Canada is massive country, serving as the second largest in the world, and yet it seems like many people aren’t aware of just how geographically fascinating it really is. From the world’s largest fresh water island to some of the earth’s oldest rocks, Canada is full of surprises. Geography by Geoff took the time to break down 15 remarkable facts about our neighbors to the north.
15 Remarkable Geography Facts About Canada
- Canada has more islands than any other country, with an estimated 52,000 named islands, including over 36,000 in the Arctic archipelago, making up 15% of its land mass.
- Canada’s coastline, the longest globally at over 202,000 km, borders three oceans and is nearly four times longer than Indonesia’s.
- Covering 9.98 million square kilometers, Canada is the second largest country after Russia, capable of containing the entire European Union.
- With a population of about 40 million, Canada has a low population density of roughly four people per square kilometer.
- About 75% of Canadians live within 100 miles of the U.S. border in a strip less than 5% of the country’s land area due to milder climates.
- Hudson Bay, the world’s second largest bay, spans 1.23 million square kilometers and freezes over in winter due to its shallow depth.
- Canada has over 2 million lakes, covering 8.93% of its area, including Lake Superior, the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area.
- Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron, covering 2,766 square kilometers, is the world’s largest freshwater island.
- Manitoulin Island contains over 100 inland lakes, some with their own islands, like Treasure Island, the largest natural island in a lake on an island.
- Middle Island in Lake Erie, at 41.4°N, is Canada’s southernmost point, farther south than parts of Northern California.
- Canada’s boreal forest, spanning 2.7 million square kilometers, covers nearly 35% of the country and is vital for carbon sequestration.
- The Canadian Shield contains some of Earth’s oldest rocks, dating back nearly 4 billion years, with 4.28-billion-year-old rocks found in Quebec.
- The Continental Divide in Canada’s Rockies separates watersheds flowing into the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans, shaping ecosystems.
- Nunavut, established in 1999, spans 2 million square kilometers but has only 41,000 people, making it one of the least densely populated areas.
- Mount Logan in Yukon, at 5,959 meters, is Canada’s tallest peak, growing 35 mm yearly due to tectonic activity, with the largest base circumference of any non-volcanic mountain.
