Except for coastal areas of British Columbia in the western part of the country, most of Canada has continuous snow cover in the winter, and average temperatures stay below freezing.
But Canada, because it is so large, has many different climate types.
The climate on the Pacific Coast is similar to that of Great Britain: wet with moderate temperatures both winter and summer.
In the north, winters are long and cold and summers are short and cool.
The south-central plains area, as well as Ontario and Quebec, have a climate similar to the midwestern United States, cold winters and hot, humid summers.
Most of Canada Is so cold and barren that three-quarters of its people live within 100 miles of the U.S. border.
About 89 percent of Canada has never been permanently settled.
