October 25, 2017

Awesome facts about Canada that you need to know

Canada is home to over 36 million people who probably know some of the essential facts about Canada. Considering Canada is such a large country, there are always realities that you may not know about that will amaze you, such as:

1. Canada’s lowest recorded temperature is as cold as Mars: Everyone knows that Canada becomes extremely cold during the winter months (December, January, February and March) and sometimes even unbearable, especially when you are waiting outside in a snowstorm for public transit. In Ottawa, Ontario, the average low for the month of January is -14.4C. However, in 1947 in Snag, Yukon, a temperature of -63 C was recorded, which is essentially the same temperature as the surface of Mars!

2. Canada has the world’s largest coastline: Did you know that it would take you four and a half years to walk the length of Canada’s coastline? Given that you don’t stop for sleep, food or water that is. Canada’s coastline is bordered on three sides by three different oceans: the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific. Canada has 202,080 of the world’s total 356,000 kilometres of oceanfront property!

3. Canada’s national parks are larger than most countries: Canada is so massive that some of our national parks cover more land than several countries themselves. Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories is 30,050 square kilometres, which is larger than Albania and Israel! Additionally, Wood Buffalo National Park which stretches from Alberta to the Northwest Territories is even larger, sitting at 44,807 square kilometres, making it larger than Denmark and Switzerland!

4. Canada is home to the largest freshwater island in the world: Manitoulin Island, located in Lake Huron, is the world’s largest island surrounded by freshwater. It has more than one hundred inland lakes between its shores, and many of those lakes have islands on them! There are more than two dozen small settlements, first nations and towns that are spread out across more than 160 kilometres of boreal forest, lakes, rivers and shorelines. To learn more about Manitoulin Island, click here.

5. Canada has more lake area than any other country in the world: Yes, what you just read is true. Canada has 563 lakes that are larger than 100 square kilometres. The Great Lakes alone contain about 18 percent of the world’s fresh lake water.

Want to continue to learn more about Canada? Click here.