Canada’s form of government represents its cultural duality: a parliamentary democracy that is also a constitutional monarchy, headed by Queen Elizabeth II (though her role is entirely formal).
For centuries a backdrop to massive migration flows, Canada has become over time a multi-ethnic nation with two official languages: English and French. Among the world’s most economically advanced countries, efforts to distinguish itself from American cultural assimilation have been numerous, and even today many Canadian efforts focus on seeking a national identity. About 60% of the population born in Canada is of British origin, the French make up around 35%, and only 3% are indigenous, for whom the autonomous territory of Nunavut was proclaimed in 1999.
What to See in Canada
The entire country is of great scenic interest: mostly flat except for the Rocky Mountains and the Arctic Cordillera, Canada has the greatest number of lakes and inland waters of any country in the world (the Great Lakes and Niagara Falls are among its top attractions).
With a continuous focus on ecological issues, it is ideal for hiking enthusiasts who have the opportunity to visit numerous national parks and admire the vast spectacle of steppes, valleys, and fjords. But Canada is not just the “Country of the Maple Leaf”: Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, the three main cities, offer visitors cultural and leisure opportunities in a distinctly European echo, with rare elegance and originality.
Canada Factsheet
- Country: Canada
- Area: 9,984,670 Km²
- Capital: Ottawa
- Population: 32.5 million inhabitants
- Language: English and French
- Religion: majority Catholic and Protestant
- State system: federal republic, part of the British Commonwealth
- Major cities: Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Mississauga, Vancouver, Hamilton
Information on Canada
- Currency: Canadian Dollar (1 euro = 1.5446 CAD)
- International dialing code: +1
- International vehicle code: CND
- Driving side: right
- Entry documents: passport
- Required vaccinations: None
- Electric current: 110/120V 60 Hz A,B (adapter needed)
- Measurement system: metric decimal
- Time zone: from -4.30 to -9 hours compared to Italy; Canada has 6 time zones
- Fixed-date holidays: January 1: New Year’s Day; March-April: Good Friday; March-April: Easter; March-April: Easter Monday; Monday before May 25: Victoria Day; July 1: Canada Day; first Monday in September: Labour Day; second Monday in October: Thanksgiving; November 11: Remembrance Day; December 25: Christmas; December 26: Boxing Day
- Climate: due to its size, the country features various climate types, ranging from polar in the north—allowing visits only in the short June-August period—to milder climates in Ontario and Quebec where cold, snowy winters (the Blizzard) transition to mild summers with pleasant temperatures despite some rain. Elsewhere, climates range from humid and rainy along the coasts to cold and unpredictable in the Rocky Mountains, and continental in the prairies with large temperature swings between seasons and day and night.
- Average temperatures: from -10°C to 25°C annually; climate varies significantly east to west, more strongly depending on altitude and proximity to the sea or lakes
- Transportation: National airlines: Air Canada and Air Transat; others operating flights to and from Canada include American Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, KLM, Alitalia, Iberia, and more.
- Airports: International: Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Gander, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Quebec
. To the east, it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, to the west by the Pacific, and to the north by the Arctic Ocean.){kind=link}