English speaking countries

25.MO – The English speaking countries

- Canada, Australia, New Zeland

- the British commonwealth of Nations

- travelling around the world

Osnova:

1. Canada – geography, population, symbols, history, political system, places of interest

2. Australia – geohraphy, ….

3. New Zeland – geography, …

4. The British commonwealth – what is it, members, history

5. Travelling around the world – in which country, why, how

1. CANADA:

• Geography:

  • Located in northern North America

  • 2nd largest country in the world

  • Area almost 10 million sq. km

  • Land borders with United States

  • Divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories

  • Largest province is Quebec

  • Capital city Ottawa

  • Surrounded by Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific Ocean

  • Highest mountain Mount Logan (around 6000 m)

  • Longest rivers Mackenzie river, Yukon

  • Biggest lake is Lake Superior in Great lakes located on border with USA, Great Bear Lake in Northwest Territories

  • In border also Niagara Falls

• Population:

  • 36 million inhabitants

  • In Ottawa 750 000

  • Most concentrated near the boarder

  • 3 indigenous nations: First Nations, Inuits and Metis

  • Official languages are French and English

• History:

  • The first Europeans were the Norsemen, arriving in Newfoundland around 1000 AD.

  • In the 15th century an Italian sailor John Cabot explored the coast of Canada and claimed it for England.

  • In the W. W. I. automatically because of Great Britain

  • 1919 tried to stand alone

  • April 1982 new constitution - independence

• National symbols:

  • Anthem Ó Canada

  • Flag – the flag consists of a red field with a white square in the centre. On the square there is a red maple leaf

• Political system

  • Member or British commonwealth of Nations

  • Constitutional monarchy

  • Reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II.

  • Represented by the General Governor (Julie Payette)

  • Party system in parliament with the majority party – party leader is prime minister

• Places of interest

  • Quebec – one of the oldest cities in North America, speaks French

  • Toronto – largest city, CN Tower

  • Niagara Falls

  • Banff NP

  • Sport events: NBA, NHL, curling, lacrosse, Winter Olympic games in Vancouver (2010)

2. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA:

• Geography

  • Biggest island

  • Smallest continent

  • Between Indian and Southern Ocean

  • Consists of 6 states and 2 territories

  • Capital is Canberra

  • Deserts – The Great Victoria Desert, Simpson desert

  • Rivers – Murray, Darling

  • Lakes – Eyre, Torrens

  • The great barrier reef – the biggest coral reef

  • Ayers rock Uluru – large sandstone rock

  • Highest mountain? Mount Kosciuszko (2300 m)

  • Endemic species – kangaroos (symbols), emu, koala, platypus, dingo

  • Weather – warm summer/mild winter

• Population

  • 22 million inhabitants

  • 70 % lives in big cities (because of natural conditions – deserts, …)

  • None official language – most of them speaks English

  • Native inhabitants are Aborigines

  • Currency is Australian dollar

• History

  • 50000 BC – Aborigines arrived

  • 1606 – first sighting of Australia by Europeans explorers were A. Tasman, W. Dampier

  • 1770 – New South Wales (east side of Australia) claimed as British colony by James Cook