Canada's border with the United States is the world's longest land border. Canada is sparsely populated, the majority of its land territory being dominated by forest and tundra and the Rocky Mountains. About four fifths of the country's population of 35 million people live near the southern border. The majority of Canada has a cold or severely cold winter climate, but southerly areas are warm in summer.

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The land now called Canada has been inhabited for millennia by various Aboriginal peoples. Beginning in the 15th century, British and French colonies were established on the Atlantic coast, with the first establishment of a region called "Canada" occurring in 1537. As a result of various conflicts, the United Kingdom gained and lost territories within British North America until left, in the late 18th century, with what mostly geographically comprises Canada today. In accordance to the British North America Act, on July 1 1867, the colonies of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia joined to form the autonomous federal Dominion of Canada. This began an accumulation of provinces and territories to the present ten provinces and three territories forming modern Canada. In 1931, Canada achieved near total independence from the United Kingdom with the Statute of Westminster 1931, and full sovereignty was attained when the Canada Act 1982 removed the last remaining ties of legal dependence on the British parliament.

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Canada is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II being the head of state. The country is officially bilingual (English and French) at federal level. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large scale immigration from many countries. Its advanced economy is the eleventh largest in the world, relying chiefly upon its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade networks. Canada's long and complex relationship with the United States has had a significant impact on its economy and culture.

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Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It stands on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec.

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Geography

Canada is the second largest country in the world, after Russia. By land area alone, however, Canada ranks fourth, the difference being due to it having the worlds largest proportion of fresh water lakes.

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Since 1925, Canada has claimed a portion of the Arctic but this claim is not universally recognized. Canada is home to the world's northernmost settlement, Canadian Forces Station Alert, on the northern tip of Ellesmere Island  which lies 508 miles from the North Pole. Much of the Canadian Arctic is covered by ice and permafrost.

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Since the end of the last glacial period, Canada has consisted of eight distinct forest regions, including extensive forests. Canada has over 2,000,000 lakes, more than any other country, containing much of the world's fresh water. There are also fresh-water glaciers in the Canadian Rockies and the Coast Mountains.

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Canada's population density, at 3.3 inhabitants per square kilometre is among the lowest in the world.

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Religion

Canada is religiously diverse, encompassing a wide range of beliefs and customs. Canada has no official church, and the government is officially committed to religious equality and tolerance. Freedom of religion in Canada is a constitutionally protected right, allowing individuals to assemble and worship without limitation or interference. The practice of religion is now generally considered a private matter throughout society and the state. According to the 2011 census, 67.3% of Canadians identify as Christian. Of these, Roman Catholics make up the largest group, accounting for 38.7% of the population. The largest Protestant denomination is the United Church of Canada (accounting for 6.1% of Canadians), followed by Anglicans (5.0%), and Baptists (1.9%).  23.9% declared no religious affiliation. The remaining 8.8% are affiliated with non-Christian religions, the largest of which are Islam and Hinduism.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

The Parliament of Canada in Ottowa overlook the Ottowa River

Changing the Guard at The Parliament of Canada

Niagra Falls separates Ontario from the USA

Aircraft are often the only way get around in rural Canada

The Toronto Skyline viewed from Lake Ontario