By Bob Diehl
Canada consists of the entire North American continent north of the
United States, except for Alaska. Canada's 10 provinces and three territories encompass more than 3.8 million square miles of land, making it the second-largest country in the world. Canada's history goes back as far as 1000 A.D., when the Vikings first arrived in North America. The French explorer Champlain founded Quebec City in 1608, but by 1763, most of Canada was under British control. Canada achieved independence peacefully in 1867.
Provinces
Going west to east on a map, the 10 provinces in Canada are: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.
Territories
The three territories in Canada--Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut-make up the northernmost portion of the country.
Currency
Canada uses its own currency system, but many businesses accept U.S. currency.
Fun Fact
Canada's most populous city is Toronto, with more than 2.5 million people as of the 2006 census. Toronto is larger than every U.S. city except for New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
Famous Ties
Actress and model Pamela Anderson, actor Michael J. Fox and singer Shania Twain were all born in Canada.
About the Author:
Bob Diehl is a freelance writer living in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pa. He has more than a decade of writing, editing and proofreading experience in television news, sports reporting and marketing copywriting.
