General Information
Rich with natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to Great Britain. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the United States, its neighbor to the south across a 8,893 km unfortified border. (2,477 km are in the west with Alaska)

Second-largest country in world (after Russia); located between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% of the population of Canada is concentrated within 160 km of the US border.

Canadian Exports:
motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, plastics, fertilizers, wood pulp, timberaircraft, telecommunications equipment, chemicals, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum

Canadian Flag Description:
Two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width), with a single white square between them;11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square; the official colors of Canada are red and white