Canada

Canada (Canada)

Location: North America
Capital: Ottawa
Language(s): English, French and many regional languages
Population: 34,520,576
Total Area: 9,984,670 sq km
Curious Alcohol Fact: Alcohol sale is controlled in Canada and you can only buy from approved stores.
Most Popular Drink(s): Maple syrup, beers and wines
Annual Average Liquor Consumption Per Capita: 9.77 liters
What You Must Do In Canada: Drink a bottle of maple syrup!

The Country

Canada is a very large country and is not only the largest in North America; it is one of the largest nations in the world, second only to the Russian Federation. Around 40% of the North American continent is covered by this beautiful country. The word ‘Canada’ is said to have originated from the Iroquoian word ‘kanata’, which means ‘a settlement’. And to be candid, Canada is one vast settlement. One feature that I find very interesting with this multicultural nation is that in spite of its immense size, Canada is sparsely populated as it has less than 35 million residents. In comparison, Russia has more than a hundred million citizens! There are ten provinces in Canada (these are Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan) and three federal provinces (which are Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut). Canada is flanked on three sides by oceans –the Pacific in the east, Atlantic on the west and the Arctic Ocean to the north. To the south of Canada lies the United States of America. Ottawa is the capital city.

The People

Like its neighbor, the United States, Canada is a multicultural country with people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Around a third of the citizens are classified as ethnic Canadians while others are English, French, Irish, Scottish, German and Italian. Others are Ukrainians, Dutch and Chinese. In addition to these, there are numerous indigenous tribes called the First Nations and they number more than 550. On a yearly basis, Canada receives immigrants from various parts of the globe.

Eating

When it comes to eating in Canada, I had one problem –choosing a particular meal. Canadians have a staggering array of dishes and you will find it very difficult to settle for one, as they are all tantalizing. The nature of cuisine depends on the province or territory that you visit. In Nunavut, you can enjoy seal meat while in Quebec; the French will treat you to a special type of meat pie. However, one thing that I noticed is that irrespective of your location in the country, fresh seafood is always available and I still remember vividly the steamed lobsters I took in Manitoba. Canada is the ultimate when it comes to stimulating your sense of taste.

Drinking

Without any doubt, the most popular drink in the country is the maple syrup. As a matter of fact, Canada is referred to as the Land of the Maple Leaf and the maple leaf is depicted on its flag. There are many flavors of the syrup. In addition to the ‘golden liquid’, wines and beers are widely available but are sold in licensed stores only. Fresh fruit juices and soft drinks are also sold. The legal drinking age in Canada is 19.

Sports in Canada

Like its southern neighbor, Canada is also a vast sports center. Lacrosse and ice hockey are very popular and are even considered to be the national sports. Other sports in various provinces include curling (which I learnt in a very short period), baseball, skiing, soccer, basketball, volleyball and cricket. After touring the various parts of the country, I can clearly say that Canada is one vast playground.

Interesting Facts about Canada

Canada-US border is the longest in the globe.
In terms of the area, Canada is the second largest nation in the world.
Canada is a federal state and has the Queen of England as its head.
The standard of living in Canada is one of the highest in the world.
Only Saudi Arabia has more oil reserves than Canada in the whole world.

Canada

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