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Canada
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Canada is the second largest country by area in the world (after Russia) and the largest in North America. Its only land border is with the United States, and remains the longest land border in the world. The US border is situated at Canada's Southern edge, the 49th parallel (or 49 degrees N latitude) as well as a shorter one with Alaska in the Northwest. Canada is also a major tourist destination, and is one of the world's wealthiest countries. The country is renowned worldwide for its vast, untouched landscape and its unique culture.
CitiesThere are many cities in Canada (urban populations in brackets).
CitiesThere are many cities in Canada (urban populations in brackets). Here is a small selection; others are listed under their regions.
Toronto (5.1 million, 2006) - Canada's largest city, main commercial centre Montreal (3.6 million, 2006) - Quebec's largest city and only majority French-speaking metropolitan area, cultural centre; home of the 1967 universal exposition and of the 1976 Summer Olympics Vancouver (2.1 million, 2006) - beautiful and busy west coast city; third largest city in Canada; home of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Ottawa (1.1 million, 2006) - fourth largest city in Canada; national capital, high tech centre, tourist centre Calgary (1.0 million, 2006) - fifth largest city and quickly growing; oil, cowboys, development; home of the Calgary Stampede, the 1988 Winter Olympics Edmonton (1.0 million, 2006) - sixth largest city; capital of Alberta; northernmost metropolitan area in North America with a population greater than one million; home of the West Edmonton Mall - the world's largest entertainment and shopping centre. Quebec City (715,000 2006) - capital of Quebec, tourist centre, oldest city in North America Winnipeg (695,000, 2006) - capital of Manitoba, Transportation hub of Canada and Gateway to the West. Canada's midwestern Chicago. Halifax (373,000, 2006) - capital of Nova Scotia, major port cityOther destinationsParksAlbertaBanff National ParkElk IslandJasperWaterton
British ColumbiaGlacierMount RevelstokeYohoKootenayBackgroundCanada is a land of vast distances and rich natural beauty. Economically and technologically, it resembles its neighbour to the South, the United States, and shares with it the longest undefended border in the world. Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 by an act of British parliament, and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Though a medium sized country by its population, Canada has earned respect on the international stage for its strong diplomatic skills. Internally, the country has displayed success in negotiating compromises amongst a culturally and linguistically varied population, a difficult task considering that language, culture, cuisine and even history vary significantly over the country. In contrast to the United States' image as a melting pot, Canada prefers to consider itself a mosaic of cultures and people. The information below will get you started, but be sure to check the specifics for given regions and cities. It has socialized medicine, too.
Time zonesThe Canadian Sir Sandford Fleming first proposed time zones for the entire world in 1876, and Canada is covered coast to coast with multiple zones.
Yukon and most of British Columbia are within Pacific Standard Time Northwest Territories, Alberta, parts of eastern British Columbia and part of western Nunavut are within Mountain Standard Time Saskatchewan, unlike the rest of Canada, does not participate in Daylight Savings Time and remains on Central Standard Time year-round: in the winter, it is in the same time zone as Manitoba; in the summer, it is in the same time zone as Alberta Manitoba and Ontario west of Thunder Bay, as well as central Nunavut are within Central Standard Time Ontario from Thunder Bay east, most of Quebec and eastern Nunavut are within Eastern Standard Time Most of Labrador, north-eastern Quebec and all of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia are within Atlantic Standard Time The island of Newfoundland has its own time zone, Newfoundland Standard Time; the south-eastern corner of Labrador is also within this time zone, which is only a half-hour different to Atlantic Standard Time
See also Time zones
ClimateTrying to distill the climate of Canada into an easy to understand statement is impossible, given the vast area that this country occupies. The southernmost point of mainland southern Ontario, Point Pelee, and the nearby islands in Lake Erie at a very similar latitude to northern California, and has a climate similar to the eastern US. Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, is just south of the Arctic Circle and remains very cold for most of the year.
However, as most of the Canadian population resides within a couple of hours drive of the southern border shared with the United States, a visitor to these areas will probably not have to endure the weather that accompanies a trip to the northern territories. In fact, summers can be hot in parts of Canada. Summer temperatures over 38°C (100°F) are not unusual in extreme Southern Ontario and the southern Interior of British Columbia. Toronto's climate is only slightly cooler than many cities in the northeastern United States, and summers in the southern parts of Ontario and Quebec are often hot and humid. In the BC Interior, Alberta and Saskatchewan, the humidity is often low during the summer, even during hot weather.
The climate in Canada also depends in large part on how close to the coast you travel. Many inland cities, especially those in the Prairies, experience extreme changes in weather. Winnipeg, Manitoba (also colloquially known as 'Winterpeg') has hot summers, where it can easily exceed 35 degrees Celsius (95°F), yet experiences very cold winters where -40 degrees Celsius (-40°F) is not uncommon. The hottest temperatures in Canadian recorded history have been in southern Saskatchewan - as hot as 45 degrees Celsius (113 F). Conversely, coastal cities in British Columbia and the Atlantic Provinces are generally milder year-round and do not usually get very much snow, although the Atlantic Provinces can get hit by serious blizzards and lengthy cold snaps in winter. The coastal areas of British Columbia have the mildest climate anywhere in Canada. It is mild enough for even some species of palms to grow in Vancouver and Victoria. Both of these West Coast cities are temperate and get very little snow, and seldom experience temperatures below 0 or above 27 degrees Celsius (32-80°F).
Apart from having usually milder temperatures year-round than the interior areas of Canada, coastal areas can have very high rainfall. Areas such as coastal British Columbia get some of the highest rainfall in Canada, but it can be very dry in the southern BC Interior due to the Coast Mountains acting as a rain shadow. The wind can be a big factor in the Canadian Prairies because there are wide open areas not unlike those in the Midwest states of the US, and makes for unpleasant windchills during cold weather in the winter. The average temperature is typically colder in Canada than in the US and Western Europe as a whole, so bring your jacket if visiting between October and May, and early and later than this if visiting areas further north. The rest of the year, in most of the country, daytime highs are generally above 15°C (60°F).
From Wikitravel, the free encyclopedia
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By Richard123
3 days
This 3-Day trip takes you over the falls & above the falls. It also brings you screams & mystery mazes. A thoroughly thrilling, mystifying extended weekend!
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By Editor's Choice
6 days
This trip to the Canadian Rockies is a combination of 2 User's trips: Reggie & lmaybee. lmaybee is a person after this editor's heart as this is the 2nd trip of hers I've made into an Editor's Choice. Tips from both Users are included here. This trip combines 2 popular National Parks in the Canadian Rockies into one great family experience.
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25 people reviewed Canada (1-20 out of 25)
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Top
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at 4:33AM May 28, 2008
Go visit ! Wow what great country! I especially enjoy the east coast. Newfoundland is in my opinion, one of the best kept secrets on this planet. The rocky crags that border the ocean are nothing shy of spectacular. The people are unique and extremely welcoming. Take a daytrip on a fishing boat. Sit and chat with locals.Head way up North to St. Anthony! Canada is simply too big to describe adequately, however I also love New Brunswick, Old Montreal, Quebec city, Ottawa (Gatineau Park) Manitoulin Island in Ontario, Oliver, B.C. ,Hope and of course Victoria B.C. Take the trip!!
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at 6:20PM June 23, 2008
Canada is great. A relaxed version of the USA
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at 10:55AM May 29, 2008
Vancouver twice...spaced 20 years apart...love the space there!
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at 7:30PM June 11, 2008
My favorite place to go when I need to get away from it all.
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at 5:04AM May 29, 2008
Would recommend Banff in Alberta, its a great little town with plenty to do and see. Edmonton has the biggest shopping centre it takes a bit to get through!!
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at 2:31AM May 29, 2008
Beautiful landscape, friendly people.
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at 9:47PM May 27, 2008
lived there for a while in my youth. made lasting friendships. they have visited me in australia and we have been back to canada to see them. and going again soon. love canada and the people
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at 2:21PM May 27, 2008
Beautiful place:) Well, my God-daughter and God-son are both in Ottawa. And my cousin in Toronto! Want to live there some day...
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at 7:40AM June 9, 2009
the trip i made was completely not worth it. i think i would have to plan better and go to a different part.
canadians also like to rip americans off, from what i've experienced. and there's some shady food.
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at 8:00AM July 18, 2008
It's expensive compared to the US but it has a lot of diversity in cultures-which I like and the food is good.
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at 6:40PM June 22, 2008
Tanya and Clifford came to visit when I was living in Washington We spent a few days in Canada
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at 12:30AM June 9, 2008
Love Montreal
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at 5:00PM May 29, 2008
Love Canada
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at 3:38PM May 29, 2008
been there a couple times
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at 10:31AM May 29, 2008
lol i went there by mistake LOL
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at 10:27AM May 29, 2008
thought i would end up settling there... but that was before BP!!!
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at 12:49AM May 29, 2008
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at 10:16PM May 28, 2008
One place also I would love to visit
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at 7:45PM May 28, 2008
been somewhere here, can't remember. blocked it from memory as it was the family trip from hell.
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at 7:23PM May 28, 2008
alot of hot french woman
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