Canada

Canada’s incredible diverse fauna and flora leaves a lasting impression on any visitor. It is divided into eight different vegetation zones from which the forest areas dominate. The Canadian conifer forest stretches out like a broad green ribbon for 6,000 kilometers from the pacific coast to Newfoundland. The maple leaf is a known national symbol that even adorns the national flag. In autumn, the maple and oak forests in the South of Ontario and Québec present a spectacular play of colors, the so called «Indian Summer». On the western slope of the Coast Mountains and on Vancouver Island lush rainforest grow with up to 80 meters high Douglas firs, Sitka firs and huge cedars.
Canada does also have a rich fauna. Different bear species like the grizzly bear, the black bear, the brown bear and the polar bear are counted among them. Canada’s landscapes also provide the habitats for wolves, buffalos, beavers, coyotes, lynx, elks, reindeers, deers, several deer species as well as porcupines and rodents.
In the North of Canada the forests turn into taiga and finally into treeless tundra. Caribous, mountain hares and musk ox live on the thin lichens and moss. Moreover, 500 different bird species live in Canada.
Today Canada offers 43 national as well as over 1000 provincial parks and natural reserves. Canada is waiting for you to explore its beauty!

There is a big cultural diversity in Canada. The province Québec in the east attracts many visitors with the French savoir-vivre, folkloric and natural history museums as well as many theatres. The French charm is also noticeable in Montréal: The city has a lively art and cultural scene.
Toronto is overflowing with energy the whole year with the festivals and events that reflect the traditions and cultures of the different inhabitants of the city.
Vancouver in the west delights the visitors with their contagious joie de vivre, the architecture, the shopping streets and the restaurants. Where ever you are in the country, you will feel the warm hospitality of the inhabitants who preserve the memory of their former homeland with a great number of festivals and specialties.

The coastal regions of Canada offer a variety of fish and sea food. The midland of Canada provides farm products and excellent meat. The colonial influence is still noticeable and therefore when eating out in a restaurant you will be treated to a foray through the history of Canada.
The French influence in Québec cannot be overlooked. Traditional recipes like meat pies (“tourtières”) or the maple syrup cake («tarte au sirop d'érable») cultivate the “cuisine québécoise”.
In Canada there is nothing like maple syrup which is available in different flavors. The maple leaf even made it on the national flag. Waffles often get dipped into maple syrup before they’re served. The «trempette» is bread dipped in maple syrup with a layer of cream. An in between drink which is very popular in Canada is the «Root Beer», a nonalcoholic brown drink with a bitter after taste.

The political situation in Canada is stable. These travel alerts correspond to the actual evaluation of the EDA, www.eda.admin.ch. The alerts are checked constantly and adapted if necessary.

Canada is a relatively young nation with a historiography of less than 500 years. The native inhabitants of Canada are Indians and Inuit who came from Asia over 30,000 years ago crossing an isthmus that connected Siberia with Alaska. The first contact between the native inhabitants and the Europeans was 1000 years ago when the Vikings from Iceland settled in Newfoundland for a short period. The actual exploration of Canada by the Europeans did not happened till 600 years later.
Looking for a better way to the rich trading markets of the Far East, the French and English explorers crossed the north American continent on the waterways and put up a number of forts – the French mainly on the Saint Lawrence river in the region of the Great Lakes and on the Mississippi, the English on the Hudson Bay and on the Atlantic coast (today’s New England). It was inevitably that North America became the hot spot of the rivalry between England and France.
Especially in the west the number of immigrants increased continually and reached a peak of 400,000 in 1913. During this time Canada benefited from the favorable global economic and evolved into an industrial and agrarian power. After the downfall of the British global power, Canada won practically the full constitutional independence from Britain.
The worldwide economic crisis had devastating effects in Canada just like elsewhere. Paradoxically it was the boom of the arm industry during the Second World War that helped Canada to recover from the crisis. At the end of war Canada had evolved into the fourth biggest industrial power and the growth continued. Canada owes its current high living standard and its excellent quality of living to this economic boom.
The immigration to Canada has changed significantly. Before the Second World War the most immigrants came from Britain or East European countries. Since the end of war the rising number of immigrants from southern European countries, Asia, South America and the Caribbean enriched the multicultural life of Canada.
In the last 30 years Canada had to deal with the basic question of its nationhood. The discontent of many French Canadians in Québec led to the referendum on the question of a higher political independence of this province in 1980. However, the majority decided to keep the current state.
Canada is characterized by its willingness to compromise. Founded by two countries known as historical opponents, Canada is enriched by the different cultures and languages of all the immigrants. The spirit of moderation and tolerance are distinctive features of Canada. Unity in diversity is the Canadian ideal.

Throughout the country Canada offers an incredible varied range of free time activities. Sportive activities such as hiking, climbing, rafting, canoe and kayak rides, tours to the wilderness, horse riding, fishing, biking, skiing and snowboarding can easily be combined with extensive shopping tours, visits of museums and theatres as well as different exhibitions and festivals.