Capital: Ottawa.
Official languages: English and French.
Area: 3,849,674 sq. mi. (9,970,610 sq. km), including 291,577 sq. mi.
(755,180 sq. km) of inland water. Greatest distances--east-west,
3,223 mi. (5,187 km), from Cape Spear, Nfld., to Mount St. Elias,
Y.T.; north-south, 2,875 mi. (4,627 km), from Cape Columbia on
Ellesmere Island to Middle Island in Lake Erie. Coastline--151,485
mi. (243,791 km), including mainland and islands; Atlantic Ocean,
28,019 mi. (45,092 km); Arctic Ocean, 82,698 mi. (133,089 km);
Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, and James Bay, 24,786 mi. (39,890 km);
Pacific Ocean, 15,985 mi. (25,726 km). Shoreline--Great Lakes,
5,251 mi. (8,452 km).
Elevation: Highest--Mount Logan, 19,524 ft. (5,951 m) above sea
level. Lowest--sea level.
Population: Estimated 1996 population--28,902,000; density, 8 persons
per sq. mi. (3 per sq. km); distribution, 78 percent urban, 22
percent rural. 1991 census--27,296,859. Estimated 2001
population-- 30,787,000.
Chief products: Agriculture--beef cattle, milk, wheat, hogs,
chickens, canola, eggs. Fishing industry--crab, lobster, salmon.
Forestry--spruce, pine, fir. Manufacturing--motor vehicles and
parts; processed foods and beverages; chemicals; electrical
equipment; paper products; fabricated metal products; aluminum;
steel, and other metals; wood products. Mining--petroleum, natural
gas, copper, gold, nickel, coal, zinc, potash, iron ore.
National anthem: "O Canada."
National symbols: Maple leaf and beaver.
National holiday: Canada Day, July 1.
Money: Basic unit--dollar. For its price in U.S. dollars, see MONEY
(Table: Exchange Rates). See also DOLLAR.
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