Facts About Canada – 30 Amazing Facts You Should Know!
Canada is the second largest nation in the world after Russia since it occupies nearly two-fifths of the continent of North America. Most of the nation’s inhabitants reside within 125 miles of its border with the United States, where it is thinly inhabited.
The vast wilderness to the north of Canada and its reputation as an immigrant-welcoming nation both have a significant impact on Canadian identity.
The encouragement of all of their residents to respect their unique cultures is a point of pride for Canadians. Canada developed a national multiculturalism policy in 1971 that honors the nation’s diversity.
Canada has taken part in numerous peacekeeping missions as a member of the United Nations. Additionally, it belongs to the Commonwealth of Nations and NATO. There is so much more to know about Canada. Hence, here are some amazing facts about Canada that everyone should know about.
30 Interesting Facts About Canada
Here are some fun facts about Canada that you should know.
1. Second Largest Country
Canada is a huge country. The nation covers more than half of the Northern Hemisphere with a length of 4,600km. It spans six time zones with a massive 5,500km from east to west!
Canada though only has 0.5% of the world’s population. It is a huge, rough land.
2. The Trans Canada Highway
At 7821 kilometers or 4860 miles, the Trans Canada Highway is the world’s longest highway. It was formally opened by then Prime Minister John F. Diefenbaker on July 30, 1962. Diefenbaker “cut the ribbon” to officially open this Canadian highway, allowing drivers to travel across the country.
Canada’s Highway 1 was the longest uninterrupted highway in the world when it was first constructed. The Trans-Canada Highway’s completion brought coast-to-coast Canada together.
3. National Parks are Bigger than Many Countries
With little more than 44,000 square kilometers, Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta is greater than Denmark and Switzerland while Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories is greater than Israel which is more than 30,000 square kilometers.
4. Longest Coastline of the World
Its length exceeds 202080 kilometers. To walk the entire coastline of Canada would take around four and a half years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO8nBP27Ph8
The Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans are all bordered by this shoreline. With a length of 54,700 kilometres, Indonesia has the second-longest coastline in the world behind Canada.
5. Two Official Languages
The province of Quebec is the primary French-speaking province in Canada, but New Brunswick also boasts a significant Francophone population.
Although the majority of Canada speaks English, French is taught in schools, and there is bilingual signage around the nation.
6. Maple Leaf, Canadian Flag
The maple leaf is unmistakably associated with the nation.
The maple leaf is a prominent feature of the Canadian flag, the name of their most infamously unsuccessful ice hockey team, the penny, and many Canadians once sewed the maple leaf to their backpacks.
7. Canada has the Only Walled City
Samuel de Champlain established Quebec City in 1608, making it one of the nation’s oldest settlements. These two qualities contributed to Quebec City being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Actually, the only two North American cities with UNESCO World Heritage Site designations are Quebec City and Lunenburg.
8. Polar Bear Capital of the World
There are numerous polar bears in Canada. In fact, Canada is termed the polar bear capital of the world. If you are willing to see polar bears, then Churchill is the best place to experience polar bears in real life.
9. Highest Tides in the World
The highest tides of the world are found in the Bay of Fundy. This body of water, which is halfway between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, has tides that move 100 billion tons of water twice daily.
In both provinces, there are several amazing locations to visit and witness this unique phenomenon.
10. People and Culture in Canada
Canada resembles several different countries in some respects. About half of the population is made up of British and French immigrants. 4% of the population is made up of First Nations people.
11. The Largest and Longest Skating Rink
The world’s longest skating rink is located in Winnipeg. The breathtaking Rideau Canal in Ottawa is the world’s largest skating rink.
12. Two of the Largest Lakes in the World
Two of the ten largest lakes in the world are located in Canada. The Northwest Territories are home to Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake.
People from all over the world are seen coming to Canada to visit these lakes at least once in their lifetime.
Not only does it has breathtaking views, but it is also a major tourist attraction.
13. Canada has Provinces, Not States
Actually, there are 10 provinces and 3 territories in Canada. British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador are the provinces that make up Canada.
Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut are considered Canadian Territories
14. Canadian History
Between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago, a land bridge that connected Asia and North America was used by the first people to enter Canada.
Leif Eriksson, a Viking explorer, arrived in Newfoundland, Canada, in about the year 1000. He made an effort to construct a community, but it was short-lived.
French and British settlers arrived in the area in the 16th century. Between 1689 and 1763, four conflicts were caused by land disputes between farmers and fur traders.
The British now rule Canada after the French and Indian War, although French influence is still quite strong there.
15. Santa Claus
The immigration minister of Canada certified Santa Claus to be a Canadian citizen in 2012. His suit’s red and white colors were inspired by the Canadian flag.
Additionally, Santa Clause can be reached in Canada at the following address: Santa Clause, North Pole, HOH OHO Canada. In Canada, some individuals genuinely respond to every one of these letters.
16. The Canadian Shield
With its towering mountains, undulating plains, forested valleys, and stunning blue rivers and lakes, Canada boasts a diverse scenery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uwHIteOKxw
The Canadian Shield, which spans northern Canada, is made up of hills, lakes, and swamps and contains some of the planet’s oldest rocks.
17. Most Percentage of Canada’s Land Surface is Taken up by Lakes
18% of the world’s fresh lake water is found within the Great Lakes of Canada. Additionally, Canada is home to more than 30,000 lakes, including Great Slave Lake and Great Bear Lake, two of the largest in the world.
All of this indicates that Canada is home to more than half of the world’s lakes.
18. To Fight a War
Since the 1930s, Canada and Denmark have been at odds over a barren island in the Arctic. They fight in a very peculiar way.
They exchange flags and leave each other with alcohol bottles. The Danes take a bottle of Dutch schnapps, and the Canadians leave Canadian Rye Whiskey.
19. Canada’s Economy
Since the 1500s, Canada has supplied the world with fish, furs, and other natural resources. Today, it is a world leader in power, communications, and agricultural production.
Canada exports to the United States in large numbers.
20. No.1 Donut Consumer in the World
The logical place to start when discussing fun Canada facts is with donuts. People in Canada adore doughnuts! Canada has only 30 million residents, but they consume 1 billion donuts a year
This title comes courtesy of Tim Hortons. It is the most popular and loved coffee and donut chain in Canada.
21. Nobody Locks Their Doors in Churchill Manitoba
In Churchill, Manitoba, a community in Canada’s far north, nobody locks the doors to their homes or vehicles in case a polar bear attacks.
Polar bears can freely roam the streets of Churchill, which is situated in the heart of Polar Bear Alley, on their way to Hudson Bay.
They have mastered coexisting with the powerful polar bear. In relation to Hudson Bay, Churchill, Manitoba, has a lower gravity than the rest of the world.
22. Canada’s National Drink
Caesar is the national beverage of Canada. Similar to a Bloody Mary, except with Clamato Juice in place of the tomato juice (A mixture of Clam Juice and Tomato Juice).
It is one of the most loved drinks in Canada. Not only the Canadian people but people from all over the world love this drink.
23. 2 Deserts in Canada
The first desert in Canada is in British Columbia. It is the only desert in the world with a boardwalk for visitors and it is 15 miles long. The southern shore of Lake Athabasca is where the second desert is located in northern Saskatchewan.
24. The Concept of Low Weight in Canada
Canada has significantly lower gravity than the rest of the planet in many areas. Earth’s gravity isn’t constant, and landmass is what causes these variations.
After the Laurentide Ice Sheet melted, Canada is still recovering. As a result, travelling to Hudson Bay will result in you weighing around a tenth of an ounce less than you would otherwise.
25. 4th Lowest Population Density
On a surface of ten million square kilometers, Canada is home to slightly over 37 million people. This results in a density of 3.7 individuals per square kilometer. In the US, 35 individuals would live in that same square kilometer.
Canada has a 90% unoccupied area. Additionally, 90% of Canadians reside at a distance of 500 kilometers or less from the American border.
26. Snake Capital of the World
The largest population of snakes is found in Manitoba, Canada. In the Prairie province, some 70,000 snakes emerge from hibernation each year. The red-sided garter snake is the most well-known species of snake here.
27. Canada’s Parliamentary System
The Parliamentary System used in Canada was brought over from England. In actuality, Canada also has a Governor General.
The Governor General serves as the federal vice regal representative of Canada’s head of state, the Queen of England.
28. Canada’s Oldest Independent Brewery
The oldest independent brewery in Canada is Moosehead Breweries Limited, which is situated in Saint John, New Brunswick.
The Oland family still privately owns and runs the brewery, which was established in 1867. The business, which is now owned by its sixth generation of family members, produces 1,642 beer bottles every minute.
29. National Animal of Canada
Canada’s national emblem, the beaver, was chosen in 1975. Although it might sound odd, the beaver was an important part of the country’s development.
As a result of the beaver’s great demand for its pelt, the nation’s economy was based entirely on the fur trade.
30. Canadian Tradition of Kissing a Fish
The unusual custom of kissing a fish in Newfoundland is another of the funnier Canadian trivia facts. Yes, you heard it right.
There is a custom that involves kissing a dead cod and then taking a shot of rum called Skreech. Visit the province, experience Newfoundland friendliness, and don’t forget to kiss the cod at the bar.
Some Other Interesting Facts
There are numerous interesting facts about Canada. Canada resembles several different countries in certain respects. About half of the population is descended from immigrants from the United Kingdom and France.
They were followed by other immigrants from Europe and Asia. First Nations people make up roughly 4% of the total population.
The majority of Inuit people live in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Although many more have moved to Canadian cities, many Native Canadians live in their ancestral lands. As a symbol of Canadian culture, First Nations art is well-known and highly regarded.
The Canadian government is led by the British monarch. An extremely power-limited governor-general serves as the monarch’s representative.
The elected federal government of Canada, which consists of a parliament and a prime minister, makes laws. Quebec was granted its own legal and religious powers by Britain’s Quebec Act of 1774. Many Quebec residents have long craved independence, notwithstanding this concession.
Wildlife can be found in Canada’s far-flung north and vast forests, including bears, wolves, beavers, deer, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, and smaller creatures like raccoons, otters, and rabbits.
The nation’s lakes and rivers, which make up nearly 20% of the world’s fresh water, are teeming with trout and salmon.
Bison and pronghorn antelope live in Canada’s southern grasslands. Canada’s vast evergreen woods, which lie further north, are home to a variety of species, including moose and black bears.
Even further north, caribou and musk ox herds can be found in the chilly, barren tundra. The Arctic, where ice, snow, and glaciers rule the terrain, is where Canada’s extreme north is located.
There are few trees in this area, and cultivation is impractical. First Nations people, or indigenous Canadians, rely on fishing and hunting for their subsistence.
Wrapping Up
Some of the interesting and lesser-known facts about Canada were mentioned in this article. Do let us know how your valuable feedback in the comments down below.