CANADA GEOGRAPHY

Canada is divided into thirteen provinces. Canada’s population density is 3.5 people / km, among the lowest in the world. The vast majority of Canada’s territory is sparsely populated wilderness .Despite this 79.7% of Canada’s population resides in urban areas where population densities are increasing. The geographical proximity between Canada and the United States has historically bound the two cities together politically.

During the cold war Canada’s position between Russia and United states was important as the route over the North Pole and Canada was the fastest and the most direct route by air for intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The major resource based industry in Canada is Fisheries, Forestry, Agriculture, Petroleum products and mining. The economy of Canada is reflected in its abundance of its natural resources. The strongest industry has been the Fishery industry. The cod stocks on the Grand Banks and the tuna stocks on the west coast have been nearly depleted but the salmon population continues to thrive among the fisheries industry.

The other major industry in Canada has been the forestry industry. About 54% of Canada’s and area is covered with forest. The largest forestry industries are found in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec

Canada has 7,200 square kilometers of irrigated land. Main crops in Canada include oats, flax, maize, barley, wheat, sugar, beets and vegetables. Cattle and sheep are raised in the valleys of British Columbia.

The mineral resource of Canada is extensive. There are large gold, lead, copper, nickel, iron, zinc and uranium reserves. Recently Canada is one of the largest producer of diamond, since diamond concentrations have been recently developed in the arctic.

Canada has some of the largest oil reserves in the world since technological developments have opened up oil production in Alberta’s Tar sands. The country also has coal and natural gas reserves.

The many dams developed in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Labrador has provided clean and dependable source of energy. There has been development of hydroelectrically power due to Canada’s many rivers