Canada

Canada occupies the northern portion of North America, bordered by the United States to the south and sharing the world's longest international land border. Its capital is Ottawa, though Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver each carry greater population weight. English and French are both official languages, reflecting the country's colonial heritage. The currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD). Canada operates as a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy under the Crown.

Many nationalities — including citizens of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States — can enter Canada without a traditional visa, though most air travellers require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) obtained through the Government of Canada's official portal. American citizens are generally exempt from the eTA requirement. Travellers should verify current requirements through official channels before departure.

Niagara Falls, straddling the Ontario–New York border, draws millions annually to its 57-metre horseshoe cascade. Banff National Park in the Alberta Rockies centres on turquoise glacial lakes and the Columbia Icefield. Old Québec City preserves 17th-century French fortifications still largely intact. The CN Tower in Toronto dominated global skylines at 553 metres for decades. Vancouver Island's Pacific Rim National Park Reserve offers old-growth temperate rainforest along a rugged surf coastline.

Canada's climate varies enormously by region. Southern cities like Toronto and Montréal experience warm, humid summers averaging 25–30°C and cold winters that regularly drop to −10°C or below. Vancouver's Pacific coast remains milder year-round, rarely dipping below 0°C in winter. Prairie provinces see temperature extremes from 35°C in summer to −30°C in January. The best general travel window runs May through September, though ski season draws visitors from December onward. Layering is advisable in all seasons.

• Canada holds the world's longest coastline by length.
• Hockey was codified under formal rules in Montréal.
• Canada has ten provinces and three federal territories.
• Poutine originated in rural Québec in the 1950s.
• Canada is home to roughly 20% of global fresh water.

• canada.ca — primary federal government portal covering entry, travel advisories, and public services
• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship — official immigration and eTA applications
• tc.gc.ca — Transport Canada, covering aviation, rail, and road regulations
• weather.gc.ca — Environment and Climate Change Canada national weather service
• pc.gc.ca — Parks Canada, managing national parks and historic sites