The word "Canada" is derived from the Iroquois word for "village." An expedition up the St. Lawrence River led by Jacques Cartier picked up the name from Iroquois who were pointing out the way to Stadacona, a St. Lawrence Iroquoian village located near modern-day Quebec City. Cartier marked the St. Lawrence River as the "rivière du Canada" on maps, and the name eventually became applied to all the areas north of the St. Lawrence River.

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