meters. To the north of the woodlands is a huge strip of tundra: a dull landscape of dwarf birches and willows, moss and lichen. In the short summer, small flowering plants bloom here. In the south, the tundra turns into taiga (arctic forest) with coniferous trees. In large areas of the taiga, peat bogs are found everywhere.

Clay soils are common in some regions at the southern tip of the shield, but attempts to use these soils for agricultural purposes have not been particularly successful. The natural resources, flora and fauna of the entire region helped the indigenous peoples to survive. They, for example, traded in fur since ancient times. Some resources have come to be used by power generation companies, one of which is the large Hydro-Quebec corporation. A large part of this area is being harvested, and trees are floated down many rivers and mountain streams.

Appalachian mountains

The northernmost regions of the Appalachian mountain range reach east of Quebec and the Maritimes, they also reach Newfoundland. Most of the Appalachians are folded mountains, eroded by the glaciers that once covered them. There are also lowlands along the river valleys and the coast.

The mountains and highlands are mostly round in shape, reaching a height of more than 1200 meters on the Gaspé peninsula. In Newfoundland, their height is approximately 762 meters, and on Cape Breton Island - only 533 meters.

The main distinguishing feature of the region is the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Previously, the path connecting the settlements distant from each other ran more by sea than by land. Until recently, the region's economy depended only on the sea and the majority of the population was fed by this. The extension of the coastal shallows, the so-called Great Newfoundland Bank, is the richest place for fishing, one of the largest in the world. The coastline is well defined here, and there are both cold and warm currents in the sea. Although there are no cod anymore, a variety of representatives of the marine fauna are found here, among which there are some species of whales. One of the region's most important resources is onshore oil.

Atlantic region

This region is part of the Appalachian mountain range, but is most associated with Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Prince Edward Islands. Agriculture is associated with the cultivation of soils of medium fertility. There is a rich potato harvest on Prince Edward Island. The Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia is famous for its orchids.

Great Lakes

More than half of Canada's population lives in relatively favorable climatic conditions - along the coast of the Great Lakes and in the valley of the St. Lawrence River. Between Windsor, near Detroit, and the city of Quebec, for about 1,126 km to the northeast, there are quite a few mountain settlements. This includes the two most significant cities, Toronto and Montreal.

Much of the history of the country unfolded here. As a cultural heritage of distant eras, ancient buildings have been preserved here (for example, in the city of Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario) and beautiful rural landscapes (for example, the Richelieu Valley in Quebec).

Although winters are cold6 and summers are hot, the climate in the regions is not as severe as in the rest of the country, which allows for a varied crop. In many areas, the soils are quite fertile. They were formed due to the fact that sedimentary rocks overlie older rocks on the Canadian Shield. A variety of crops are grown here, even grapes, mostly in the Niagara region, but also in other parts of Ontario and even in southern Quebec. Peeley on Lake Erie, rich in natural woodland that once stood here, is the northernmost part of the Caroline Forest. Such southern plant species are common here, such as, for example, the tulip tree and the frame tree. The forest in Canada is well preserved. This is why Canada has chosen the maple leaf as its national symbol: tourists admire autumn leaves, and Canadians extract juice to produce maple syrup.

interior plains

The Plains are an extension of the chain of lowlands that runs across the United States from the Rio Grande in a northerly direction. In Canada, their length is more than 2414 km. They are located between the shield and the Rocky Mountains, where the Mackenzie River flows into the Arctic Ocean. The plains include the southern fringes of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, most of Alberta, and the southwestern part of the Northwest Territories. Along the boundary of the shield plains are huge natural reservoirs of water such as Lakes Winnipeg, Athabasca, and Great Slave Lake. Arctic forests and tundra predominate in the north, while fertile soils prevail in the south. Once they were meadows, but now agriculture is developed here. This is where the bulk of Canadian grain is produced. Along with prairie pastures that were ruthlessly exploited, countless bison that once grazed the plains were literally exterminated.

Initially, settlers came to the flat territories to engage in animal husbandry and grain cultivation. But the pace of economic development is now determined by oil and natural gas resources. Basically, this industry is developed in Alberta.

Cordillera in Canada

The Cordilleras are part of a 14,500 km long mountain range stretching from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska, and many small chains and mountain plateaus up to 800 km wide. They are found throughout the Yukon and most of British Columbia. And the crest of the Rocky Mountains forms the border with Alberta. Here are the most stunning scenery in Canada and the highest mountain peaks. Until recently, many researchers tried to conquer them. The highest peak in the Canadian Rockies is Mount Robson (3954 meters). Some peaks in the Mackenzie mountain range in Yukon exceed 2500 meters, but the highest mountain in Canada and the second highest in North America is Mount Logan (6050 meters) in the northwest in the St. Elijah mountain range.

Mountains were formed as a result of a complex folding process that began 70 million years ago. But glaciers have worked on the modern relief of the mountains. This process is still ongoing. The Alpine climate contributes to the most abundant snowfall in the country - up to 940 cm per year (in the Glacier National Park). In comparison, the area around the Strait of Georgia on the Pacific coast has a rather mild climate and frequent rains.

Fur traders often settled in the area, as the local area is rich in diverse fauna, preserved in some places to this day. The alpine forests to the east and the rainforests to the west are home to brown bears and grizzlies. Once upon a time, salmon was found in reservoirs, but its number has significantly decreased in recent years. Logging remains a vital industry.

3. The history of the formation and development of Canada

1. Canada's post-war situation

Canada, which was a British dominion, took an active part in World War II on the side of the anti-Hitler coalition. She became a real arsenal of England. More than 800 thousand military trucks, 50 thousand tanks, 18 thousand aircraft, 4 thousand warships were produced here. Its troops participated in the fighting on almost all fronts of the war. The war gave impetus to the economic growth of Canada: in terms of development, it came out on top among Western countries. Canada has become an industrial power. The economic recovery that began during the war years continued in the post-war years. The impetus for this was the rapid growth of the population (mainly due to emigrants), and, accordingly, the increase in the domestic market, the development of the north and the far west. In 1949, New Foundland and the northeastern part of Labrador, rich in iron ore, became part of Canada. Large oil fields were discovered in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The strengthening of the economic and political position of Canada has weakened traditional ties with the UK. An important step towards the elimination of the remnants of colonial dependence was the adoption in1947 of the law on Canadian citizenship and the recognition of the Canadian Supreme Court as the country's highest court of appeal. In 1952, for the first time, Canadian-born V. Messi became the governor of Canada.

Prime Ministers of Canada in the post-war period

Prime Minister	Years in office	Party affiliation
		liberal
L. Saint Laurent		liberal
D. Diefenbaker		Progressive Conservative
L. Pearson		liberal
P. E. Trudeau		liberal
		Progressive Conservative
P. E. Trudeau		liberal
B. Mulroney		Progressive Conservative
J. Chrétien		liberal

2. Political and economic development in the 50-60s of the XX century.

In domestic political life, the traditional rivalry between the leading political parties - liberal and conservative - continued. From 1935 to 1957, liberals were invariably in power, whose policies contributed to the economic recovery of the country (until 1948 the government was headed by Mackenzie King, and until 1957 by Louis Saint Laurent), as well as strengthening strategic relations with the United States.

The Conservatives, eager to come to power, turned to serious reform within the party. Since 1956, the party has become known as the Progressive Conservative. The party was led by an energetic politician, John Diefenbaker, who initiated a change in the party program. The new election program assumed the solution of many economic and political issues: the development of the North, the restoration of traditional ties with England and the British Commonwealth, the "Canadization" of the economy and culture, the elimination of unemployment, and the improvement of relations between the federal authorities and the provinces. Thanks to the renewal of the program, the Conservatives won the elections in 1957 and created a government. The new government increased the amount of assistance to the disabled and the elderly, reduced taxes, provided loans to farmers for the future harvest, and carried out other social reforms. In August 1960, the "Bill of Rights of Citizens" was adopted, but most of the election promises failed to be fulfilled. In particular, the program for the development of the North, "canadization", and the elimination of unemployment has not been implemented. The position of the ruling party began to weaken.

In foreign policy, the Diefenbaker government continued its policy of strengthening Atlantic solidarity within NATO (Canada has been a member of this organization since 1949). On some issues, its representatives had a different opinion from the position of the United States. Thus, Canada refused to join the Organization of American States (OAS), did not break off diplomatic and trade relations with Cuba, and supported the demand for recognition of the PRC. In the early 1960s, a heated discussion broke out in Canadian society regarding the deployment of American nuclear weapons in the country and the presence of Canadian troops in Europe. Prime Minister Diefenbaker was vehemently opposed, but most of his cabinet ministers were in favor. This caused a government crisis, which resulted in the dissolution of parliament and the appointment of new elections. Two new political parties, the New Democratic Party and the Social Credit Party, joined the political struggle. Although the 1963 elections were won by the Liberals with 42% of the vote, it turned out that the two-party system had failed, with the Conservatives winning 32% of the vote and the new parties 25%.

The new government was formed by Lester Pearson, who was in power until 1968. Lacking a majority in Parliament, the Liberals were forced to pursue a cautious policy, bypassing sharp political corners. Among the notable actions of the Liberal government is the adoption in 1965 of a new Canadian flag with a red maple leaf on a white field and the conclusion of the Auto Pact, which united the automobile industries of Canada and the United States.

3. Problems of Quebec. The development of Canada in the 70-80s. Constitutional reform 1982

Pursuing a cautious policy, the liberals could not avoid the most acute problem of Canada - the national one. It was caused by the dissatisfaction of the French-speaking population of Canada with their economic situation, social and political status. The roots of this problem lie in the history of the formation of the Canadian state and the peculiarities of its national composition. The population of Canada is divided into Anglo-Canadians - 40%, French Canadians - 27%, who are descendants of the first settlers from England and France, and immigrants from other countries of Europe, Asia and Africa.

The majority of Canada's francophones live in the province of Quebec, where they make up 82% of the population. Therefore, the French-Canadian problem is primarily a "Quebec problem". Leading positions in the economic life of the province belong to the Anglo-Canadian and American companies. Thus, Anglo-Canadians, who make up 10% of the population here, occupy 80% of all managerial positions in industry, while among workers they account for 7%. The income of Anglo-Canadians exceeded the average income level in the province by 40%. Along with this, Quebec had the highest unemployment rate in the country. An important factor that became an incentive for French Canadian separatism was the dominance of the English language: knowledge of English gave an advantage in hiring and raising social status, while not knowing French did not entail a decrease in social status. The dominance of the English language caused the new immigrants to prefer English and thereby increase the proportion of Anglo-Canadians in the province. These reasons led to a mass movement of the French-speaking population for equality. The unwillingness of governments to solve this problem led to the emergence of a movement among French Canadians for the secession of the province from Canada and the formation of an independent state. In 1968, the Quebec Party was formed, led by René Leveque. The liberals, given the seriousness of the problem, made changes in the leadership of the party (French-Canadian Pierre Elliott Trudeau became its leader) and developed a program of reforms throughout the country.

Having achieved victory in the elections in 1969, the Trudeau government passed a law through parliament that stated the equality of English and French in all parts of the state apparatus and provided for the introduction of bilingualism in regions where a minority who speaks one of the official languages is at least 10% of the population.

Since 1971, the implementation of the government program began - teaching a second language in secondary and higher educational institutions. These measures somewhat changed the situation for the better, but there were no cardinal changes. Previously, the protest of the French-Canadians was caused by the government's concept of "One country - one nation." The political expression of this protest was "Law No. 22" (1974) of the Quebec Parliament, which proclaimed French the only official language of the province. The situation escalated after the Quebec Party came to power in the province in 1976 and proclaimed a plan for the gradual withdrawal of Quebec from the federation. In 1980, the Party of Quebec organized a referendum to achieve the independence of Quebec, but this idea was supported by only 40% of voters. The slogan of independence was temporarily removed, but the problem became chronic.

The Quebec problem was only a manifestation of the general crisis of the Canadian federation. A significant part of the provinces sought to limit the functions of the central government. In addition, the functions of federal and provincial governments were not clearly demarcated. The situation was complicated by the fact that the federal government did not have the constitutional ability to limit the centrifugal tendencies of the provinces, since the role of the Canadian constitution was performed by the British Parliament adopted in 1867 the British North America Act, changes and additions to which had to be approved by the British Parliament. This anachronism led the Trudeau government to appeal to London in 1980 to grant Canada full sovereignty in the constitutional realm. In March 1982, the British Parliament passed the last law regarding Canada - the Canada Act, which suspended the UK's legislative powers over this dominion. On April 17, 1982, the Canadian Parliament passed the Constitution Act. So in the 115th year of its existence, Canada lost its colonial past. The Constitution Act significantly expanded the powers of the provinces, but did not solve the problem of the status of Quebec, which retained the possibility of deepening the crisis of the federation.

In the early 1980s, the economic situation in Canada worsened, which for some time pushed the problem of federal-provincial relations aside. There was a decline in production. The government deficit was 24 billion Canadian dollars. 12% of the able-bodied population found themselves in the position of unemployed.

Economic difficulties led to the defeat of the Liberals and the coming to power in 1984 of the Progressive Conservative Party, led by Brian Mulroney. He carried out a number of reforms in the spirit of the "Conservative Revolution" and brought the country out of the economic crisis. One of the main political tasks of the Conservative government was the achievement of national accord and the preservation of the unity of the state. Difficult again was the "Problem of Quebec", which refused to accede to the 1982 constitution and demanded special status. After lengthy negotiations, a draft constitutional treaty was prepared, which determined the special status of Quebec. But this time too, some English-speaking provinces refused to ratify the treaty. The problem again stalled, which raised a new wave of separatism. Its apogee was the referendum in November 1995 on the independence of Quebec. The separatists were once defeated: 44% voted for independence, 46% against.

Canada in the late XX - early XXI centuries.

Since 1993, liberals have been in power in the country, led by Jean Chretien (in 2000 he was elected prime minister for the third time), who are trying to solve the national problem.

During their tenure in power, the liberals carried out a number of reforms and transformations. Thus, the financial system of the country was improved. Starting from 1998, the financial year ends with a surplus. Additional funds are directed to various programs and debt repayment. Socio-economic programs of the Chrétien government included two programs: "Strategy of equal opportunities" (development of education and science) and "Creation of a safe society" (expansion of social programs). An important step of the government was the tax reform: the gradual reduction of taxes and stimulation of business activity. These ahead of time began to give tangible results since 1997, the reduction of unemployment began. Growth of business activity. During the reign of the liberals, there is a period of completion of the structural restructuring of the Canadian economy into science-intensive industries by reducing the primary industries (forestry, mining, agriculture, etc.). Integration processes with the United States deepened - the creation in 1994 of the NAFTA free trade zone (USA, Canada, Mexico). The integration process has achieved unprecedented results: 40% of Canada's GDP is exported, of which 80% goes to the USA. The turnover of Canadian-American trade is the largest in the world - $1 billion. dollars per day. Canada's progress in economic development is impressive: it currently ranks seventh in terms of economic development and first in the world in terms of living standards.

Stadium in Toronto

In December 2003, there was a change of leadership in Canada: Paul Martin became the new Liberal leader and Prime Minister. Significant changes are also noticeable in the opposition camp. As a result of the unification of the Canadian Alliance and the PCP in 2004, the Conservative Party was revived and intends to challenge the Liberals in the next elections.

5. Foreign policy of the country

For a long time, the external political course of Canada was in the shadow of the United States and Great Britain.

In the 1980s, Canada stepped up its own foreign policy. She acted with the intention to play the role of a mediator in relations between the USA and the USSR and the USA with the countries of the "third world". Particularly active mediation activity was deployed in the settlement of regional conflicts. In 1986, Canada strongly advocated an end to the civil war in Nicaragua, condemning the intervention of other states, including the United States, in it. In 1989, it provided practical assistance in holding general parliamentary elections in that country. The Mulroney government played a positive role in the elimination of the apartheid regime in South Africa. Canada contributed to the settlement of the conflict in Cambodia. Canadian military contingents participate in UN peacekeeping activities in many hot spots of the planet.

After the collapse of the USSR, Canada welcomed the formation of new independent states and contributed to their entry into the UN. One of the first - on December 2, 1991, she recognized the independence of Ukraine and established diplomatic relations with her. In January 1999, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien visited Ukraine. The visit ended with the signing of seven-party agreements and memorandums.

4. Tourism resources

Canada is one of the world's leading countries, ranking 11th in 2003 in terms of inbound tourist flow and tourism income, and 12th in terms of spending by Canadian tourists abroad. The share of Canada in tourist arrivals and departures of the world is 2.5%, in tourist income and expenditure - 2.1%. Hereinafter, statistics and statistical calculations are given according to the official tourist and statistical websites of the World Tourism Organization (WTO), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Canada and other Asia-Pacific countries. It should be noted that in terms of a number of features of the recreational-geographical position and recreational resources, Canada should be considered as the closest analogue of Russia (northern position, access to three oceans, disproportions in the development of the country).

The share of Canada in the tourism industry of the Asia-Pacific region in tourist flows is 8.7%, in tourist foreign exchange turnover - 5.0%. The importance of Canada in the tourism system of the Asia-Pacific region has recently been declining due to the very rapid development of tourism in the Asian sector of the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, tourism in Canada was hit hard by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in the United States and the SARS epidemic in 2003. During these periods, both the entry and exit of tourists significantly decreased. If in 2000 Canadians spent $12.1 billion abroad, in 2001 - $11.6 billion, then in 2003 - $9.9 billion. from 8 to 12 in the world. In 2003 alone, Canada's world ranking of tourist arrivals fell from 8th place to 11th.

In the Asia-Pacific region, Canada has long been second only to the United States in terms of the number of foreign tourists. The rapid development of inbound tourism in China has brought it to the 5th place in the world and the second in the region. In the coming years, China will come out on top in the region, and by 2020, possibly in the world. In the coming years, Canada will give way to third place in Mexico, whose potential in inbound tourism is higher. Other Asia-Pacific countries are still significantly inferior to Canada in inbound tourism, but it should be borne in mind that the pace of development of the tourism industry in Thailand, Hong Kong and especially in Malaysia is much higher

Canada's position in Asia-Pacific's tourism revenues is more modest. The absolute leader in tourism revenue is the United States, which is twice ahead of Spain, which occupies the second line in the world ranking, and three times China. China and Hong Kong have overtaken Canada in terms of tourism revenues, and several other countries in the Asia-Pacific region should overtake it in the next decade. The main reason for the low share of Canada in tourism income is related to the short duration of trips to the country, because. the bulk of the arrivals come from the border areas of the United States.

Although outbound tourism dominates in Canada, as in other highly developed northern states, the country's position in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of spending on tourism is even more modest. This is also due to the predominance of short trips by Canadians to the US border areas. Recall that since 2001 the expenses of Canadians abroad have decreased significantly.

Canada's tourism balance is consistently negative. It grew in the 1980s and early 1990s. reaching in 1992 - 6.4 billion can. USD (more than 5 billion US dollars). In the future, the balance improved and currently stands at -0.2 billion dollars. USA.

Canada's inbound and outbound tourism has a distinct seasonality due to the country's climatic conditions. The peak of visits to Canada falls on the warmest months of July-August, in each of these months the arrivals are more than 3 million foreigners, while in January there are only 0.7 million tourists. The seasonality of Canadians traveling abroad depends on the direction of travel. Canadians go to the northern border states of the United States mainly in the summer, to the southern states (Florida, California and Hawaii) - in the winter. While summer accounts for a third of annual outbound travel in quantitative terms, Canada's winter tourism spending is 1.5 times higher due to travel distance.

The outbound flow of Canada is mainly directed to the USA - 73.9% (2001). The vast majority of Canadians go to the border states: New York (2.2 million people), Washington (1.6), Michigan (1.2). Of the 10 most popular US states among Canadians, 7 are border states. This pattern is violated only by Florida (1.6 million), California (0.9), where Canadians go mainly for seaside holidays, and the state of Nevada (0.6), famous for the largest entertainment and gambling center Las Vegas. The length of stay of Canadians in the border areas in the United States is mainly limited to the "weekend" and averages 2-3 days. For the sake of rest on the sea they leave for a long time: Florida (21 days), Hawaii (13), California (9). As a result, Canadian tourists leave $2.1 billion in Florida alone, $0.8 billion in California, $0.6 billion in Hawaii, which is more than in any other US state.

The main destinations for the arrival of foreign tourists in Canada are the cities of Toronto (3.7 million people), Vancouver and Montreal. The fourth place in popularity among tourists belongs to two small satellite towns of St. Cantherines and Niagara and is associated with the arrival at the Niagara Falls. Niagara is the most famous and visited waterfall in the world, while the Canadian part of the waterfall is more picturesque. This resource is actively exploited by tourism; numerous hotels, entertainment enterprises, viewing platforms, cable cars have been built near the waterfall. Up to 2 million people come to see the waterfall every year. This is despite the fact that less than 1 million tourists a year arrive in the cities of Quebec, Victoria, Ottawa.

Among the tourist goals of foreign guests, there is a very high interest in nature - 21%. Almost 12% of tourists visit national parks, 2.3% of tourists come for the sake of rafting on rivers in kayaks, canoes or rafts. Fishing, outdoor recreation, sports routes, nature excursions are also popular - 6.7%. One of the main purposes of visiting the country is "sightseeing", where natural sites, such as Niagara, also make up a significant share. Thus, in terms of the share of the natural component for the purposes of foreign tourism, Canada is the leader among the highly developed countries of the world. Among the purposes of arrival, "shopping" (19.7%) also stands out, which also distinguishes Canada from developed countries. This is due to short-term cross-border travel of US residents. The proportion of people who came to Canada to visit friends and relatives is also high (12.7%), which is natural for a resettling country.

Thus, Canada is a country with a highly developed tourism industry, in which the volumes of inbound and outbound tourism are in relative balance. In recent decades, outbound tourism has dominated Canada and is expected to retain its leadership until 2020. According to the WTO, among the world leaders in outbound tourism, Canada will take the ninth place, which will amount to more than 30 million tourists or 2% of the world tourist flow. Interestingly, the tenth place in the ranking of outbound tourism with indicators close to Canada will be occupied by Russia. In inbound tourism, by 2020 it is expected that Canada will move to 15th-16th place, while Russia will take the 9th line. Russia's advantages in its recreational and geographical position (proximity to the European and East Asian tourist markets) and better provision with cultural and historical recreational resources will have an effect. At the same time, Canada's experience in the territorial organization of tourism in underdeveloped areas is very useful for Russia.

5. Recreational resources

The recreational and geographical position of Canada is determined by positive and negative factors. Among the positive ones, the following should be highlighted. First, the position in the Asia-Pacific region, the most dynamic region in the world in terms of socio-economic and tourism. The share of the western sector of the Asia-Pacific Region (East and South-East Asia, Australasia and Oceania) increased from 1-3% to 17-19% of the global volumes of the main tourism indicators. The pace of tourism development in the American sector of the Asia-Pacific region is somewhat lower. Secondly, the presence in the neighborhood of such a tourist giant as the United States. The United States of America is the world leader in terms of income and expenditure in the international tourism market. The tourist weight of the country in the American sector of the Asia-Pacific region, according to various indicators, is 60-70%. This determines the high dependence of inbound and outbound tourism in Canada on this country. Thirdly, the presence of extensive access to the seas of three oceans. Before the advent of jet aircraft and airbuses, the sea played an important role in the transport of tourists, especially in the European direction. The development of marine tourism is limited by the northern position of the country. However, the picturesqueness of the sea coasts, the presence of natural and cultural monuments on the coast is the basis for the development of cruise tourism, including in the Arctic. Fourthly, the considerable size of the country. Dimensions are not only stocks of land resources, they determine the diversity of recreational resources (several natural belts, mountainous, flat and oceanic territories).

Such a factor as the uneven distribution of the population, social and transport infrastructure has both a positive and a negative value. Due to the fact that a significant part of the country's territory is underdeveloped and "wild" territories, there are excellent conditions for natural types of tourism. On the other hand, the local nature of the development of social and transport infrastructure limits the possibilities of organizing tourism activities in vast areas.

The negative factors include, first of all, the relative remoteness of Canada from the main tourist markets of the world (with the exception of the USA) - Europe (more than half of the world tourist flow) and East Asia (more than 10% of the world flow, mainly from Japan and China). Secondly, the presence of a land border with only one country (USA). The combination of these two factors limits the geography and size of tourist flows to / from Canada and determines the absolute dominance of the United States in mutual human and monetary tourist flows.

The characteristic of recreational resources is briefly and quite accurately given by the well-known phrase that "Canada has a lot of geography and little history." In the world tourism specialization, Canada is distinguished primarily by the development of natural types of tourism, both mass (visiting national parks) and elite (extreme tourism). Eco-tourism is well developed in Canada. It is no coincidence that in 2002, which was declared the Year of Ecotourism by UNESCO, Quebec hosted the World Summit on Ecotourism, which was attended by more than 1,000 delegates from 132 countries.

The organizational centers of natural tourism are primarily national parks, the most famous are Banff, Dinosor, Glacier, Yoho, Buffalo.

6. Development of tourism and recreation

1 Cultural and national traditions

Diversity is the most characteristic feature of Canada's cultural life, which is natural for such a large country with a relatively sparse population, which is divided into numerous groups along territorial and ethnic lines. Differences first began to emerge between the two groups that Canadian historians call the natives and the first settlers; There were also some differences within each of these groups. Indigenous people - Indians and Eskimos (Inuit); the first settlers were the French, who settled in Nova Scotia and Quebec at the beginning of the 17th century, and the English (that is, the English, Scots and Irish proper), who settled later in the same century in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and on the shores of Hudson Bay.

French and British elements. Great Britain conquered New France, a French colony located on the banks of the St. Lawrence, in 1760. However, in Quebec and Acadia (part of the Maritime provinces), the French language and the differing variants of the French tradition were preserved and even developed, which was greatly facilitated by the influence of the Roman Catholic Church. The influx of English-speaking immigrants was small at first; only a quarter of a century later, after the victory of the American Revolution, thousands of Loyalists left their homes in the United States and settled in the colonies of Upper Canada (later Ontario) and New Brunswick. Loyalists and later settlers from the United States brought elements of American culture with them; these elements mingled with British culture, which was carried by the many immigrants who left England at the end of the Napoleonic Wars. These two sources gave rise to a distinct culture of English-speaking Canada, which is related to the American and British, but has its own characteristics.

Natural conditions of Canada.

The relief of Canada is mainly represented by a hilly plain, which is bounded by mountain uplifts in the west and east.

The Canadian Cordillera stretches along the Pacific coast in the west. They begin on the border with Alaska and have a height of 2000-2700 m.

The rocky mountains are divided by river valleys into two ridges located meridionally in a southerly direction. The western slopes of these ranges are covered with coniferous forest, while the eastern slopes are rocky and bare. Individual peaks of these ranges have heights up to 4000 m.

To the west of the Rocky Mountains is a volcanic plateau.

The coastal Pacific mountains are also divided into two ridges running along the meridian. They are separated by a longitudinal valley, which is flooded in the southern part by the sea.

In the western belt of mountains there are high sections, in the south these are the coastal islands of Vancouver, Queen Charlotte, and in the northern part on the border with Alaska they end with the massifs of the mountains of St. Elijah and Logan - this is the highest point of Canada (5959 m). The mountains are covered with glaciers that cut off to the sea.

On the coast of the Atlantic Ocean of Canadian territory, the Appalachian Mountains of the United States continue.

Here, in the east of the country, there are the Notre Dame mountains on the right bank of the St. Lawrence, the Shikshok massif in the northern part of the Gaspé peninsula, the Kibkid mountains, cut through by the valley of the St. John River. The height of the mountains is not more than 700 m.

Newfoundland Island has a height of 805 m. From Lake Superior to the coast of the Arctic Ocean, a vast area of \u200b\u200bthe Canadian Shield stretches - this is a low country composed of crystalline rocks. On the modern surface of this country, traces of recent glaciation are visible - “ram's foreheads”, lake basins, rapids rivers, a thin soil layer.

On the Labrador Peninsula there are bare stone hills and rocks. The height of the terrain on the southern and western coasts of Hudson Bay is no more than 200 m. The terrain rises to 500 m towards Lake Superior. The eastern part of the Labrador Peninsula is mountainous.

On the northern coast of Canada, a low-lying strip stretches along the Mackenzie River, which extends far into the interior of the mainland.

Between the Canadian Shield and the Rocky Mountains there is a plain, up to 400 m high. Lakes are located on it:

Manitoba,
Winnipeg,
Winnipegosis.

On the second stage of the plain, the Coto de Missouri plateau was formed, up to 1000 m high. Closer to the southern border of the country there are wooded and cypress mountains with flat tops, whose height is 1000-1100 m.

The northern part of Canada lies within the subarctic climate zone, the rest of the territory in a temperate continental climate that is quite mild. For the winter period, temperatures range in the north from -35 degrees to +4 in the south of the Pacific coast.

In the south of the country, the average temperature in July is +21 degrees, and in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago from -4 degrees in the north to +4 degrees in the south.

Outside the Arctic Circle, the amplitude is constantly kept below zero. Each region of the country is characterized by its individual climate.

The Atlantic Ocean in the south-east of the country somewhat softens the winter and at the same time brings heavy precipitation in the form of snowfalls. The summer period here is longer than in other areas, but it is not hot here. Atmospheric pressure changes frequently and dramatically.

West of the Rocky Mountains on the Pacific coast, the climate is milder and more temperate. Winters in the west are very wet, summers are moderate in the south and cooler in the north. The Rocky Mountains prevent this climate from spreading inland.

The cold Labrador Current, which runs along the Canadian coast, contributes to the formation of the climate of the Atlantic coast.

Natural resources of Canada

A diverse tectonic structure and a large area provided a wealth of mineral resources.

The country has on its territory precious metals, iron ore, hydrocarbons, coal, asbestos, potash salts, non-ferrous metal ores, uranium, etc.

Coal deposits are located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, in the province of Alberta, in the Appalachians, in the coastal provinces.

Iron ores occur in the Lake Superior basin and on the Labrador Peninsula. In the region of Lakes Huron and Athabasca there are reserves of uranium ore, in the province of Quebec and British Columbia there are large reserves of asbestos.

Plain territories are rich in minerals of sedimentary origin - hydrocarbons, potassium salts.

The western provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia became the main areas of oil production. The fuel and energy complex of the country is very developed.

Coal mining has grown since the second half of the 20th century. The reason was the discovery and development of deposits in the western provinces of the country. Coal is exported mainly to Japan.

The wealth of mineral resources enables Canada to be the largest supplier of minerals to the developed capitalist countries and, above all, to the USA.

About 45% of Canada's territory is occupied by forests; in terms of timber reserves, the country ranks 3rd. Large stocks of timber were the basis for the development of the timber and pulp and paper industries.

In the natural potential, a special place belongs to water resources, in terms of the reserves of which, after Brazil and Russia, it is also in 3rd place.

The most common in Canada are infertile podzolic soils, characteristic of the northern regions of the country. In areas with summer precipitation, fertile chernozem soils are formed. In areas with precipitation of at least 360 mm, chestnut soils were formed. Grayish soils are common in arid areas.

The video tutorial allows you to get interesting and detailed information about Canada. From the lesson you will get a complete description of Canada, especially its geographical location, economy. The teacher will tell you in detail about the national composition of the country, the standard of living of the population.

Theme: North America

Lesson: Canada. Socio-economic characteristics

Canada- a state in North America, ranks second in the world in terms of area (almost 10 million square kilometers) after Russia. It is washed by the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans, borders on the USA in the south and northwest, on Denmark (Greenland) in the northeast and France (Saint Pierre and Miquelon) in the east. Canada's border with the United States is the longest common border in the world. In addition, in terms of the total length of the coastline, Canada ranks first in the world. The capital is Ottawa.

According to the level of development, the country is among the highly developed countries of the world, is a member of numerous organizations, including a member of the G7.

The economic and geographical position of Canada is determined primarily by the fact that it has access to three oceans and borders on the United States.

Canada is part of the Commonwealth, so nominally the English monarch is considered the head of the country, although in reality Canada is an independent state.

Canada is a federal state consisting of 10 provinces and 3 territories. The province with a predominantly French-speaking population is Quebec, the rest are predominantly English-speaking provinces, also called "English Canada" in comparison to French-speaking Quebec. As one of nine predominantly English-speaking provinces, New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual Canadian province. The Yukon Territory is officially bilingual (English and French), while the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Territory recognize 11 and 4 official languages, respectively. Canada is officially a bilingual country.

Rice. 2. Map of the administrative-territorial division of Canada ()

The population of Canada at the beginning of the year is more than 34 million people. Despite its large area, approximately 3/4 of Canada's population lives within 100 miles of the US border. Canada is a relatively sparsely populated country on the globe: per 1 sq. km accounts for 3.4 people. Most of the population growth is due to immigration.

Canada is a very diverse country from an ethnic point of view. The majority of the population is made up of Anglo Canadians and French Canadians. A large proportion of Irish, Scots, Italians, Chinese, Russians.

Indigenous people of Canada:

1. Indians.

2. Eskimos.

3. Indian-European mestizos.

The most common religions in the country are Protestantism and Catholicism.

HDI leaders by years (according to Wikipedia and UNDP)

2013 - Norway

2011 - Norway

2010 - Norway

2009 - Norway

2008 - Iceland

2007 - Iceland

2006 - Norway

2005 - Norway

2004 - Norway

2003 - Norway

2002 - Norway

2001 - Norway

2000 - Canada

1999 - Canada

1998 - Canada

1997 - Canada

1996 - Canada

1995 - Canada

1994 - Canada

1993 - Japan

1992 - Canada

1991 - Japan

1990 - Canada

1985 - Canada

1980 - Switzerland

Canada is currently ranked 10th in the ranking of countries in terms of living standards. Some believe that Canada is the most favorable country for people to live.

Largest cities in Canada(more than 1 million people (Ottawa and Vancouver - together with the suburbs)):

2. Montreal

3. Vancouver

4 Calgary

Canada is one of the richest countries in natural resources.

By the amount of forest resources, the country ranks 3rd (after Russia and Brazil). More than 50% of Canada is covered with coniferous forests. The country occupies a leading position in the production of paper, lumber, 1st place in the production of newsprint.

Canada's soil resources are also rich; favorable agro-climatic resources in the southern regions of the country; huge water resources (10% of the world's fresh water).

In terms of quantity and variety of mineral resources, Canada is one of the great mining countries.

Rice. 4. The structure of the mining industry in Canada ()

The most important feature of the mining industry in Canada is its export orientation: more than 4/5 of all products of the extractive industries are supplied to the world market. Canada is the world's leading exporter of uranium, nickel, copper, zinc, titanium, molybdenum, silver, platinum, asbestos, and potassium salts. In value terms, about 60% of Canadian mineral exports go to the US, 25% to Western Europe and 10% to Japan.

More than 4/5 of all reserves of potash salts of Western countries, about 2/3 of nickel and zinc reserves, 2/5 of lead and uranium reserves, about 1/3 of iron and copper ore reserves, titanium, and tungsten are concentrated in the bowels of the country. To this list one can add rather large reserves of oil and natural gas, coal, cobalt, platinum, gold, silver, asbestos and some other minerals.

This diversity is explained primarily by the peculiarities of the geological and tectonic structure of the territory of Canada. The basins and deposits of iron, copper, nickel, cobalt ores, gold, platinum, uranium are genetically associated primarily with the Precambrian Canadian Shield, which is composed of crystalline rocks emerging on the surface. Occupying an area of 4.6 million square meters. km, it stretches from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago to the Great Lakes and the river. Saint Lawrence. In the west of the country, where the Mesozoic folding area is located and the Cordillera belt passes, basins and deposits of copper, polymetallic, molybdenum, tungsten, and mercury ores are especially common. And oil, gas, coal basins on the tectonic map of Canada should be sought within the marginal foredeep of the Cordillera and smaller intermountain troughs.

Almost all sectors of the economy have been developed in Canada. Canada's fuel and energy complex is one of the most developed in the world. Hydroelectric power plants are leading in the generation of electricity.

The main oil and natural gas production areas are in the western provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. The largest deposits are located here - Pembina, Redwater, Zama.

Mechanical engineering accounts for less than 30% of production and the number of people employed in the manufacturing industry, which is lower than in other developed countries. The main industry - transport engineering (production of automobiles, aircraft, diesel locomotives, ships, snowmobiles), dominated by American capital, is located in the southern part of the province of Ontario. Agricultural engineering, the production of power equipment, equipment for the mining and forestry industries are also developed. The machine tool industry has received a weak development. The main centers of mechanical engineering are Toronto, Montreal, Windsor, Hamilton, Ottawa, Halifax, Vancouver.

Production has stabilized in the ferrous metallurgy, which is in the hands of national capital. The leading metallurgical centers are located in the Lake District - Hamilton, Welland, Sault Ste. Marie, as well as along the Atlantic coast of the city of Sydney.

In non-ferrous metallurgy, the positions of American and British capital are strong. The smelting of non-ferrous metals - especially copper, nickel and aluminum - has reached large volumes. The major world centers included Sudbury, Thompson, Sullivan, Arvida, Kitimat and Port Colborne. Most enterprises work on local raw materials. A large-scale production of aluminum has been created on imported raw materials.

Canada has a developed oil refining industry. The most important centers are located in Montreal, Sarnia, Vancouver and Edmonton.

The chemical industry is well developed and, in particular, the production of sulfuric acid, mineral fertilizers, synthetic rubber, and plastics. The main centers of the chemical industry are Montreal, Toronto, Niagara-Fole.

The timber and paper industry uses the richest forest resources. In terms of timber harvesting, Canada ranks 5th, in the production of lumber and paper - 3rd in the world (provinces - Quebec, Ontario). The country's role in the export of sawn timber and paper is even more significant: Canada is the world leader. 2/3 of paper and pulp production are located in the east, near the hydroelectric power station - on the St. Lawrence River. Large timber and paper mills are also located in the taiga zone in the north of the Steppe provinces and especially in British Columbia, where 2/3 of the sawmill industry is concentrated.

The food, clothing, and textile industries are also well developed, with major centers in Montreal, Toronto, and Quebec.

Agriculture is a highly developed branch of the Canadian economy. It is characterized by a high level of marketability, mechanization and specialization of production. About 4/5 of the area of agricultural land is concentrated in large farms of 50 hectares or more. A significant part of farms is an integral part of large-scale agribusiness. Agricultural products on farms are produced on the basis of contracts with enterprises of the largest monopolies in the food industry. Central Canada is distinguished, first of all, by industries that meet the needs of the urban population: suburban vegetable growing, horticulture, dairy farming and poultry farming.

Rice. 5. Dairy products of Canada ()

Steppe provinces at the end of the last century began to turn into one of the leading areas of grain specialization. And at present, the cultivation of cereals determines Canada's specialization in the global market for agricultural products.

Fishing is also of great importance, developing on the basis of the rich biological resources of the coastal waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Inland fishing, like hunting, plays a smaller role.

Canada is one of the world's leading exporters of agricultural products.

Homework

Topic 9, Item 3

1. What are the features of the geographical position of Canada?

2. Tell us about the economy of Canada.

Bibliography

Main

1. Geography. A basic level of. 10-11 cells: Textbook for educational institutions / A.P. Kuznetsov, E.V. Kim. - 3rd ed., stereotype. - M.: Bustard, 2012. - 367 p.

2. Economic and social geography of the world: Proc. for 10 cells. educational institutions / V.P. Maksakovskiy. - 13th ed. - M .: Education, JSC "Moscow textbooks", 2005. - 400 p.

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Additional

1. Economic and social geography of Russia: Textbook for universities / Ed. prof. A.T. Khrushchev. - M.: Bustard, 2001. - 672 p.: ill., cart.: tsv. incl.

2. Kulyshev Yu.A. Canada. - M.: Thought, 1989. - 144 p. - (At the map of the world). - 100,000 copies.

3. Nokhrin I.M. Socio-political thought of Canada and the formation of national self-consciousness (the last third of the 19th - early 20th centuries). - Huntsville: Altaspera Publishing & Literary Agency, 2012. - 232 p.

Encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books and statistical collections

1. Geography: a guide for high school students and university applicants. - 2nd ed., corrected. and dorab. - M.: AST-PRESS SCHOOL, 2008. - 656 p.

Literature for preparing for the GIA and the Unified State Examination

1. Thematic control in geography. Economic and social geography of the world. Grade 10 / E.M. Ambartsumova. - M.: Intellect-Centre, 2009. - 80 p.

2. The most complete edition of typical options for real USE assignments: 2010. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: Astrel, 2010. - 221 p.

3. The optimal bank of tasks for preparing students. Unified State Exam 2012. Geography: Textbook / Comp. EM. Ambartsumova, S.E. Dyukov. - M.: Intellect-Centre, 2012. - 256 p.

4. The most complete edition of typical options for real USE assignments: 2010. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2010. - 223 p.

5. Geography. Diagnostic work in the format of the Unified State Examination 2011. - M .: MTSNMO, 2011. - 72 p.

6. USE 2010. Geography. Collection of tasks / Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - 272 p.

7. Tests in geography: Grade 10: to the textbook by V.P. Maksakovskiy “Economic and social geography of the world. Grade 10 / E.V. Baranchikov. - 2nd ed., stereotype. - M.: Publishing house "Exam", 2009. - 94 p.

8. The most complete edition of typical variants of real USE assignments: 2009. Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2009. - 250 p.

9. Unified state exam 2009. Geography. Universal materials for the preparation of students / FIPI - M .: Intellect-Center, 2009. - 240 p.

10. USE 2010. Geography: thematic training tasks / O.V. Chicherina, Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - 144 p.

11. USE 2012. Geography: Standard exam options: 31 options / Ed. V.V. Barabanova. - M.: National Education, 2011. - 288 p.

12. USE 2011. Geography: Standard exam options: 31 options / Ed. V.V. Barabanova. - M.: National Education, 2010. - 280 p.

Materials on the Internet

1. Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements ( ).

2. Federal portal Russian Education ().

vividly characterize the words of its national motto "from sea to sea" (in Latin "mari usque ad mare"). This is the only country whose coastal borders are washed by three oceans: the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic. Canada is the second largest country in the world, it is distinguished by its diversity, diversity, diversity of landscapes and natural areas.

General information

Canada in the form of government is a federal state. It consists of 10 provinces united by the Canadian constitution (Quebec, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Lambrador, New Brunswick, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) and 3 territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut). The capital of Canada - Ottawa - is located in the province of Ontario. The official state languages of the country are English and French.

Dream country

The geographical position of Canada, stretching across several natural zones from the Arctic deserts, occupying almost the entirety of Greenland and the Arctic archipelago, to the forest-steppes and steppes covering the Great Plains, determined the diversity and richness of its natural conditions and resources. This served as a favorable factor in the development of the economic condition of the country. And the presence of outlets to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans favored the increase of its status in the system of international relations and in key international organizations of nearby regions.

A high standard of living, a well-developed economy, an education and healthcare system, clean and safe modern cities, many different cultures - this is not the whole list of advantages that distinguish Canada. In 1992, the UN declared it "the most attractive country for human life."

The United States of America neighbors Canada to the south and northwest. About half of Canada's territory is occupied by the Laurentian Uplands, the western border of which is formed by a line between Great Bear Lake in the north and Forest Lake in the extreme south. Geologists call this vast area the Canadian Shield. The average height of the local landscape is about 500 m, however, after the end of the ice age, the remains of ancient folded mountains up to 1190 m high were exposed in some places. The Laurentian Upland lies in the Atlantic Ocean basin and is famous for its picturesque lacustrine-hilly relief. Hudson Bay fills the central part of the Canadian Shield. On its shores there is a lowland of the same name, which arose as a result of the uplift of the relief and the retreat of the sea after the melting of glaciers. Relatively recent tectonic processes have led to the formation of the Arctic archipelago. The outlying ranges of the American Appalachians enter the territory of Canada. They border the valley of the St. Lawrence River on the south and stick out as sharp teeth of islands near the east coast. These old mountains, dissected by steep gorges, form a system of small plateaus with a height of no more than 800 m. The variety of rocks and geological structures suggests the presence of rich mineral resources in these parts. The highest point of this part of the Appalachians is Jacques-Cartier (1268 m). At the junction of the Laurentian Upland and the Appalachians lies the valley of the St. Lawrence River, which is a tectonic tectonic depression.

The total length of Canada's heavily indented coastline is about 244,000 km. The sea coast is replete with peninsulas, bays and coastal archipelagos. In the north, huge bays go deep into the land. The largest of them, Hudson Bay, covers an area of 848,000 sq. km (together with the secondary James Bay adjacent to it). Canada's largest peninsula is Labrador (1,430,000 sq. km). Along the northern shores of the country lies the Arctic archipelago (the largest island is Baffin Island). The largest island off the east coast is Newfoundland, and in the Pacific Ocean is Vancouver.

Administrative divisions of Canada

Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories.

Population of Canada

The indigenous people of Canada are Indians and Eskimos. Most of the Indian population is scattered across taiga reserves, and a certain part of them still live off hunting and fishing. The main occupation of the Eskimos inhabiting the northern coast of Canada, Baffin Island and the Labrador Peninsula is sea fishing. The national composition and distribution of the population developed as a result of the colonization of this part of the continent by European settlers that began in the 16th century. For more than one hundred years, these lands have been the scene of fierce confrontation between the English and French colonists. If the French settled in the valley of the St. Lawrence, the British firmly settled in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and the Great Lakes region. Nevertheless, by the end of the 19th century, only a negligible part of the territory of Canada had been mastered, and only the laying of the transcontinental railroad gave impetus to the mass settlement of the prairies. In those years, Canada received several million immigrants from Western and Eastern Europe, including immigrants from Russia and Ukraine.

Economy of Canada

About 74 million hectares are occupied by agricultural land in Canada (the average area of one farm is over 240 hectares). There are two large agricultural regions in the country. The first is located on flat plains along the shores of the Great Lakes and in the valley of the St. Lawrence River. All Canadian corn and soybeans, 90% of grapes and tobacco, as well as a good half of potatoes and vegetables are grown here. The same region supplies 50% of milk and eggs to the national market. The second most important agricultural area is the prairies, famous for high wheat yields and developed animal husbandry. An excellent resource base serves as a reliable basis for the development of forestry. According to some estimates, Canada owns more than 9% of all forest land on the planet. Modern pulp and paper production is directly related to logging and woodworking. Fishing is one of the oldest branches of the national economy. A significant part of the catch is obtained in the coastal waters of the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean, although inland waters are also of no small commercial importance. Possessing rich mineral resources, Canada ranks first in the world in the extraction of nickel and zinc ores. The country has large deposits of copper, iron, gold, lead and molybdenum, and coal is one of the leading exports. The uranium mined in the country is used as fuel for nuclear power plants. Natural gas and oil deposits are being developed.

A powerful impetus to the development of the Canadian economy was given by World War II. The military industry grew in the country, a number of new industries arose, the influx of American investments increased, and large-scale trade between neighboring states developed. The deepening of US-Canadian economic integration continues today. The US is Canada's main export partner, and about 30% of Canadian businesses are owned by US companies.

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