COUNTRY PROFILE

Canada Flag, Capital and Country Facts

Canada stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific and far into the Arctic. The second largest state in the world has huge forest areas, numerous lakes and mountains in the west. Its capital Ottawa, on the other hand, lies in the more densely populated south. The connection of English, French and indigenous languages is as important as the enormous extent on the map.

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Canada Flag: Meaning & Country Facts · supplied learning collection

Canada at a glance

Capital: Ottawa
Quiz continent: North America
Languages in reference record: English and French at federal level; numerous indigenous languages
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Population: 41,651,653 (2025, World Bank)
Area: 9,984,670 km²
Coastal setting: Not landlocked
ISO codes: CA / CAN
Internet country suffix: .ca

Highest mountain: Mount Logan, 5,959 m
Federal breakdown: 10 provinces and 3 territories
National holiday: 1 July
Flag imported: 15 February 1965
Historical Canal: Rideau Canal, 202 km
Neighboring town of Ottawa: Gatineau in Quebec

Canada Flag: Design, Meaning and History

The flag shows a red maple leaf on a white square framed by two red side panels. The leaf has eleven tips and is clearly stylized. The overall flag is twice as wide as it is high. Red and white as well as the single central leaf allow a quick distinction between flags with several plant motifs.

The maple leaf flag was introduced on February 15, 1965. The maple leaf was previously a Canadian mark of recognition. Its eleven tips are a graphic design and do not stand for the provinces or territories. This widespread mismatch can already be seen in the fact that Canada has ten provinces and three territories.

Capital: Ottawa

Ottawa is located in Ontario on the Ottawa River across from Gatineau in Quebec. The capital region thus touches the two populous provinces and two large language areas. The political capital is neither Toronto, the largest city, nor Montréal, the great French-speaking center. The spatial proximity of these different functions helps to classify the Canadian settlement geography.

The Rideau Canal connects Ottawa via a system of rivers, lakes and locks with Kingston on Lake Ontario. According to UNESCO, this historic waterway stretches over 202 kilometers. Originally built for military purposes, today it illustrates how waterways contributed to the development of settlements and the security of what was then British colonial territory.

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Canada: Geography, History and Culture

To the west run the Rocky Mountains, inside are prairies and large plains. Further east, ancient rocks of the Canadian Shield and numerous lakes characterize the landscape. The north includes tundra and Arctic islands. Mount Logan in the Yukon reaches 5,959 meters; its altitude is therefore a very different magnitude than the predominantly lower terrain around the capital.

Canada emerged in 1867 as a federation of several British colonies and developed its state independence in further steps. The 1st of July commemorates the Confederation as Canada Day. History also includes the long presence of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis as well as the consequences of colonial politics. This perspective extends far beyond the founding of today’s federal state.

The large area does not mean uniform settlement. Large parts of the population live in the south near the border with the United States. Climate, transport routes and economic connections contribute to this concentration. The numerous lakes and rivers are at the same time supplies of drinking water, habitats, traffic axes and energy sources; a seemingly empty area on the map can therefore be very important ecologically and culturally.

Waterway as a World Heritage Site

The Rideau Canal has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007. Its locks and watercourses connect capital history with early engineering technology.