Cities, attractions, people

Canada’s three largest cities are Toronto, Ontario (about 5.3 million people); Montreal, Quebec (3.6 million); and Vancouver, British Columbia (2.2 million). Toronto and Vancouver are Canada's most multicultural and cosmopolitan cites. They are rich in cultural and artistic activities and their restaurants offer many of the world's cuisines. They also have the most expensive housing in Canada. Other Canadian cities have a more provincial character than Toronto and Vancouver and considerably cheaper housing.

Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located on the southern bank of the Ottawa River. Many interesting historical and cultural buildings are found in Ottawa, such as the Museum of Natural History, Museum of Man, National Gallery and the National Arts Centre. However, the most important buildings in Ottawa are the Parliament Buildings. Here the Canadian federal government discusses and makes laws for Canada.

Among the main tourist attractions in Canada are the Spring Festivals in the Nova Scotia and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. There is also the Ottawa Festival of Spring and the Calgary Exhibition. Travelers to Canada will also enjoy the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival in Ontario.

The city of Toronto also plays host to the Canadian component of the Niagara Falls, which is often called the Horseshoe Falls because of its horseshoe shaped cradle where the water falls. Another great sight in Toronto that travelers to Canada should not dare miss is the Georgian Bay, a picturesque waterscape with its row of pine-filled islands. The largest and best known of Ontario’s more than 200 provincial parks is the Algonquin Park. Other tourist spots that Canada’s travelers should take special note of are the Quetico Provincial Park, the Lake Superior, the Polar Bear Park in Hudson Bay and the Kakabeka Falls.

Travelers to Canada will also not be disappointed when they see the snow-capped mountain Mount Begbie, which can be found in one of Canada’s main provinces, the British Columbia. Located in the Mount Revelstoke National Park, it retains its lovely evergreen forests. The province of British Columbia offers travelers in Canada the best in hiking, fishing and canoeing opportunities in the world.

Canadians are very hospitable, welcoming people - particularly in provincial and rural Canada. The majorities of Canadians are very tolerant and follow a live and let live philosophy. There is often a stronger sense of community and duty in Canadian towns than can be found in other countries.

A U S T R A L I A

Australia is the least populated of the continents. Only 0, 3% of the world’s populations live there. However, Australia is the most urbanized country in the world. Two out of three of its citizens live in the eight largest cities.

FACTFILE

Official name of the country: The Commonwealth of Australia

Population: 18,300,000 people

Federal capital: Canberra

Form of Government: Constitutional monarchy

Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, who is also Queen of Australia.

Head of Government: Prime minister

National holiday: Australia Day, 26 January (celebrates the first settlement

of Australia)

National anthem: Advance Australia fair

National emblems: the eucalyptus, wattle, emu, and kangaroo

The form of government used in Australia is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. Queen Elizabeth II is the Queen of Australia.

The Parliament consists of the Queen, the Senate of 76 senators, and a House of Representatives of 150 members.

The party with majority support in the House of Representatives forms government and its leader becomes Prime Minister.

On 1 January 1901, the six colonies became a federation, and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. The capital city is Canberra. The population is just over 21 million, with approximately 60% of the population concentrated in and around Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.

If you go to Australia, you’ll see that its people are kind, simple, sincere and egalitarian in spirit. “You don’t have to be the same to be equal,” they say. Australians are an energetic, forward-looking people who are creating a rich, prosperous and splendid land. They love their country and are very proud of it.

Sydney is Australia’s oldest and largest city. Captain Cook stopped near here at Botany Bay in 1770. The first Europeans who came to Australia put up their tents at Sydney Cove. Soon the first houses were built, and in only 200 years the city grew from nothing into a home for millions of people.