Location: Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US
Land Area: total: 9,984,670 sq km. (3,855,085 Sq. miles); made up of land: 9,093,507 sq km (3,511,006 Sq. miles); and water: 891,163 sq km (344,078 sq. miles).
Canada is the second-largest country in the world.
Coastline: 202,080 km (125,594 miles).
Canada has more coastline than any other country in the world and is surrounded by three oceans --- the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Arctic.
Highest Point: Mount Logan 5,959 m (1,817 ft)
Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Notable Landmarks: Visit them now!

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $1.077 trillion (2005 est.)
GDP Per Capita: $32,800 (2005 est.)
Number of Workers: 17.35 million (2005 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 6.8% (2005 est.)
Industries: transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products; wood and paper products; fish products, petroleum and natural gas
Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD) What does it look like?

Type of Government: confederation with parliamentary democracy
Head of State: Governor General Michaelle Jean (since 6 Feb 2006)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Stephen Harper (since 6 Feb 2006)
Capital City: Ottawa
Legal Age to Vote: 18
Flag Design: two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width), with white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square. The official colors of Canada are red and white.
Official Language: English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5%
Religions: Roman Catholic, 42.6%; Protestant, 23.3% (including United Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%); other Christian 4.4%; Muslim 1.9%; other and unspecified 11.8%; none 16% (2001 census)

A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically, the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified border. Its paramount political problem continues to be the relationship of the province of Quebec, with its French-speaking residents and unique culture, to the remainder of the country.