Canada's geography — the world's second-largest country, its provinces, territories, major cities, rivers and landmarks.
Canada is the second-largest country in the world, covering nearly 10 million square kilometres. It is bordered by three oceans: the Pacific to the west, the Atlantic to the east and the Arctic to the north.
**Population**
Canada's population of approximately 38 million is concentrated in a strip within 300 km of the US border. About 90% of Canadians live in this southern zone.
**Provinces and territories**
Canada has **10 provinces** and **3 territories**:
*Atlantic provinces*: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick
*Central Canada*: Quebec, Ontario
*Prairie provinces*: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta
*West Coast*: British Columbia
*Territories*: Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut
**Major geographical features**
• **The Canadian Shield** — ancient rock covering about half of Canada; rich in minerals
• **The Great Lakes** — the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world, shared with the United States
• **The Rocky Mountains** — western mountain range; highest peak is Mount Logan (Yukon) at 5,959 m
• **The Prairies** — flat grasslands of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta; Canada's agricultural heartland
• **The Arctic Archipelago** — vast group of islands in the far north
**Major rivers**
• The St. Lawrence River — historic gateway to Canada's interior
• The Mackenzie River — Canada's longest river, flowing to the Arctic Ocean
• The Fraser and Columbia Rivers — important in British Columbia
Key facts for the citizenship test
01 — Canada — A Vast Country
02 — Provinces and Territories
03 — Major Geographical Features
04 — Major Rivers
05 — Climate and Natural Environments
Frequently asked questions — Geography of Canada
Test yourself on Geography of Canada
Practice questions for the Canadian citizenship test — free, no card needed.