FACTS

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

Area (only Total) total: 9,984,670 sq km

Climate: varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north

Terrain: mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast

Population: 33,212,696 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): English

Government type: constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation

Capital (Name): Ottawa

Capital (Time Difference): UTC-5

Independence: 1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK)

National holiday: Canada Day, 1 July (1867)