Canada, the second largest country in the world, occupies an area of 9,970,610 km2. More than 40% of national territory is to be found above the arboreal vegetation limit, which is to say it’s mountainous. Most of Canada’s 30-million people live close to the United States border, along a strip of land extending from the Eastern coast towards British Columbia. Over 60 per cent of the population lives in the country’s South East, in Ontario and Quebec provinces. Most of the country’s industry, which includes the electric, hydroelectric, wood and paper sectors, is concentrated here.

There are two official languages in Canada, English and French. Interaction between the country’s two major linguistic groups is more manifest in Ottawa, where every single political discourse and federal bill is offered in both languages. Twenty-four percent of the population is Canadian-French, most of them descendents of the settlers of New France.

Canada’s reputation as a multicultural society began in the 19th Century when the immigrant communities and major investment projects attracted people from all over the world. Arguably the best way to experience Canada’s multiculturalism is to visit its three major cities: Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Canada’s provinces and territories are as follows: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.

The official currency is the Canadian dollar, which is based on the decimal system. Two of the most frequently used coins are the 25-cent and the 1-dollar coins. They are used in telephone booths, to buy newspapers, etc., not to mention their importance in the public transport system where drivers tend not to carry cash. Living Standards: According to the UN, Canada has one of the highest living standards in the world.