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| | Canada is a country in North America, it occupies the second place in the world (after Russia) with respect to area. It is surrounded by Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans and borders with USA in the south and in Northwest. Form of government: parliamentary system at federal constitutional monarchy.
Occupied originally by local people, Canada was formed as the union of three British colonies (which were the French colonies during the times of New France). Today, it is a federation, consisting of 10 provinces and 3 territories. Canada got independence from United Kingdom as a result of peace process from 1867 to 1982.
Canada is bilingual and multicultural country, where English and French languages are recognized as official languages on national level. Technologically advanced and industrially developed state, Canada has diversified economy, which is based on rich natural resources and trade (particularly with USA, with which, Canada comprehensively collaborates since the existence of colonies and formation of Confederation).
Presently, Canada consists of one province with prevailing French-speaking population — Quebec — and 9 predominantly English-speaking provinces, also named “English Canada” in comparison with French-speaking Quebec.
Name Canada originated from word, meaning "village" or "settlement" in Iroquois's language, living along the coasts of river St. Lawrence. In 1535, inhabitants of place, where now the Quebec city is situated, used this word to send the explorer Jacques Cartier to village Stadacona. Cartier used the word "Canada" to designate not only this village but also the entire area, which was under Donnacona, leader of village Stadacona. By 1545, European books and maps designated this region as "Canada".
Canada occupies huge northern portion of North America. 75 percent of its territory is a north zone. Canada has common border with USA in south and in the northwest (between Alaska and Yukon) and stretches from Atlantic ocean in the east upto Pacific ocean — in the west and Arctic — in the north. From 1925 onwards, Canada owns part of Arctic region between longitude 60 degrees west and longitude 141 degrees west, however, possession of Arctic by Canada is not universally recognized. North most settlement in Canada and in the world is Alert, base of Canadian armed forces at top of Ellesmere island (latitude 82.5 degrees north 834 km — 450 nautical miles — from North Pole). Canada —second largest country of the world.
Density of population (approximately 3.5 people per square kilometer) is one of the lowest in the world. Densely populated area of the country is Quebec-Windsor, along flat coast of river St. Lawrence and in the southeast of Great Lakes. Extensive Canadian sheet, rocky region, cleared by last glacial age, deprived of fertile lands and rich with minerals, lakes and rivers is located to North of this Quebec-Windsor region. More lakes are available in Canada than any other country in the world and Canada has considerable stock of fresh water resources. |
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Canada blocked the takeover of its leading space company MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates to US firm Alliant Techsystems. In the official statement, Canadian Industry Minister claimed that this acquisition would be against Canada's national interests, would jeopardize Canadian security and would undermine the future of Canadian space industry. 
