Canada is a country in the northern part of North America. It is bordered by the United States of America both to the south and to the west (Alaska). By area, Canada is the second largest country in the world. Canada consists of ten provinces and three territories. Ottawa is the capital of Canada.

Canada is the second largest country in the world in land area, after Russia. It has the longest border with water (coastline) of any country in the world. It is next to the Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic Oceans.

It is made up of ten provinces and three territories, and has six time zones. It extends from the west coast, across the prairies and central Canada, to the Atlantic provinces. In the north there are three territories, stretching between Alaska and Greenland. Four of the five Great Lakes (Superior, Huron, Erie, and Ontario) are shared between Canada and the United States (Lake Michigan is in the USA), and they make up 16% of the Earth's fresh water.


Weather


The immense size of Canada can experience a wide range of climates from warm, moist Pacific coast and the cold and foggy Atlantic, north to the islands of Arctic ice .

  • Spring (March to May): Usually rains during this period. The days are longer and warmer, but nights remain cool. The plants begin to grow, but the trees remain bare until the end of the season. 
  • Summer (June to August / September): The climate is warm and temperatures can reach 30°C. In the central region (Ontario and Quebec ), and especially near the Great Lakes, the weather turns wet and there may be thunderstorms. In most regions, this season marks the season of mosquitoes and, in rural areas, and to the north of the country, the era of black flies. 
  • Autumn (September to November): Season characterized by the change of color of the foliage of the trees, which turn from green to red, yellow and brown, before falling to disappear completely in winter. The weather is cool to cold progressing rapidly. This season usually occur the first frost. It rains and the days begin to get shorter. The first snowfall usually occurs in November, but sometimes earlier, in some regions of the country. 
  • Winter (December to February / March): The Canadian winter is the dreaded season. It´s characterized by very low temperatures and frequent snowfalls. From December to mid-March, the temperature is below 0°C during the day and nights are very cold. Winds can also give the impression that it is even colder. In the north, temperatures are cooler and winter days are short.