Canada is a vast country -- in fact, it is the world's second-largest nation. Yet it has a citizenry that numbers just 32 million, making it smaller in population than California. A country of great cultural and ethnic diversity, Canada is a grand mosaic of peoples and traditions, ranging from its indigenous First Nations bands, French and British pioneers, and more recent immigrants from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Bounded by the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans, Canada is a land of extraordinary natural beauty, with dramatic land and seascapes, and vibrant cosmopolitan cities.