Born and raised in the Great White North, we’ve traveled to over 130 countries—but no matter how far we roam, Canada will always be home. It’s wild, it’s weird, and it’s way bigger than most people realize. These fun facts about Canada prove why our home and native land is one of the coolest (literally and figuratively) places on Earth.
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Facts about Canada
Whether you’re planning a visit, brushing up on your trivia, or just want to impress your friends with some knowledge bombs, here are 51 Canada facts that’ll make you go, “Seriously?!” From British Columbia to Nova Scotia, northern Canada to the Atlantic coast, we’re covering it all.
1. Canada is the Second Largest Country in the World
Clocking in at almost 10 million square kilometers, Canada is the second largest country in the world—only Russia beats us. That’s a lot of snow to shovel.
2. Canada Has the Longest Coastline on Earth
With over 202,000 km of shoreline along the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Arctic waters, Canada has the world’s longest coastline.
3. Canada Has More Lakes Than the Rest of the World Combined
We’re not kidding—Canada is home to over two million lakes. That’s about 60% of the world’s total.
4. There’s a Town Called Dildo
Yup. Dildo, Newfoundland. And yes, it has leaned into the name with full comedic force. Jimmy Kimmel even campaigned to be its honorary mayor.
5. We Apologize So Much, We Made It a Law
Canadians are famously polite, but in Ontario, the Apology Act ensures that saying “sorry” doesn’t count as an admission of guilt.
6. The Coldest Temperature Ever Recorded in Canada Was -63°C
That’s -81.4°F for our American friends. Snag, Yukon gets cold. Like, Mars-cold.
7. We Invented the World’s Craziest Sports
Hockey, of course—but also lacrosse, basketball (thanks, Dr. Naismith!), and five-pin bowling. Ice hockey is basically in our DNA.
8. Santa Claus Lives Here
Canada has an official postal code for Santa: H0H 0H0. And yes, you can write him a letter and actually get a response.
9. Canada Has the World’s Most Remote Inhabited Place
Alert, Nunavut is the northernmost permanently inhabited place on Earth—just 817 km from the North Pole.
10. The Border With the U.S. is the Longest in the World
The Canada-U.S. border stretches 8,891 km, and it’s the longest international border without military defense.
11. You Can Drive Across the Entire Country (Eventually)
The Trans-Canada Highway is over 7,800 km long—spanning east and west coasts. Road trip, anyone?
12. Canada Has a Desert in British Columbia
Yep, a real desert. The Okanagan in British Columbia gets less than 25 cm of rain a year. And it has rattlesnakes.
13. The Canadian Dollar Coin is Called a Loonie
Because it has a loon on it. The two-dollar coin? That’s the toonie. Logic meets adorable.
14. We Have a Maple Syrup Reserve
There’s a strategic reserve in Quebec holding millions of gallons of syrup. Yep, we take the maple leaf seriously.
15. Canada Has the World’s Largest Skating Rink
Ottawa’s Rideau Canal becomes a 7.8 km-long skating rink every winter.
16. We Have the Most Bilingual Country in the Western Hemisphere
French and English are both official languages—a reflection of French influence and British history.
17. The Polar Bear Capital of the World is in Canada
Churchill, Manitoba, is where the bears roam—literally through town. Northern Canada is wild like that.
18. Canadians Eat More Mac & Cheese Than Anyone Else
We don’t just love Kraft Dinner—we worship it. KD is basically a pillar of Canadian culture.
19. Canada Has a UFO Landing Pad
In St. Paul, Alberta. Built in 1967. Because… Canada.
20. There Are More Moose Than People in Newfoundland
You’re more likely to hit a moose than traffic on some roads in The Rock.
21. We Have an Island Within a Lake on an Island Within a Lake on an Island
Only in Ontario. One of those geographical oddities you won’t find in any other country.
22. Canada Has a Town That Celebrates a Different Country Every Day
Dawson City, in the Yukon Territory, once declared itself “Kingdom of the Day.”
23. We Burned Down the White House (Technically)
In the War of 1812, British troops (with help from Canadian militia) torched Washington, D.C.—a side note in British rule.
24. There’s a Giant Nickel in Sudbury
An enormous replica of a 1951 nickel stands over 9 meters tall—a nod to our natural resources and mining history.
25. The CN Tower Was Once the Tallest Free-Standing Structure
Toronto’s CN Tower held the record until 2007. Still iconic.
26. Winnie the Pooh Was Inspired by a Canadian Bear
A black bear from Winnipeg (named Winnie) ended up at the London Zoo. A.A. Milne’s son fell in love, and the rest is literary history.
27. We Invented the Snowmobile
Joseph-Armand Bombardier created it in Quebec. Another cold-weather invention from a country in the world that knows winter well.
28. Our National Parks Are Ridiculously Massive
The Canadian Rockies are just one example—Banff and Jasper cover more ground than some entire nations.
29. The Caesar Cocktail Was Born in Calgary
Think Bloody Mary, but better—made with Clamato juice. A proud part of Canadian culture.
30. Canada’s Official Phone Number Used to Be 1-800-O-CANADA
It connected callers to info about Canada—possibly even the Governor General if you were lucky.
31. The Montreal Metro Has Rubber Tires
Quiet, smooth, and uniquely Canadian.
32. We Celebrate Christmas… in July?
In Waterton, Alberta, locals deck the halls mid-summer. Proof that Canadian culture doesn’t follow rules.
33. We Have a Giant Muskie
Kenora, Ontario has a 40-foot fish statue. Just one of many quirky roadside attractions across the ten provinces.
34. Canadians Invented IMAX
Revolutionizing cinema. Another win for a world leader in creativity and tech.
35. The Bay of Fundy Has the World’s Highest Tides
Located between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, this natural wonder is world-famous.
36. Poutine Was Once Controversial
From humble beginnings in Quebec, it’s now a Canadian culture staple.
37. Canada Is Home to the World’s Longest Ice Road
Running through the Northwest Territories, the road only exists for a couple of months each winter.
38. The Oldest Known Rocks on Earth Were Found Here
Northern Quebec’s ancient crust clocks in at 4.28 billion years old.
39. We Have a Sasquatch Trail
Along the Pacific Coast in BC, you’ll find signage and legends. Bigfoot tourism is real.
40. Canada Has Its Own Loch Ness Monster
Meet Ogopogo, lurking in Okanagan Lake. It’s our polite version of Nessie.
41. There’s a Lighthouse on Our Currency
The Cape Spear Lighthouse represents the Atlantic coast and our maritime legacy.
42. Canada’s National Animal is the Beaver
Not just cute—it fueled the historic fur trade and helped define early Canadian culture.
43. The Toronto Zoo Had a ‘Canadian Domain’ Exhibit
It included native species and nods to the three territories and indigenous lands.
44. We Have Our Own Stonehenge
First Nations people have used Inukshuks as navigational markers across northern Canada.
45. The Yukon Was the Heart of the Gold Rush
The Klondike boom brought fur traders, prospectors, and fortune seekers to the Yukon Territory.
46. Canada Has the World’s Longest Freshwater Beach
Wasaga Beach is just one of the gems on our west coasts and lake systems.
47. The Northern Lights Are Visible Year-Round
Especially in northern Canada, like the Yukon and NWT. Bring your camera.
48. We Once Built a UFO Detector
During the Cold War, Project Magnet was launched in the spirit of space-age paranoia.
49. We Host the Largest French-Speaking Population Outside France
Thanks to Quebec City and Montreal, French thrives—another reminder of our deep French influence.
50. There’s a Giant Potato in PEI
Because, of course, there is. Named “Spudnik,” it’s a tribute to farming in the Atlantic provinces.
51. Canada Has Six Official Time Zones
That’s right—six. From Pacific Ocean shores to Atlantic Ocean edges, we cover more clocks than almost any other country.
Bonus: Canada’s Government and Identity
We operate under a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, with a Prime Minister and a Governor General. Our system evolved from British rule and was solidified through the Canada Act and Constitution Act. While we’re independent from the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II reigned for most of modern Canadian history, but King Charles III is now the symbolic monarch.
Frequently Asked Questions About Canada
What is a fun fact about Canada?
Canada has the world’s longest coastline, stretching over 202,000 km across three oceans—more than any other country on Earth.
Why is Canada unique?
From being the second largest country in the world to having six time zones, Canada is full of surprising geography, culture, and wildlife.
What is Canada most known for?
Canada is known for its natural beauty, politeness, maple syrup, ice hockey, and being home to over two million lakes.
What are the official languages of Canada?
Canada’s official languages are English and French, reflecting its colonial history and bilingual identity.
And that’s your crash course in all things Canada!
rom fur hats to the fur trade, First Nations heritage to natural resources, and polite small talk to the massive wilderness, Canada is more than just polite people and hockey. These fun facts about Canada celebrate a country that’s wild, wise, and wonderfully weird.
Canada’s size and coastline stats are the kind of trivia that sneak up on people. You don’t realize just how massive it is until you see it on a globe or try to drive across it. (Spoiler: it’ll take days.)
Impressive! Thanks for the post
It is illegal to carry a product designed for personal protection against a human attack, according to the Criminal Code. This cant be a real law…
I have some relatives that migrate over there some years ago. They always have good things to say about Canada. After the pandemic, I’d take a break from business to visit Ontario or Quebec.
Wow! Canada is such an amazing place to live,cant wait to see all this amazing things after this world pandemic
I now feel really homesick. I live in the UK, I was born in the UK but my home will always be Canada. Thank you
Canada has no shortage of beautiful landscapes and unique sites for travelers to explore. The country is home to vibrant and culturally rich cities, along with incredible natural wonders. Thanks for sharing.
It really helped me to know a lot about Canada .There are many intresting facts about Canada which are new to me like Canada has more number of lakes and world largest fresh water lakes island is also situated there and most recently they legalised cannabis also.Any way most facts are intresting and i love this a lot.
Good Article i had fun reading it thanks for sharing we us.
So I hear that their air is cleaner than the United States and their subway way cleaner than the New York City subway. Is this correct? 🙂
I love this . I plan to travel here very soon
Love this article! As a fellow Canadian, it’s nice to see you included the part about the Bay Of Fundy. I live in Nova Scotia very close to the bay. it’s so nice here! If anyone gets a chance to visit, you won’t be disappointed 🙂
Well done eh!!
It was a pleasure to read this, thank you! My husband’s father is a Canadian citizen and he loves to include such facts in every discussion:) But I didn’t know even a half of things. My next visit to Canada I’ll definitely try Ceasar – with Clamato Juice.
It’s not spelled Skreech but Screech
The Trans-Canada Highway is ‘only’ 7’800 kilometres long. I think the figure in the article might be the total length of highways in the country.
I’m not quite sure what you are talking about, but the Trans Canada highway is 7,821 km. Canada is a huge country. Here are the details in Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Canada_Highway
You guys make me feel so proud to be Canadian. Thanks so much for your time, energy and effort putting these facts together. I always visit your website whenever I’m planning a trip.
Missed Gordon Lightfoot as a famous entertainer.
So many interesting things about Canada. The facts about food are really funny!
What a funny fact about Canada. Smelling bad is illegal. Its so funny!
What a nice country in Canada !
These all places to visit that are great when there is come to choose one of them then I would like to choose canada is a great way to drive and more places to see.
One thing I never knew as a child growing up in New York City is Canada is possibly 10 hours or less driving by car away from the Big Apple. I once drove from Brooklyn, New York to Maine in my teenage years without making it to my final destination. I drove to Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New Hampshire before reaching Maine. we came into knowledge of cities in Maine such as Kittery and Kennebunkport but never got to where we originally intended, but learned that if we continued driving up the highway which I think at the time was I-95, we would’ve driven right into the Canadian border. Hopefully someday I might make it there but I’m not counting on it. 🙂