CANADA
Canada is the second largest country in the world after Russia and borders the United States of North America and the American state of Alaska. Canada is located between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Much of the country and mountains are covered by snow and ice all year round. This permafrost is decreasing due to climate change. The forests suffer from air pollution. The prairies in the southwest, where herds of bison used to graze, are suitable for agriculture.Canada has a continental climate with cold winters and coastal summers with temperatures up to 25° Celsius. There are active volcanoes and occasional earthquakes.
Natives and Eskimos came to the Americas tens of thousands of years ago, and around the year 1000, Vikings visited Newfoundland. The first European whalers arrived in the 16th century. English, French, Basques and Portuguese founded trading posts on the St. Lawrence Bay. They traded beaver skins, game meat and wood with the natives. In the 18th century, the French colonies fell into English hands. The St. Lawrence River is fed by the Great Lakes in the US and flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
Canada has around 40 million inhabitants, but only 10% of the territory is inhabited. 80% of the population lives less than 150 km from the US border. The country is part of the Commonwealth and the head of state is King Charles III. He appoints a governor who heads the government. Canada is a parliamentary democracy. The country is bilingual (English and French) and the French-speaking areas (Quebec, Montréal) have retained the French language, Catholicism and French laws. The famous singer Céline Dion started her singing career in French, in Quebec, and later switched to English.
In the 19th century, railways were built from east to west to open up the country. The bison were exterminated, natives chased away and the fertile prairies were divided among European immigrants. Grain is produced for the world market.
Indigenous people and Eskimos were for a long time forced to adopt the Western way of life and live in reservations. Indigenous children were sent to boarding schools, alienating them from their culture and family. In 2008, the government apologized and since then there has been greater respect for indigenous cultures. There are no fewer than 65 indigenous languages spoken in Canada, from 11 language families!
Canada is a multicultural immigration country because the country is so large and it needs workers. Half of the population is of European origin, a quarter comes from the US, less than a fifth is of Asian origin and there are smaller groups of immigrants from South America and the Caribbean. Canada is home to large numbers of refugees and asylum seekers. It is a prosperous country with a highly educated population and famous universities. The University of Toronto has 85,000 students!
In the icy cold north there is forestry and mining. Petroleum, gas, zinc, uranium, nickel, platinum, aluminum, iron, lead, copper and cobalt are found there, often in inhospitable areas. Thousands of lakes provide freshwater reserves. Fishing is important along the coasts.
Anyone who goes to Canada as a tourist usually chooses the east coast or the west coast. Due to the enormous distances, it is time-consuming to travel across the country. The main international airport is located in Toronto. Chinatown, Little Italy and the Kensington Market district are worth a visit if you’re staying in Toronto. From here you can visit the Niagara Falls, on the border with the United States. It is often very busy at the world famous sixty meter high waterfalls. There are viewpoints, hiking trails and a light show in the evening.
Algonquin Provincial Park is a lakeside nature reserve west of Toronto. There are bears and moose. Keep your distance and do not get out of the car, the animals can be dangerous. Canoes are available for rent or would you rather explore the forests with a guide?
Ottawa is the capital of Canada. In addition to government buildings, there are important museums, such as the Canadian Museum of Nature and the National Gallery of Canada (1988). In the gallery you will find work by internationally known artists.
Québec is an old French city and there is even a city wall! In the center (Vieux Québec) colonial buildings and narrow streets have been preserved. Château Frontenac is not a castle, but a luxury hotel on a hill. La Citadelle is a military fortress. French is still spoken in this part of Canada and there are close ties with France. Ontario and Quebec have automotive and aviation industries.
Montréal is named after a 200 meter high hill, the Mont Royal. From Parc du Montréal a staircase with 254 steps leads up. Vieux Montréal is the atmospheric old town. Very special is a 33 km long underground district with metro stations, shopping centers, concert halls, schools and restaurants. In winter it can be very cold and it is more pleasant underground!
A well-known Canadian snack is poutine: fries , cheese and sauce. Maple syrup is a sweet souvenir. In the Canadian flag you see the symbol of the country, the maple leaf.
Newfoundland is an island in the St. Lawrence Bay. In 1960, a Viking settlement dating from the 11th century was discovered in L’Anse aux Meadows. So the Vikings arrived in this area a few centuries before the English and French! However, they did not settle for a long time. From Newfoundland you can spot whales during the season. In the city ofSt. John’smany festivals are held.
There are several nature reserves in the vicinity of Calgary, in southwestern Canada. The Banff National Park (1885) with mountains, rivers and glaciers is popular with Canadians and foreign tourists. There are hot springs in the Banff area and there are many sturdy wooden buildings in the city. From July to July the daytime temperature is a maximum of 23°Celsius, in the evening it cools down to 7°Celsius. You can enjoy fairytale snow-capped mountain peaks, vast green forests where bears, moose, deer, beavers and various species of squirrels live. There are hiking trails, and with a guide you can look for wild bears. In winter it is a ski resort.
Between Banff and Jasper lies the Icefields Parkway, a 230 km long road through mountains where there is snow all year round. There are not only cars, but also bicycles and motorcycles!
Jasper National Park is located near the town of the same name. The hot springs Hot Springs Miette and the Maligne Canyon, a deep gorge, are wonders of nature. The man-built Jasper Sky Tram (April to October) takes you to the top of the 2,263-high Whistlers Mountain. Outdoor sports enthusiasts and mountain climbers can enjoy themselves here and from November to May it is a ski resort.
Emerald Lake is located in the Yoho National Park, west of Bannf. The lake is a beautiful emerald green color and you can walk around it on a marked hiking trail (5 km). There is much more to see and experience in the nature reserve, but unfortunately the hotels and campsites are very expensive and fully booked well in advance. .
Vancouver is named after the British explorer George Van Coever, whose ancestors came from Coevorden (Drente). Vancouver is located on the southwest coast, close to the US border. Gastown is an old neighborhood and the city also has a Chinatown. An art and souvenir market is held on Granville Island.
Getting some fresh air in Canada? That’s possible! Does & Cadushi has selected hotels in Toronto and also offers tours in combination with the United States. You can let us know your wishes in an email and we will plan a dream trip for you!
$573,-
| Capital | Ottawa |
|---|---|
| Population | 34.933.000 million in total, in Ottawa: 883.391 million, in Toronto: 2.615 million |
| Language | English and French |
| Currency | Canadian dollar (CAD) |
| Visa required | www.visum.nl |
| Vaccination(s) | no |
| Voltage | 120 V |
| Traffic | Right-hand traffic |
