Flanked by the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, Canada is the second largest country in the world in terms of area. However, most of the country is uninhabited, as close to 90% of its 31 million inhabitants live within 100 miles of its southern border with United States.

Canada is made up of ten provinces and three territories. Its two official languages are English and French and its founding cultures are English, French and aboriginal. Politically, economically, and culturally, the country is often divided into six distinct regions.

British Columbia
Boasting both the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean in its geography, this west coast province is known for its rugged natural beauty. Its residents enjoy a relaxed pace of life and tend to be very environmentally conscious. BC’s primary industries are forestry, mining and tourism. Vancouver, its main city, is the third largest city in the country and is slated to host the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The Prairies (or The West)
The Prairie, or Western, provinces are Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. (The prairies are the flat, grassy plains that characterize this region.) This is the agricultural center of Canada, with Alberta known for its sizable beef industry while Saskatchewan and Manitoba are known for producing grains and other crops. More and more, these provinces are looking to mineral and energy resources for new sources of wealth. Alberta’s booming oil industry has made it one of the wealthiest provinces in Canada. Calgary, its largest city, is one of the fastest growing cities in the country.

Ontario
Ontario is the most populous Canadian province. The financial and political center of Canada, Ontario accounts for roughly 40% of the country’s population and economic activity. Its economy is powered by the manufacturing and service industries, but forestry, agriculture, mining and electricity are also important contributors to its financial strength. Both the country’s capital, Ottawa, and its “megacity”, Toronto, are in Ontario. Toronto is the fifth largest city in North America and the United Nations has named it the most multicultural city in the world. It is known for its thriving business environment and fast-paced lifestyle.

Quebec
Originally settled as New France, Quebec is the only Canadian province where there are more French speakers than English speakers. Because of its distinct heritage, Quebec stands out culturally and politically from the other provinces. Quebec has a distinct legal system and enjoys special rights under the Canadian constitution. The province’s economy is built on the manufacturing, tourism and service industries. More than half the residents in Montreal, Quebec’s main city, speak both English and French. It is Canada’s second largest city and the second largest francophone city in the world after Paris. Montreal has a distinctly European air, due as much to its cultured residents as to the cobblestone streets and greystone buildings of its Old City.

The Atlantic Provinces (or Atlantic Canada)
The Atlantic Provinces consist of the three Maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island) and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Characterized by a strong relationship to the sea, fishing occupies a central economic and cultural role in this region. Other industries such as forestry and tourism are also important to the economy. More recently, off-shore oil and gas exploration has given the area a welcome economic boost. Rich in culture and history, Atlantic Canada is known for its picturesque villages and seafaring tradition. The residents of Canada’s east coast are particularly famed for their friendly hospitality and down-to-earth dispositions.

The North
Canada’s northern territories are the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. With its huge tracts of empty wilderness, the North is the most sparsely populated region of Canada. A large portion of its residents are of aboriginal descent and the Inuit language Inuktitut has the status of an official language in Nunavut. Although mining is the main economic engine of the North, many of its aboriginal residents still rely on traditional hunting and fishing for their livelihood.