Country of the Week: Canada!

Canada is a country in North America, bordered by the United States to the west and south, and the Arctic Ocean to the north. Its capital is Toronto, and its population is 38 million (2020 est.), with most of it residing in the city of Toronto, located in the province of Ontario. It is known for maple syrup, its natural scenery (which includes the Niagara Falls and the Canadian Rockies), ice hockey, animals like bears and moose, among other amazing things.

Maple syrup is a staple product in Canada, also named liquid gold. Even in the flag, one can see the leaf of a maple tree, where the sweet sap is taken to make this translucent, thick, bourbon-brown substance. Canadians usually pour it into their pancakes, a delicious combo for breakfast in the morning!

If you haven’t heard of ice hockey then I’ll tell you, it is Canada’s most popular sport! It is played on ice skates, in any indoor or outdoor rink, and two teams of players wearing uniforms for safety have to shoot a rubber puck with their sticks in the opposite net to score a goal. They regard themselves as the creators of it. It has united Canadians immensely, through their participation in teams to the attending of matches, especially on an international level. The first organized ice hockey match, with the characteristics that we recognize today, took place in Montréal in 1875, where J.G.A. Creighton, a student, set formal rules for the game.

The beaver is considered the national animal of Canada, native to the country. A population of these animals has built the longest beaver dam in the world located in the Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada, and it can even be seen from space! Bears are also iconic in this country, people can see black and grizzly bears more usually than polar bears. Remember to respect their space though! Moose, the largest members of the deer family can be found here too, as well as coyotes, cougars and wolves.

Canada has the longest coastline in the world! With abundant beaches, it has the world’s largest freshwater beach, called Wasaga Beach! Furthermore, the breathtaking Niagara Falls are found in Canada and are one of the main tourist attractions! To have a full experience of the place, you can take a boat tour called Maid of the Mist that navigates between the falls, be sure to wear your waterproof poncho because you will get sprayed and showered by the water! Another particular place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Canadian Rockies. They stretch about 180,000 square kilometers through British Columbia and Alberta and offer delightful and enchanting landscapes like the bright Peyto Lake, Maligne Lake, and various other lakes as well as glaciers. These are just a few of the magnificent natural wonders one might find in this country!

Apart from crude and wild landscapes, cities in Canada attract great numbers of tourists. The CN Tower in Toronto is a famous landmark of the nation, where one can dine in the fabulous 360-degree restaurant at the top while enjoying the view of the city and Lake Ontario. A must-visit is Old Quebec, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and situated across the Upper and Lower Town of Quebec, this historical neighbourhood has picturesque buildings and an evident French influence. And tons more that cannot be put in this paragraph alone!

Bibliography

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