Geography and climate in Canada
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Geography in canada
As the world's
second largest country, Canada's geography changes
significantly depending on which part you are in. And with the
differences in each region, there is
a very different accompanying landscape and climate.
In almost
every part of Canada there are lakes and rivers. Canada has
over 2 million lakes covering 7% of the land mass. The largest
lake is the Northwest Territories' Great Bear Lake. It is
estimated that Canada is home to one-seventh of the world's
fresh water.
Canada has a
land mass of 9,970,610 square kilometers and occupies the
northern half of North America. From east to west, Canada
encompasses six time zones. Canada has coastlines on the
Atlantic and Pacific and the Arctic Ocean, giving it the
longest coastline of any country. Canada's southern boundary
is an 8,892 kilometer border with the United States. Northern
Canada's Arctic islands come within 800 kilometers of the
North Pole.
In
northernmost Canada only 12 per cent of the land is suitable
for agriculture because of the harsh climate. As a result,
most of the population of Canada live within a few hundred
kilometres of the southern border, where the climate is
milder.
Climate in Canada
Canada's
climate varies wildly based on geography, from perma-frost in
the north to four distinct seasons towards the equator. In
this region the temperature can climb up to 35 degrees Celsius
in the summer and descend to a chilly -25 degrees Celsius
during winter.
Canada's
climate and environment are one of the main reasons that
Canada is such a succesful country. The blend of natural
resources and climate sustains us. The seasons dictate the
look of the land: according to whether the natural environment
is in a state of dormancy or growth.
Canada's
climate is characterized by its diversity, as temperature and
precipitation differ depending on where you are and what time
of year it is. Other than the North where it's above freezing
for only a few months a year, most Canadian cities are within
300 km of the southern border, where mild springs, hot summers
and pleasantly crisp autumns are common during the majority of
the year.
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