The most interesting facts about Canada, from a cocktail made with a frozen human toe to holding less gravity than the rest of the world.
Fast facts
Official name: Canada
Population: 38.2 million
Area: 9,984,670 sq km
Capital city: Ottawa
Major languages: English, French
Major religions: Christianity
Time zone: UTC-5 (Eastern Standard Time)
– Source: CIA World Factbook
Interesting facts about Canada
1. Canada is a country located in North America bordering the USA.
– Source: CIA World Factbook
2. Canada is one of only three countries whose contiguous territory borders three oceans: the Atlantic Ocean in the east, the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Arctic Ocean in the north. The other two are Russia (Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic) and Australia (Indian, Pacific and Southern).
– Source: National Geographic, National Ocean Service
3. Canada is the world’s second-largest country by area after Russia.
– Source: World Bank
4. The world’s northernmost continuous (year-round) permanent settlement is in Canada. The military facility of Alert on Ellesmere Island is located at 82°28′ N – just 817km (508 miles) from the North Pole.
– Source: The Smithsonian, Government of Canada (archived)
5. Prehistoric humans first arrived in Canada at least 12,000 years ago after crossing an ancient land bridge between present-day Siberia and Alaska.
– Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia
6. The Canadian flag is vertically striped red and white with a central red maple leaf. Red and white are national colours and the maple leaf has long been a Canadian national symbol.
– Source: Britannica
7. In the 11th century, Norse explorers became the first Europeans to reach North America, when they established a settlement on Newfoundland island in Canada.
– Source: BBC News
8. Canadians eat more doughnuts per capita than any other country in the world. Canada consumes around one billion doughnuts annually – roughly 26 per person.
– Source: Readers Digest, CBS News
9. Canada has some of the world’s cleanest air. When measured by the number of deaths caused by air pollution per 100,000 people, Canada ranks fifth best with just 10.7.
– Source: Our World in Data
10. For 49 years, Canada was at “war” with Denmark in what was known as the Whisky War. In the 1970s, Canada and Denmark began disputing the ownership of a tiny barren Arctic island. Since 1984, Canadian troops would leave behind a flag and bottles of Canadian whisky on the island, while Danes would replace the items with schnapps and a Danish flag. In 2022, Canada and Denmark signed an agreement that formally split the island with approximately 60% going to Denmark and the rest to Canada.
– Source: New York Times
11. From the 16th century onwards, Canada was colonised by Britain and France with Newfoundland becoming Britain’s first overseas colony in 1583.
– Source: BBC News
12. Toronto is considered the world’s 20th most powerful city with Vancouver 29th.
– Source: Global Power City Index
13. In 1763, France ceded Canada to Britain which remained in control until 1931, when it granted Canada full legal freedom. However, it wasn’t until 1982, that Canada adopted its own constitution and became a completely independent country.
– Source: The History Channel
14. Despite this, Canada still accepts the British monarch as its own with King Charles III as their king. However, his role is effectively ceremonial.
– Source: The History Channel
15. At the Sourdough Saloon in Dawson City, customers can drink a cocktail made with a frozen human toe: AKA the Sourtoe Cocktail. Toes that have fallen off due to frostbite or other means are donated to the bar. Customers must not swallow the toe but must let their lips must touch the toe to gain a certificate. Around 100,000 people have qualified.
– Source: The Guardian
16. Canada is home to the world’s highest tide. The Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia experiences tidal flows reaching up to 53ft (16m).
– Source: Ocean Conservancy, National Ocean Service
17. Canada is home to around 60% of the world’s polar bears.
– Source: WWF
18. Churchill in Canada is known as the polar bear capital of the world. Residents leave house and vehicle doors unlocked in case they need to escape quickly in the event of a bear attack.
– Source: The Guardian
19. Canada actually has less gravity than the rest of the world meaning things weigh less in certain places. In the Hudson Bay region, there is less gravity because it used to be covered by a vast glacier which has now melted. The relief of less ice is causing the ground below to spring back slowly creating less gravity.
– Source: New Scientist
20. Canada’s name originates from the Iroquoian word “kanata” meaning village or settlement.
– Source: CIA World Factbook
21. The island of Manitoulin in Ontario is the world’s largest freshwater island (lake island) with an area of 2,766 sq km.
– Source: Britannica
22. At 5,959m (19,551ft), Mount Logan is Canada’s highest mountain and the second highest in North America after Denali in Alaska, USA. It is also the largest mountain on the planet by circumference.
– Source: Outside Magazine
23. Founded in the 17th century, UNESCO-listed Old Québec is the only walled city north of Mexico (in the Americas).
– Source: UNESCO
24. Canada’s national animal is the beaver. It was given official status as an emblem of Canada when “An Act to provide for the recognition of the Beaver (Castor canadensis) as a symbol of the sovereignty of Canada” received royal assent in 1975.
– Source: Government of Canada
25. Canada has two national sports. Ice hockey is the national winter sport and lacrosse is the national summer sport.
– Source: Government of Canada
26. Canada is one of the coldest places in the world. In 1947, the small village of Snag in the Yukon recorded temperatures as low as -62.8°C (81.04°F).
– Source: New Scientist
27. Canada has 37 national parks. Established in 1885, Banff National Park is the country’s oldest and most visited.
– Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia, Government of Canada
28. Canada has more fresh water than any other country with almost 9% of Canadian territory being water.
– Source: CIA World Factbook
29. Canada has at least 2 million, possibly over 3 million, lakes – more than all other countries combined.
– Source: CIA World Factbook
30. Canada has the world’s longest freshwater beach. Wasaga Beach in Ontario is over 14km (8.7 miles) long.
– Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia, Wasaga Beach Tourism Office
31. Canada shares the world’s longest undefended border with the USA. it stretches 6,416km (3,987 miles).
– Source: National Geographic
32. Canada has the longest skating rink in the world. The Rideau Canal Skateway in Ottawa is 7.8km (4.8 miles) long.
– Source: Guinness World Records
33. Canada is the world’s ninth least-densely populated sovereign state (10th if you include Greenland) with just four people per square km of land area.
– Source: World Bank
34. The oldest known rock on Earth was found in Canada. Bedrock along the northeast coast of Hudson Bay is 4.28 billion years old.
– Source: National Science Foundation
35. At 202,080km (125,566 miles), Canada has the world’s longest coastline.
– Source: CIA World Factbook
Every effort has been made to verify these facts about Canada using primary sources. However, please contact us if you find an error or have any questions.