s and birds that are recognized as distinctively Canadian. These include the moose, the Canada lynx, the beaver and the Canada jay. p> In the agricultural areas of the Prairie Provinces and most of the southern Ontario varieties of birds overlap. Typical summer birds are the bluebird, the Baltimore oriole and the catbird, the prairie chicken and the sharp-tailed grouse. Typical mammals are the grey and red squirrels, the mink and the skunk. Certain mammals are peculiar to the prairies: the pronghorn antelope, the jack rabbit and the ground squirrels or gophers. In a small area along the north side of Lake Erie are found the opossum, birds - the mocking-bird and the cardinal.
Central Provinces Quebec
Quebec is the largest Canadian province. It occupies one-sixth of the total area of ​​Canada and is greater that the combined areas of France, Germany and Spain. p> From north to south, Quebec takes in three main geographical regions; the Canadian Shield, the St Lawrence Lowlands and the Appalachian Mountains. The Canadian Shield covers about 60 per cent of the land mass and is the world `s oldest mountain range. Permafrost reigns is the northern part of the Shield: only dwarf birches and lichen are able to grow there. The St. Lawrence River, the province `s dominant geographical feature, links the Atlantic Ocean with the Great Lakes. The St. Lawrence Lowlands are dotted with more than a million lakes and rivers. Quebec `s forests are equal in area to those of Sweden and Norway combined. To the south, the foothills of the Appalachians separate Quebec from the United States. Almost 80 per cent of Quebeckers live in urban centres located along the St. Lawrence. Montreal and its suburbs have a population of over thee million; Quebec City is the province `s capital.
The European history of Quebec began with the arrival of the French explorer Jacques Cartier in 1534. The succeeding years saw the establishment of a thriving fur trade, relatively friendly relations with the Aboriginal people and a continuous rivalry between French and British colonists which culminated in the Seven Year `s War. With the Treaty of Paris in 1763 New France became a colony of Britain. But Britain granted official recognition to French Civil Law, guaranteed religious freedom and authorized the use of the French language. In 1867 Quebec became a founding member of the new Dominion of Canada. In this province, where four-fifth of the population speak French as their first language and which maintains its own cultural identity, the question of political self-determination has always been a sensitive issue.
The province has abundant natural resources and energy, along with well-developed agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors.
Montreal is the province `s commercial capital.
Quebec exports 40 per cent of its total production, mainly from the forest industry (printing, lumber and paper), mining (aluminium and iron ore) and transportation equipment.
Central Provinces Ontario
Three main geological regions make up Ontario: the Great Lakes - the St. Lawrence Lowlands, the Canadian Shield and the Hudson Bay Lowlands. Although the soil is poor and not well suited to large-scale farming, there is a wealth of minerals, forests and waterpower. The Canadian Shield and the Hudson Bay Lowlands cover 90 per cent of the province `s territory, but are home to only 10 per cent of the population. The extremes of the northern climate are a fact of life there. Mean daily temperatures reach only from 12 to 15 C in July, dropping to - 25 C in January. Ontario `s biggest Lake Superior is the world `s largest body of fresh water.
The Great Lakes - the St. Lawrence Lowlands make up the rest of southern Ontario and contain most of the population, industry, commerce and agricultural land.
Toronto is Ontario `s capital and Canada` s largest city with a regional population of more than four million. Ottawa, the bilingual, bicultural national capital, sits at the junction of the three rivers.
The first European, Henry Hudson, touched the shores of the present-day Ontario in 1610. It was part of the British colony of Quebec in the 18 th century. When the Dominion of Canada was created in 1867, Ontario and Quebec became two separate provinces. p> With approximately 11 million people, Ontario is the country `s most heavily populated province. While English is the official language Ontario `s Francophones play an essential part in the province` s cultural life and are the largest language minority.
Ontario is Canada `s most productive province, generating some 40 per cent of the county `s gross domestic product. Its manufacturing industries lead the way. Automobiles are Ontario `s major manufacturing industry and most important export, providing 26 per cent of Canada `s total exports....
