加拿大英文介紹

1、加拿大簡介加拿大-全球最適宜居住的國家據(jù)聯(lián)合國發(fā)表的報告，加拿大在就業(yè)水平、人均國民生產(chǎn)總值、收入、教育及衛(wèi) 生水平等綜合指標在全球160多個國家中名列第一。優(yōu)美的自然環(huán)境和安全先進的生活方式加拿大位于北美洲的北半部，總面積997萬平方公里，僅次于俄羅斯，是世界 第二大國。人口2900多萬，是世界上平均人口密度最低的國家之一，每3人占 有一平方公里的土地。89%的土地沒有永久性居民點。南部與美國為鄰約5000公里，石油、礦產(chǎn)、木材、海產(chǎn)、水利資源十分豐富。加拿大四季分明，西面受 太平洋季風(fēng)的影響,四季宜人春季郁金香花爭艷,夏季陽光明媚，秋季楓葉層林 盡染，冬季萬里雪飄，極具風(fēng)情。加拿大是由十個

2、省和兩個地區(qū)組成的聯(lián)邦國家。民族構(gòu)成一英裔、法裔、荷蘭裔、德裔、波蘭裔和華裔。官方語言為英語和法語。加拿大有26個人口超過10萬的市區(qū)和3個人口超過100萬的城市。其中不少 是北美洲最安全、最活潔、風(fēng)光最美的市中心區(qū)。加拿大城市的嚴重犯罪率不到 美國城市的一半。更為人稱道的是多個不同種族的人們在一個國際性的環(huán)境中和 睦相處。政府和工業(yè)界致力保持空氣和食品的活潔，共同努力維護健康的環(huán)境。加拿大的城市都有高素質(zhì)的歌劇院、 樂團和舞蹈團、美術(shù)館、博物館以及公共圖 書館。加拿大城市有國際著名的芭蕾舞團、 歌劇團和交響樂團。同時亦經(jīng)常邀請 世界各國最優(yōu)秀的藝術(shù)家到訪演出。加拿大政府對藝術(shù)的人均補助位于世

3、界前 歹0。加拿大的城市融合了歐洲、業(yè)洲、拉丁美洲和非洲的各種文化。例如，溫哥 華是眾多的業(yè)裔人聚居之地；多倫多融合了歐、業(yè)及其他文化；魁北克則為北美 洲添上一份英、法雙語的歐洲風(fēng)味。加拿大的氣候各地不一，往往令預(yù)計天氣較冷的訪客詫異。 全國絕大多數(shù)人口聚 居在離美國邊境250公里以內(nèi)的地區(qū)，而加拿大最南部的地區(qū)與美國加州北部 處于同一緯度。因此，加拿大各大城市的氣候多數(shù)與美國北部或北歐地區(qū)相似。加拿大的城鎮(zhèn)提供舒適的生活設(shè)施， 但是與其他國際性商業(yè)中心相比，生活費用 確保持在很容易負擔(dān)的水平上。名列世界前茅的經(jīng)濟和科技發(fā)展水平加拿大是西方七國之一，工業(yè)生產(chǎn)自動化、電氣化和現(xiàn)代化水平在世界各國

4、中處 于領(lǐng)先地位。農(nóng)業(yè)生產(chǎn)專業(yè)化、商品化和現(xiàn)代化的程度也很高，加拿大在電話、 微波、衛(wèi)星、光纖通訊等方面擁有世界先進水平，在航天、微電子工業(yè)和生物技 術(shù)方面亦具有相當(dāng)水平。加拿大的交通很方便，擁有鐵路10萬公里、公路73萬公里、900家航空公司和600個大型機場。理想的投資之地加拿大是個貿(mào)易強國。受過良好教育的勞動力以及合理的生產(chǎn)成本， 加上政府在 政策的支持，國際人士對加拿大的商業(yè)投資環(huán)境充滿信心。加拿大在七大工業(yè)國中經(jīng)濟增長強勁，通貨膨脹率長期低于2%。生活標準指數(shù)名列第三位。許多未來的主導(dǎo)行業(yè)已經(jīng)對加拿大經(jīng)濟作出了顯著貢獻。這些行業(yè)包括：通訊設(shè)備、激光產(chǎn)品、環(huán)保技術(shù)、生物技術(shù)、制藥、航天

5、和電腦軟件等高 科技工業(yè)。許多國際企業(yè)正越來越多地以加拿大作為研究與發(fā)展的中心。加拿大是世界最富裕的市場。從1994年1月1日生效的北美自由貿(mào)易協(xié)定讓加拿大的企業(yè)得 到了無可比擬的便利。充裕的原料、廉價的能源、低廉的商業(yè)樓宇、先進高效的 基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施、政府的少十預(yù)和為支援中小企業(yè)、技術(shù)與研究開發(fā)計劃制定的優(yōu)惠政 策，使加拿大成為世界少有的理想投資地。完備的教育體系加拿大提供免費的中小學(xué)教育。小學(xué)教育注重教育學(xué)生以積極參與的態(tài)度去學(xué) 習(xí)，入學(xué)條件簡單，主要以學(xué)生居住地、年齡分配就讀學(xué)校。對新移民子弟，學(xué) 校也會安排ESL英語課程。小學(xué)課程根據(jù)各省教育廳指示編排，學(xué)校對學(xué)生的 學(xué)習(xí)成績和學(xué)生的生活禮儀

6、一樣看重。 希望培養(yǎng)出來的學(xué)生能均衡發(fā)展；加拿大 的中學(xué)教育一般為5-7年，只需修完30個學(xué)分，每學(xué)分上課110小時，就能 取得中學(xué)畢業(yè)證書。低年級課程科目相同，高年級課程有較大彈性，所學(xué)科目會 有所不同。學(xué)校有學(xué)生顧問協(xié)助學(xué)生規(guī)劃未來。學(xué)校還組織各種社團活動，讓學(xué) 生在各方面綜合發(fā)展。加拿大的高等教育可分為社區(qū)學(xué)院、 大學(xué)及研究所，外籍 學(xué)生及新移民通常要先修語言課， 大學(xué)課程通常為3-5年。分一般學(xué)士及榮譽學(xué) 士兩種。全加拿大有88所大學(xué)及200多所社區(qū)學(xué)院。這些學(xué)校的入學(xué)資格由學(xué) 生自定。學(xué)生分別向大學(xué)申請，沒有全國性聯(lián)考。碩士課程方面，學(xué)生入學(xué)必須 具備相關(guān)學(xué)科的大學(xué)程度。世人羨慕的社

7、會福利體系加拿大是高福利國家，費用由聯(lián)邦政府承擔(dān)。盡管各省的具體規(guī)定不同，但社會 福利基本一致。包括：家庭津貼：凡有18歲以下兒童之父母均可享受。具體金額視家庭收入高低而定； 日托津貼：若小孩父母均工作，乂不能付日托全費，可申請日托津貼； 失業(yè)保險：多數(shù)在加拿大工作的人都受失業(yè)保險保障。失業(yè)可領(lǐng)取失業(yè)保險金。 養(yǎng) 老 金：65歲以上，在加拿大居住滿10年，可領(lǐng)取全額養(yǎng)老金； 退 休金：在工作期間供納退休金稅的人士，可申請退休金； 醫(yī)療保險：加拿大實施全民保健計劃，居民享受免費醫(yī)療服務(wù)； 加拿大護照通行全球加拿大對全世界所有夠條件的人打開大門，每年接受移民及難民超過20萬，其中獨立技術(shù)移民約占8

8、萬人左右，大部分來自業(yè)洲。華人移民加拿大已經(jīng)有100多年的歷史，目前華人占全國人口5%,華人投資包括銀行、房地產(chǎn)、灑店、白 貨商場、電子通訊、電子計算機等，華人就業(yè)機會甚佳，從事高級白領(lǐng)工作的人 越來越多，華語成為英語、法語之后的第三大語言，華人的地位也越來越高。多元文化加拿大實行多元文化、多民族和平共處，不象澳洲那樣反對從業(yè)洲移民且有較多 的種族歧視。在多倫多、溫哥華等大城市，華人數(shù)量已超過50萬人。較多的個人發(fā)展機會移民加拿大后，四年時間中在加拿大居住滿三年，可申請入籍成為加拿大公民。 持加拿大護照可免簽證自由往來美國、 澳大利業(yè)、新西蘭、英國、德國、意大利、 比利時、荷蘭、奧地利、西班牙

9、、葡萄牙、丹麥、瑞典、芬蘭、挪威、希臘、以 色列、沙特、香港、澳門、日本、臺灣、新加坡、馬來西業(yè)、巴西、委內(nèi)瑞拉等 一白多個國家和地區(qū)。移民加拿大后，若想轉(zhuǎn)入美國發(fā)展，也十分容易。CanadaCanada, independent nation (2001 pop. 30,007,094), 3,851,787 sq mi(9,976,128 sq km), N North America. Canada occupies all of North America N of theUnited States (and E of Alaska) except for Greenland and

10、the French islands of St. Pierreand Miquelon. It is bounded on the E by the Atlantic Ocean, on the N by the Arctic Ocean,and on the W by the Pacific Ocean and Alaska. A transcontinental border, formed in partby the Great Lakes, divides Canada from the United States; Nares and Davis straitsseparate C

11、anada from Greenland. The Arctic Archipelago extends far into the ArcticOcean.Canada is a federation of 10 provinces Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia,New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan,Alberta, and British Columbia and three territories Nunavut,the Nor

12、thwest Territories, and the Yukon Territory. Canadas capital is Ottawa and itslargest city is Toronto. Other important cities include Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton,Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton, and Quebec.LandCanada has a very long and irregular coastline; Hudson Bay and the Gulf of St. Lawrenceinden

13、t the east coast and the Inside Passage extends along the west coast. Theice-clogged straits between the islands of N Canada form the Northwest Passage. Duringthe Ice Age all of Canada was covered by a continental ice sheet that scoured anddepressed the land surface, leaving a covering of glacial dr

14、ift, depositional landforms,and innumerable lakes and rivers. Aside from the Great Lakes, which are only partly inthe country, the largest lakes of North America Great Bear, Great Slave, andWinnipeg are entirely in Canada. The St. Lawrence is the chief river of E Canada. TheSaskatchewan, Nelson, Chu

15、rchill, and Mackenzie river systems drain central Canada,and the Columbia, Fraser, and Yukon rivers drain the western part of the country.Canada has a bowl-shaped geologic structure rimmed by highlands, with Hudson Bay atthe lowest point. The country has eight major physiographic regions the Canadia

16、nShield, the Hudson Bay Lowlands, the Western Cordillera, the Interior Lowlands, theGreat Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands, theAppalachians, the Arctic Lowlands, and the Innuitians.The exposed portions of the Canadian Shield cover more than half of Canada. Thisonce-mountainous region, which contains the

17、continents oldest rocks, has been wornlow by erosion over the millennia. Its upturned eastern edge is indented by fjords. TheShield is rich in minerals, especially iron and nickel, and in potential sources ofhydroelectric power. In the center of the Shield are the Hudson Bay Lowlands,encompassing Hu

18、dson Bay and the surrounding marshy land.The Western Cordillera, a geologically young mountain system parallel to the Pacificcoast, is composed of a series of north-south tending ranges andvalleys that form the highest and most rugged section of the country; Mt. Logan (19,551ft/5,959 m) isthe highes

19、t point in Canada. Part of this region is made up of the Rocky Mts.and the Coast Mts., which are separated by plateaus and basins. The islands off WCanada are partially submerged portions of the Coast Mts. The Western Cordillera is alsorich in minerals and timber and potential sources of hydroelectr

20、ic power.Between the Rocky Mts. and the Canadian Shield are the Interior Lowlands, a vast regionfilled with sediment from the flanking higher lands. The Lowlands are divided into theprairies, the plains, and the Mackenzie Lowlands. The prairies are Canadas granary,while grazing is important on the p

21、lains.The smallest and southernmost region is the Great Lakes-St. LawrenceLowlands, Canadas heartland. Dominated by the St. Lawrence River and the GreatLakes, the region provides a natural corridor into central Canada, and the St. LawrenceSeaway gives the interior cities access to the Atlantic. This

22、section, which is composed ofgently rolling surface on sedimentary rocks, is the location of extensive farmlands, largeindustrial centers, and most of Canadas population. In SE Canada and on Newfoundlandis the northern end of the Appalachian Mt. system, an old and geologically complexregion with a g

23、enerally low and rounded relief.The Arctic Lowlands and the Innuitians are the most isolated areas of Canada and arebarren and snow-covered for most of the year. The Arctic Lowlands comprise much ofthe Arctic Archipelago and contain sedimentary rocks that may have oil-bearing strata.In the extreme n

24、orth, mainly on Ellesmere Island, is the Innuitian Mt. system, which risesto c.10,000 ft (3,050 m).Canadas climate is influenced by latitude and topography. The Interior Lowlands makeit possible for polar air masses to move south and for subtropical air masses to movenorth into Canada. Hudson Bay an

25、d the Great Lakes act to modify the climate locally.The Western Cordillera serves as a climatic barrier that prevents polar air masses fromreaching the Pacific coast and blocks the moist Pacific winds from reaching into theinterior. The Cordillera has a typical highland climate that varies with alti

26、tude; thewestern slopes receive abundant rainfall, and the whole region is forested. The InteriorLowlands are in the rain shadow of the Cordillera; the southern portion has a steppeclimate in which grasses predominate. S Canada has a temperate climate, with snow inthe winter (especially in the east)

27、 and cool summers.Farther to the north, extending to the timberline, is the humid subarctic climatecharacterized by short summers and a snow cover for about half the year. The hugeboreal forest, the largest surviving remnant of the extensive forests that once coveredmuch of North America, predominat

28、es in this region. On the Arctic Archipelago and thenorthern mainland is the tundra, with its mosses and lichen, permafrost, near-year-roundsnow cover, and ice fields. A noted phenomenon off the coast of E Canada is thepersistence of dense fog, which is formed when the warm air over the Gulf Stream

29、passesover the cold Labrador Current as the two currents meet off Newfoundland.PeopleAbout 40% of the Canadian population are of British descent, while 27% are of Frenchorigin. Another 20% are of other European background, about 10% are of E or SE Asianorigin, and some 3% are of aboriginal or M tis

30、(mixed e aboriginal and European)background. In the late 1990s, Canada had the highest immigration rate of any country inthe world, with more than half the total coming from Asia. Over 75% of the totalpopulation live in cities. Canada has complete religious liberty, though its growingmulticulturalis

31、m has at times caused tensions among ethnic and religious groups. About45% of the people are Roman Catholics, while some 40% are Protestant (the largestgroups being the United Church of Canada, Anglicans, and Presbyterians). English andFrench are the official languages, and federal documents are pub

32、lished in both languages.In 1991, about 61% of Canadians cited English as their mother tongue, while 24% citedFrench.EconomySince World War II the development of Canadas manufacturing, mining, and servicesectors has led to the creation of an affluent society. Services now account for 66% of theGDP,

33、while industry accounts for 31%. Tourism and financial services represent some ofCanadas most important industries within the service sector. However, manufacturing isCanadassinglemostimportanteconomicactivity.Theleadingproductsaretransportation equipment, pulp and paper, processed foods, chemicals,

34、 primary andfabricated metals, petroleum, electrical and electronic products, wood products, printedmaterials, machinery, clothing, and nonmetallic minerals. Industries are centered inOntario, Quebec, and, to a lesser extent, British Columbia and Alberta. Canadasindustries depend on the countrys ric

35、h energy resources, which include hydroelectricpower, petroleum, natural gas, coal, and uranium.Canada is a leading mineral producer, although much of its mineral resources aredifficult to reach due to permafrost. It is the worlds largest source of nickel, zinc, anduranium, and a major source of lead, asbestos, gypsum, potash, t