9 Interesting Facts about Canada

I. About 9% of the World’s Forests are in Canada

Canada is famous for its natural beauty and vast forests. With about 362 million hectares of forest, much of it unspoiled, the country may account for about 9% of the world’s total forests. In addition, about 40% of the country is covered with trees. Thanks to good environmental protection, Canada’s forest area is fairly stable, with a deforestation rate of just 0.5% since 1990.

II. Some of Canada’s Parks are Larger than Some Countries

Canada’s wilderness national parks occupy large swaths of the country. On top of that, the largest park is Wood Buffalo National Park in the province of Alberta. With an area of ​​44,741 km2, it’s larger than Denmark, and Switzerland, and even twice the size of Israel. Thus, it’s one of the most interesting facts about Canada.

III. The Bay of Fundy Has the World’s Highest Tides

At the Bay of Fundy on Canada’s east coast, the variation between high tide and low tide is often startling. To illustrate, the bay area is located between the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the average depth difference is 12 m between the tides, and exposes towering rock formations.

IV. Canada Has the Longest Coastline in the World

Geographically, Canada is the second largest country in the world. The country also has more kilometers of coastline than anywhere else. Surrounded by 3 oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, and Northern Ocean, and numerous islands and bays, Canada’s territory have an unusual shape, the north of the country has a lot of coastlines. Although it is difficult to get an exact measurement, Canada has about 243,011 km of land bordering the sea.

V. Canada Holds the Record for the Most Lakes

In addition to its vast coastlines, Canada has a larger total area of ​​freshwater lakes than any other country on Earth. The North American country has 563 lakes over 100 square kilometers, and five of the world’s 10 largest lakes lie entirely or partially within Canada’s borders. There are many smaller lakes, with an estimated total of 879,800 lakes spread across the territory.

VI. Rideau Canal is the World’s Largest Ice Skating Rink

Ice skating is a very popular pastime in Canada, especially during winter. The special thing is that this country has the largest natural ice skating rink in the world. Ottawa’s Rideau Canal freezes over every year, creating a 7.7km long skateway, equivalent to the size of 90 Olympic ice skating rinks. Definitely, this is one of the most interesting facts about Canada.

VII. Canada Has the Longest Border in the World

The land border between Canada and the US is claimed to be the longest international border in the world at 8,898 km. Actually, Canada has only one direct neighbor. Therefore, the country’s entire land border is shared with a single country, the United States, along its southern edge. They have more than 100 land borders crossing between the two countries.

Read more: Interesting Facts about Niagara Falls - The Most Attractive Canada-USA Border

VIII. Yes, Canada Has a Desert

Not only is it covered with ice and snow, but Canada also has a desert in the south of British Columbia. The site around the town of Osoyoos is semi-arid and rich in antelopes. The area is also much warmer than most of Canada. Additionally, it has become one of the country’s largest wine-growing regions.

IX. Going to the Mars? Try the Coldest Temperature in Canada First

Winter in Canada is very cold. Indeed, temperatures in the North used to be as low as -63^oC. Southern provinces also tend to experience winter months below zero. Meanwhile, the average surface temperature on Mars is -62^oC. That means on rare and particularly extreme days, it can be even colder in Canada than on Mars.