Natural Resources

Canada is one of the strongest economies in the world, mainly because its industry is backed by huge reserves of natural resources. Many industrial countries - Japan is one of the best examples - rely heavily on imports and have very few local resources.

Forests cover 45% of Canada. It has 10% of all the world's forests and is the largest producer of newsprint and is second in the production of wood pulp, used to make newsprint.

There are large deposits of minerals, particularly in the Shield. Canada is the world leader in zinc and uranium and second in cobalt, gypsum, potash, nickel, asbestos and titanium. There are 2,000 years reserves of potash, a mineral used to make fertilisers and also large reserves of coal - most production is exported to Japan - and oil and natural gas.

Because of the geography of the country, there are large rivers in most areas with an ample supply of water all year round. These are used to generate 65% of the country's electricity with Canada producing over 15% of the world's hydro-electricity.

The river at Niagara Falls

Useful facts - Natural resources

• Despite having a huge variety of minerals, over 50% of income from mineral production in Canada comes from the sale of oil and natural gas.

• The James Bay hydroelectric project in Quebec is the largest of its type in North America but its expansion has been threatened by protests from native Americans whose land would be taken by the development.

• Because of the huge areas of forest, many of the animals such as wolves and bears, which are now rare in Europe, still survive in reasonably large numbers.

• The most famous mineral exploration in Canada's history came exactly 100 years ago when gold was discovered near the Klondike river in Yukon territory.

• Canada produces 190 million cubic metres of timber annually - this compares with 25 million cubic metres from Sweden, Europe's largest producer.

• More trees are lost each year because of disease or fire than by felling.

An hydroelectric power station
in Elora, Ontario