Canada's position in relation to the important. Geographical Position of Canada

Physico-geographical location of Canada

Based on its physical-geographical location, Canada can be divided into five parts: the Appalachian-Acadian region (southeast), the Canadian Shield, the Interior Lowlands, the Great Plains (in the center) and the Cordillera (to the west).

Canadian Lands complex geological structure with the most breeds different ages. The young Cordilleras are located near the ancient Canadian Shield.

More than half of the country is occupied by the Laurentian Plateau, which is part of the Canadian Shield. It still bears traces of recent glaciation: smooth rocks, moraines, chains of lakes. Plateau gently undulating plain.

This is the most unsuitable part of the country for human habitation, but has huge mineral reserves.

Both from the north and from the south, the Laurentian Plateau is surrounded by extensive lowlands Interior Plains, the Laurentian Lowlands and the Hudson Strait Lowlands. They represent a typical picture of the Canadian landscape and it is they who brought fame to Canada as a spacious country with favorable climatic and geographical conditions.

The prairies are mostly located in southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, which are called the prairie provinces. The Laurentian Lowland is in favorable climatic conditions temperate climate and fertile soil. The economic center of the country is located here.

The Appalachian Mountains are located in southeastern Canada. They are rich in minerals. The average height of the mountain range does not exceed 600 m. To the northwest of the Appalachian Mountains lies the Canadian Shield, consisting mainly of granites and gneisses. There are many swamps, lakes, and rapids rivers. On the west and south, the Canadian Shield is bordered by a chain of lakes from the Great Bear to the Great Lakes.

To the west of the Canadian Shield are the Great Plains. Their southern part Internal lowlands is the agricultural center of the country, 75% of all cultivated land. On the coast Pacific Ocean The Cordillera stretches over 2.5 thousand km from north to south and 750 km from west to east. In the east they are called the Rocky Mountains, in the west they are called the Coast Range. The average height of the mountains is 2-3 thousand m above sea level.

Although most of the land is occupied by lakes and forested lowlands, Canada also has mountain ranges, plains and even a small desert. The Great Plains, or prairies, cover Manitoba, Saskatchewan and parts of Alberta. Now this is the main agricultural land of the country.

Western Canada is known for its Rocky Mountains, while the east is home to the country's most important cities, as well as Niagara Falls. The Canadian Shield, an ancient mountainous region formed over 2.5 billion years ago, covers most north of the country. In the Arctic region you can only find tundra, which further north is divided into islands covered with ice almost all year round.

Most high point Canada is Mount Logan with an altitude of 5950 m above sea level. The main natural resources are nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, silver, coal, oil, and natural gas.

Only 5% of Canada's land area is suitable for cultivation. Another 3% of the land is used for pasture. Forests and forest plantations occupy 54% of Canada's total territory. The irrigated land is only 7100 sq. km.

Economic and geographical characteristics of the countries of North America using the example of Canada

1.1 Geographical position Canada

Canada See Appendix 1 is the second largest country in the world (10 million sq. km.), which is surpassed in size only by Russia. Canada takes up 1/12th earth's land and has the longest coastline, equal to 3 equators. Canada is located in North America. It borders the United States to the south and northwest, and the US land border is considered the longest unguarded border in the world. The “border” with Russia is the shortest, as it is simply a mathematical point - North Pole, where the boundaries of the polar sectors of these countries converge. In the north, Canada is washed by the Arctic Ocean. In the northeast is Baffin Bay and Davis Strait, in the east is the Atlantic Ocean, and in the west is the Pacific Ocean.

Canada's climate ranges from temperate in the south to arctic in the north.

Although most of the land is occupied by lakes and forested lowlands, Canada also has mountain ranges, plains and even a small desert. The Great Plains or prairies cover Manitoba, Saskatchewan and parts of Alberta. Now this is the main agricultural land of the country. Western Canada is known for its Rocky Mountains, while the east is home to the country's most important cities, as well as Niagara Falls, the Canadian Shield, an ancient mountainous region formed by more than 2.5 billion. years ago, covers most of the north of the country. In the Arctic region you can only find tundra, which further north is divided into islands covered with ice almost all year round.

The highest point in Canada is Mount Logan at 5950 m above sea level.

Physical-geographical location of Canada:

Physiographically, Canada is divided into five main parts: the Appalachian-Acadian region (southeast of the country), Canadian shield, Interior Lowlands, Great Plains (in the center) and Cordillera (in the west). The territory of the country is a complex geological structure, where there are rocks of the most different ages. Next to the oldest geological formation, which is the Canadian Shield, there are young mountains - the Cordillera.

More than half of the country's territory is occupied by the Laurentian Plateau, which is part of the Canadian Shield. This oldest part Canadian land, in the recent past covered with a glacier and still bearing traces of glaciation: smoothed rocks, moraines, chains of lakes. The plateau is a gently undulating plain. This is the most rugged and uninhabited part of the country, but with huge mineral reserves.

The plateau is surrounded from the north and south large lowlands- The interior plains, the Laurentian Lowlands and the Hudson Strait Lowlands, which represent a characteristic picture of the Canadian landscape and brought Canada the glory of a country of boundless expanses with favorable natural conditions.

In spring, the boundless expanse of steppes is covered with a green carpet, in summer - with a golden blanket, and in winter - with a white blanket. Such steppes are mainly located in the southern parts of the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, which is why these provinces are called steppe. The Laurentian Lowland is located in the most favorable climatic conditions - a temperate climate and fertile soils. That's why the main one is here economic region countries.

In the southeast of the country lie the Appalachian Mountains, an ancient mountain system, rich in minerals like our Urals. Their average height does not exceed 600 m. The Appalachians are covered with dense forests. To the northwest of the Appalachians is the Canadian Shield, consisting of granites and gneisses. There are many swamps, lakes, and rapids rivers. From the west and south, the shield is bordered by a chain of lakes - from Great Bear Lake to the Great Lakes. The Canadian Shield region is a rugged and sparsely populated part of the country.

West of the Canadian Shield lie the Great Plains. Their southern part - the Interior Lowlands - is the breadbasket of Canada (75% of the country's arable land). In the western part of Canada on the Pacific coast there is one of the greatest and most beautiful mountain systems in the world - the Cordillera, stretching for 2.5 thousand km from north to south and 750 km from west to east. Within Canada, they are divided into the Rocky Mountains (in the east), the Coast Range (in the west) and the plateau that lies between them. The height of the mountains is 2000-3000 m above sea level. These relatively young mountains are also rich in mineral resources, most of which are being mined.

Economic and geographical position of Canada:

Canada occupies most of the North North America. 75% of the territory is the north zone. Canada has a common land border with the USA in the south and northwest (between Alaska and Yukon) and stretches from Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific - in the west and the Arctic - in the north. It also shares maritime borders with France (Saint Pierre and Miquelon) and Denmark (Greenland). Since 1925, Canada has owned part of the Arctic between 60? w.d. and 141? z.d., however, these possessions are not generally recognized.

The USA is a developed country. It ranks fourth in the world in terms of territory. The United States borders Mexico in the south and also has a maritime border with Russia. The USA has the largest economy in the world. A lot of natural resources, including energy and raw materials. High-tech production. Scientific research is developed. The service sector and competitive industry are well developed.

The country's transport system includes more than 1.1 million kilometers highways, ten major international and about three hundred regional and local significance, 72,093 kilometers railway tracks and more than 300 commercial seaports providing access to the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans, water spaces Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. In 2005, revenues from the country's transportation sector accounted for 4.2% of Canada's GDP -- 0.5% more than revenues from oil and natural gas production.

Canada can be divided into 7 physiographic regions. Arctic mountains. Most of Ellesmere Island and the northeast coast of Baffin Island is occupied by a series of high mountains and steep slopes. This area is high latitude and exceptionally cold. The surface is constrained permafrost, most of the territory is covered with ice sheets.

Laurentian (Canadian) shield. The territory of this area is characterized by outcrops of ancient crystalline bedrock. Local landforms - heritage ice age. As the massive ice sheets retreated north, they cleared and smoothed the surface. There are thousands of lakes within this area, with Hudson Bay at the center. The entire area, shaped like a circle, covers almost half of Canada (4.6 million km). The area is extremely rich mineral resources, deposits of almost all elements of the periodic table were found here.

Appalachian Mountains. The Maritime Provinces and the insular part of Newfoundland represent the most northern region The Appalachian system, which runs through the eastern United States into Canada. This is a mountainous area of ancient rock formations.

Inland plains. Bordering the Canadian Shield to the west, this region of plains and gently undulating terrain extends from the United States into the Steppe Provinces and continues in the northwest to the Pacific Coast. The Canadian Shield and Interior Plains are an area of low relief that covers approximately 60% of the area of Canada and the United States.

The Rocky Mountains rise sharply along the western edge of the Interior Plains. Contrasting with the gently undulating plains, the Rocky Mountains have peaks that often exceed 3 thousand meters.

Intermountain regions. To the west is relatively narrow corridor of plateaus and valleys separating the Rocky Mountains from the mountain ranges along the Pacific Coast. This region, extremely complex geologically, is a labyrinth of plateaus, low ridges and valleys.

Pacific mountain system. Western region continent represents mountainous country, stretching from Alaska through the Yukon Territory and British Columbia to the Sierra Nevada in Southern California.

The climatic regions of Canada and Russia are very similar. In the North, the tundra region extends from the Canadian Archipelago through the Ungava Peninsula east of Hudson Bay and ends at Atlantic coast Newfoundland. South of the tundra is a vast region of subarctic climate, running from the Yukon and Northwest Territories east across the country to Hudson Bay and continuing into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In the south this zone reaches northern shore Lake Superior. To the south of the subarctic belt there is an area of humid continental climate, spreading through southern part Steppe provinces and through the Great Lakes region to the Maritime provinces. However, everything natural areas in Canada compared to Russia (especially its European part) are shifted to the south. The point is that instead of warm Gulf Stream its eastern shores are washed by the cold Labrador Current, and the North Pole, according to scientists, in the distant past was located on the territory of what is now Canada, where the northern one still remains magnetic pole Earth. Here in much more southern latitudes than here - sometimes even in Montreal! - Can be seen northern lights. The climate in Montreal is approximately the same as in Moscow, although Montreal, like the capital, Ottawa, is located at the latitude of Simferopol. And at the latitude of Moscow in eastern Canada there is already tundra. As in Russia, approximately 70% of Canada's territory is usually classified as the Northern region.

Political-geographical position of Canada:

Canada - federal state, occupying most of the North American mainland and numerous adjacent islands. Today Canada -- a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system, is a bilingual and multicultural country where English and French languages recognized as official at the federal level.

Washed by the Atlantic, Pacific and Northern Arctic oceans, borders the United States in the south and northwest, with Denmark (Greenland) and France (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon) in the northeast. Canada's border with the United States is the longest common border in the world. The capital of Canada is Ottawa.

Over the past 60 years, Canada has emerged as a champion of diversity, working to address international conflicts in cooperation with other countries.

As a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Canada has a defense army without nuclear weapons. There are currently 62,000 permanent military personnel in service and 26,000 in the reserves. Canadian armed forces consist of infantry troops, navy and air force. The bulk of the weapons include 1,500 infantry fighting vehicles, 34 warships and 861 aircraft.

Canada participated in the First and Second World Wars on the side of the Allies. She also participated in Korean War on the US side. Canada has been active in international missions under UN and NATO command since 1950, including peacekeeping operations, various missions in former Yugoslavia, and supported Coalition forces in the 1st Gulf War. Since 2001, Canada has had a presence in Afghanistan in partnership with US stabilization forces and NATO international forces with UN support. Help team emergency situations participated in three important rescue operations after the December 2004 tsunami South-East Asia, after Hurricane Katrina in September 2005 on the American coast and after the earthquake in Kashmir in October 2005.

Canada consists of ten provinces and three territories. See Appendix 2. Canada's newest administrative unit is the territory of Nunavut (created in 1999).

Provinces are states that exist under the Canadian Constitution and have supreme authority within its competence, independent of the federal government.

Canadian territories are administrative units, under the jurisdiction of the Canadian federal Parliament, which by ordinary law grants some powers to their local administrations.

Ten modern provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan. Three territories: Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon.

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General information

Canada by shape government structure- 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. Official official languages countries - English and French.

Dream country

The geographical location of Canada, stretching across several natural areas from arctic deserts, occupying almost all 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 country's economic condition. And the presence of access to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans favored an increase in its status in the system international relations and in key international organizations nearby regions.

High standard of living, well-developed economy, education and healthcare systems, clean and safe modern cities, many different cultures - this is not the entire list of advantages that distinguish Canada. In 1992, the UN declared it “the most attractive country in which to live.”

Economic and geographical position of Canada

Note 1

Canada occupies the northern part of the North American continent and is the second largest country in the world.

Its southern and northwestern land border is with the United States. In addition to land borders, Canada has maritime borders - in the northeast it borders with the Danish autonomous territory of Greenland and in the east with the French islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.

Canada is bordered by three oceans: north coast It is washed by the Arctic Ocean, from the east it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.

It also has polar possessions in the Arctic zone, and claims to part of the continental shelf, including the North Pole.

The country itself, its land and sea neighbors are highly developed capitalist states well endowed with natural resources.

One of important factors Canada's prosperity lies in its efficient transportation system, which connects railways, highways and airlines.

All these types of transport have developed in the south of the country. The small population of the northern part is almost not provided with transport; there are very few roads there.

The north and south of the country are mainly connected by air. Canada's longest highway connects the steppe regions with the western and eastern provinces. This “Main Street of Canada,” as it is called, is 8 thousand km long.

Has sufficient development sea transport and river. The St. Lawrence River is the largest transport artery, and the ports located on it are mainly of the lake type.

IN central region The country has the largest airports, for example, Mirabel Airport.

The main population of the country is concentrated in the south of Canada and mineral resources are mined here; in addition, the south of Canada is conveniently located to the mineral resources of the American Great Lakes, in the area of which there are iron ore reserves of the United States.

What distinguishes Canada from developed capitalist countries is its own raw materials and energy base exceeding the needs of the farm.

Canada is not only a member, but also a founder of NATO. She has a defensive army without nuclear weapons. The country took part on the side of the Allies in the First and Second World Wars. She took part in the Korean War on the side of the United States.

This industrial-agrarian country has a large economic potential and occupies one of the leading places among developed countries by the size of the gross national product.

Note 2

Thus, despite the fact that most of the country lies in harsh conditions, its economic and geographical position is favorable and contributes to high economic development farms. This is explained open exit in three oceans, the presence of borders with highly developed countries, well-developed transport system and proximity to international transport routes, which contributed to the development of the territory and the attraction of immigrants, as well as large reserves of various mineral resources that underlie the development of the economy.

Natural conditions of Canada.

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

The Canadian Cordillera stretches along the Pacific coast in the west. They begin on the border with Alaska and have an altitude 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 ridges are covered coniferous forest, and the eastern ones are rocky and exposed. Individual peaks of these ridges have heights of up to 4000 m.

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

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

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

The Appalachian Mountains of the United States continue on the Atlantic coast of Canadian territory.

Here in the east of the country there are the Notre Dame Mountains on the right bank of the St. Lawrence, the Chicchok massif in the northern part of the Gaspé Peninsula, the Kibkid Mountains, cut through the valley of the Saint John River. The height of the mountains is no more than 700 m.

The island of Newfoundland has an altitude of 805 m. From Lake Superior to the coast of the Arctic Ocean, the vast region of the 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.

The Labrador Peninsula has bare stone hills and rocks. The height of the area in the southern and west coast 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 there is a low-lying strip 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. There are lakes on it:

Manitoba,
Winnipeg,
Winnipegosis.

At the second stage of the plain, the Coto de Missouri plateau was formed, up to 1000 m high. Closer to southern border The country has forested and cypress mountains with flat tops, the height of which is 1000-1100 m.

The northern part of Canada lies within the subarctic climate zone, the rest of the territory has a temperate continental, quite mild climate. For 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 average temperature July +21 degrees, and on the Canadian Arctic Archipelago from -4 degrees in the north to +4 degrees in the south.

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

The Atlantic Ocean in the southeast of the country somewhat softens the winter and at the same time brings heavy precipitation in the form of snowfall. Summer period it is longer here than in other areas, but it does not get hot here. Atmosphere 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 humid, summers in the south are moderate, and summers in the north are cooler. The Rocky Mountains prevent this climate from spreading inland.

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

Natural Resources of Canada

Diverse tectonic structure and large territory provided a wealth of mineral resources.

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

Coal deposits are found in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, in Alberta, in the Appalachians, and in the coastal provinces.

Iron ores occur in the Lake Superior basin and the Labrador Peninsula. There are reserves of uranium ore in the area of Lakes Huron and Athabasca, and large reserves of asbestos in the provinces of Quebec and British Columbia.

The lowland areas are rich in minerals of sedimentary origin - hydrocarbons, potassium salts.

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

Coal production has increased 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 allows Canada to be the largest supplier of minerals to developed capitalist countries and, above all, to the United States.

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

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

The most common in Canada are low-fertility podzolic soils, characteristic of northern regions countries. In areas with summer precipitation, fertile chernozem soils are formed. In areas with precipitation of at least 360 mm, chestnut soils formed. Grayish soils are common in arid areas.

Canada See Appendix 1 is the second largest country in the world (10 million sq. km.), which is surpassed in size only by Russia. Canada occupies 1/12 of the earth's landmass and has the longest coastline, equal to 3 equators. Canada is located in North America. It borders the United States to the south and northwest, and the US land border is considered the longest unguarded border in the world. The “border” with Russia is the shortest, since it is simply a mathematical point - the North Pole, where the boundaries of the polar sectors of these countries converge. In the north, Canada is washed by the Arctic Ocean. In the northeast is Baffin Bay and Davis Strait, in the east is the Atlantic Ocean, and in the west is the Pacific Ocean.

Canada's climate ranges from temperate in the south to arctic in the north.

The highest point in Canada is Mount Logan at 5950 m above sea level.

Physical-geographical location of Canada:

Physiographically, Canada is divided into five main parts: the Appalachian-Acadian region (southeast of the country), the Canadian Shield, the Interior Lowlands, the Great Plains (in the center) and the Cordillera (in the west). The territory of the country is a complex geological structure, where there are rocks of various ages. Next to the oldest geological formation, which is the Canadian Shield, there are young mountains - the Cordillera.

More than half of the country's territory is occupied by the Laurentian Plateau, which is part of the Canadian Shield. This is the oldest part of the Canadian landmass, covered in the recent past by a glacier and still bearing traces of glaciation: smoothed rocks, moraines, chains of lakes. The plateau is a gently undulating plain. This is the most rugged and uninhabited part of the country, but with huge mineral reserves.

From the north and south, the plateau is surrounded by large lowlands - the Interior Plains, the Laurentian Lowlands and the Hudson Strait Lowlands, which represent a characteristic picture of the Canadian landscape and brought Canada the glory of a country of boundless expanses with favorable natural conditions.

In spring, the boundless expanse of steppes is covered with a green carpet, in summer - with a golden blanket, and in winter - with a white blanket. Such steppes are mainly located in the southern parts of the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, which is why these provinces are called steppe. The Laurentian Lowland is located in the most favorable climatic conditions - a temperate climate and fertile soils. That is why the main economic region of the country is located here.

In the southeast of the country lie the Appalachian Mountains, an ancient mountain system rich in minerals like our Urals. Their average height does not exceed 600 m. The Appalachians are covered with dense forests. To the northwest of the Appalachians is the Canadian Shield, consisting of granites and gneisses. There are many swamps, lakes, and rapids rivers. From the west and south, the shield is bordered by a chain of lakes - from Great Bear Lake to the Great Lakes. The Canadian Shield region is a rugged and sparsely populated part of the country.

Economic and geographical position of Canada:

Canada occupies most of the northern part of North America. 75% of the territory is the north zone. Canada shares a land border with the United States in the south and northwest (between Alaska and Yukon) and stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Arctic Ocean in the north. It also shares maritime borders with France (Saint Pierre and Miquelon) and Denmark (Greenland). Since 1925, Canada has owned part of the Arctic between 60? w.d. and 141? z.d., however, these possessions are not generally recognized.

The USA is a developed country. It ranks fourth in the world in terms of territory. The United States borders Mexico in the south and also has a maritime border with Russia. The USA has the largest economy in the world. Many natural resources, including energy and raw materials. High-tech production. Scientific research is developed. The service sector and competitive industry are well developed.

The country's transport system includes more than 1.1 million kilometers of highways, ten major international and about three hundred regional and local airports, 72,093 kilometers of railways and more than 300 commercial seaports providing access to the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans , the waters of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. In 2005, revenues from the country's transportation sector accounted for 4.2% of Canada's GDP -- 0.5% more than revenues from oil and natural gas production.

Canada can be divided into 7 physiographic regions. Arctic mountains. Much of Ellesmere Island and the northeast coast of Baffin Island is occupied by a series of high mountains and steep slopes. This area is high latitude and exceptionally cold. The surface is bound by permafrost, and most of the territory is covered with ice sheets.

Laurentian (Canadian) shield. The territory of this area is characterized by outcrops of ancient crystalline bedrock. Local landforms are a legacy of the Ice Age. As the massive ice sheets retreated north, they cleared and smoothed the surface. There are thousands of lakes within this area, with Hudson Bay at the center. The entire area, shaped like a circle, covers almost half of Canada (4.6 million km). The area is extremely rich in mineral resources; deposits of almost all elements of the periodic table have been found here.

Appalachian Mountains. The Maritime Provinces and the insular portion of Newfoundland represent the northernmost edge of the Appalachian System, which runs through the eastern United States into Canada. This is a mountainous area of ancient rock formations.

The Rocky Mountains rise sharply along the western edge of the Interior Plains. Contrasting with the gently undulating plains, the Rocky Mountains have peaks that often exceed 3 thousand meters.

Intermountain regions. To the west lies a relatively narrow corridor of plateaus and valleys that separates the Rocky Mountains from the mountain ranges along the Pacific Coast. This region, extremely complex geologically, is a labyrinth of plateaus, low ridges and valleys.

Pacific mountain system. The western edge of the continent is mountainous country stretching from Alaska through the Yukon Territory and British Columbia to the Sierra Nevada in Southern California.

The climatic regions of Canada and Russia are very similar. In the North, the tundra region extends from the Canadian Archipelago through the Ungava Peninsula east of Hudson Bay and ends on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland. South of the tundra is a vast region of subarctic climate, running from the Yukon and Northwest Territories east across the country to Hudson Bay and continuing into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In the south, this zone reaches the northern shore of Lake Superior. South of the subarctic belt is a region of humid continental climate, extending through the southern part of the Steppe Provinces and through the Great Lakes region into the Maritime Provinces. However, all natural zones in Canada, compared to Russia (especially its European part), are shifted to the south. The fact is that instead of the warm Gulf Stream, its eastern shores are washed by the cold Labrador Current, and the North Pole, according to scientists, in the distant past was located on the territory of what is now Canada, where the Earth’s north magnetic pole still remains. Here in much more southern latitudes than here - sometimes even in Montreal! - you can see the northern lights. The climate in Montreal is approximately the same as in Moscow, although Montreal, like the capital, Ottawa, is located at the latitude of Simferopol. And at the latitude of Moscow in eastern Canada there is already tundra. As in Russia, approximately 70% of Canada's territory is usually classified as the Northern region.

Political-geographical position of Canada:

Canada is a federal state that occupies most of the North American mainland and numerous adjacent islands. Today, Canada is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system, a bilingual and multicultural country where English and French are recognized as official languages at the federal level.

It is washed by the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, bordered by the United States in the south and northwest, and Denmark (Greenland) and France (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon) in the northeast. Canada's border with the United States is the longest shared border in the world. The capital of Canada is Ottawa.

Over the past 60 years, Canada has emerged as a champion of diversity, working to resolve international conflicts in cooperation with other countries.

As a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Canada has a defensive army without nuclear weapons. There are currently 62,000 permanent military personnel in service and 26,000 in the reserves. The Canadian Armed Forces consists of infantry, navy and air force. The bulk of the weapons include 1,500 infantry fighting vehicles, 34 warships and 861 aircraft.

Canada participated in the First and Second World Wars on the side of the Allies. She also served in the Korean War on the side of the United States. Canada has been active in international missions under UN and NATO command since 1950, including peacekeeping operations, various missions in the former Yugoslavia, and supporting Coalition forces in the 1st Gulf War. Since 2001, Canada has had a presence in Afghanistan in partnership with US stabilization forces and NATO international forces with UN support. The Disaster Relief Team was involved in three significant rescue operations following the December 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, the September 2005 Hurricane Katrina on the American coast, and the October 2005 Kashmir earthquake.

Canada consists of ten provinces and three territories. See Appendix 2. Canada's newest administrative unit is the territory of Nunavut (created in 1999).

Provinces are states that exist under the Canadian Constitution and have the highest authority within their jurisdiction, independent of the federal government.

Canadian territories are administrative units administered by the Canadian federal Parliament, which by ordinary law grants certain powers to their local governments.

The ten modern provinces are: Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan. Three territories: Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon.