20 Interesting Facts You Should Know About Canada

1- Canada is the Second Largest Country in the World

Canada, with a total surface area of 9.98 million km², is the second largest country in the world in terms of surface area. Only Russia has a larger surface area than Canada. Canada's vast geography causes the country to contain many different climates and ecosystems. Additionally, the northern parts of Canada extend into the Arctic region. This vast area is home to rich natural resources, mountains, lakes and forests. Canada's size highlights the country's geographic diversity and natural beauty.

2- There are 2 official languages in Canada.
There are two official languages in Canada: English and French. The country's official languages were determined by the Canadian Languages Act, passed in 1969. This law recognizes Canada's two official languages as equal status.

English is the native language of the majority of Canada's population and is generally prevalent in the western provinces. French is a language spoken especially in the province of Quebec, New Brunswick and some other regions. Quebec has Canada's largest French-speaking community in terms of French-speaking population.

Besides Canada's two official languages, other languages are also widely spoken, as people of many different ethnicities live in the country. However, English and French are the main languages used in official documents, government communications and official institutions.

3- Their national sport is ice hockey

Canada's national sport is ice hockey. Ice hockey is considered a historical and cultural part of Canada and enjoys great popularity in the country. It is an important means of social interaction and sport for Canadians. Additionally, the NHL (National Hockey League), the professional ice hockey league in Canada, is world famous and many famous players are in this league. Ice hockey holds a strong place in Canada's national identity, and many young people in the country enjoy playing and following the sport.

4- Toronto has the world's largest underground shopping complex.

It is home to the world's largest underground shopping complex called PATH, located in Toronto, Canada. PATH is an underground passage located in Toronto's financial district offering a variety of commerce, shopping, services and dining options. PATH covers a wide network of 30 kilometers, connecting many business buildings, shopping malls, hotels and metro stations.

PATH offers a comfortable transportation and shopping experience to city residents and visitors without being affected by cold weather conditions, especially during winter months. This underground network is heavily used in the Financial District area, known as the business center of Toronto.

5- Canada is a lake paradise

Canada is one of the countries with the most lakes in the world and is therefore often referred to as the "Land of Lakes". Especially large lakes such as Lakes Ontario, Huron, Superior, Erie and Michigan are important water bodies that make up the natural beauty of this country. These lakes are of great importance not only in terms of landscape and tourism, but also in terms of water transportation and environmental ecosystems. Canada's lake-rich geography creates an attractive destination for many nature lovers and researchers.

6- Different climates are experienced in different parts of Canada

Since Canada has a wide geographical area, it is home to different climate zones. Climates vary significantly in various parts of the country and offer opportunities for a variety of nature activities.

Here are some distinctive climatic features in different regions of Canada:

1. West Coast (British Columbia): Temperate climate effect is observed. Winters are generally mild and rainy. Summers are generally cool and dry, with milder temperature fluctuations.
2. Prairies (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba): The climate of the interior is generally continental. Winters are cold and snowy, and summers are hot and dry.
3. Central Canada (Ontario, Quebec): Four seasons are clearly felt in these regions. Cold winters, hot and humid summers, and a temperate climate effect are observed in spring and autumn.
4. Atlantic Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island): These regions have an oceanic climate effect. Winters are mild, summers are cool and rainy.
5. Northern (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut): The polar climate influence prevails in the northern regions. Winters are very cold and long, and summers are short and cool.

7- Basketball was born in Canada

The birth of basketball was attributed to Canadian physical education teacher Dr. It took place by James Naismith in 1891 in the town of Almonte, Ontario, Canada. Naismith was looking for a sport that they could play indoors and keep them active during the winter months, and he invented basketball for this purpose. The first rules of the game, Dr. It was designed to provide a healthy activity for Naismith's students. The first game of basketball was played at Springfield College on December 21, 1891. Since this date, basketball has gained popularity around the world and has become a widespread sport due to its playability, entertainment and competitiveness.

8- Canada has many different sources of income

As a country with vast natural resources and diverse industrial sectors, Canada has diversified its economy. In particular, the energy sector has a large share with the rich oil reserves and hydroelectric energy production in the province of Alberta. At the same time, the mining and mineral sector is an important source of income thanks to the rich mineral ores in the country. Sectors such as forest products, agriculture and tourism are also among the areas that contribute to Canada's economy. The strong banking system in the financial sector and the globally recognized Toronto Stock Exchange contribute significantly to the financial stability of the country. When these factors come together, the Canadian economy is based on a broad foundation and shows consistently stable growth.

9- The world's smallest prison is in Canada

The world's smallest prison is Holliday Prison in Prince Edward Island, Canada. This prison consists of only one cell and is usually used to house only one prisoner. Holliday Prison was built in 1869 and is advertised as the "World's Smallest Prison" with an illuminated sign.

10- Canada was named after a misunderstanding

Canada's name is derived from indigenous words from indigenous peoples. It was first used by French explorer Jacques Cartier in the 16th century. When Cartier went to an indigenous village on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River, the villagers invited him to their settlement called "Kanata". "Kanata" is a word from the Iroquoian language group, meaning "village" or "settlement". Jacques Cartier used this word to describe the region, and over time it became established, evolving into "Canada". Canada's name reflects an origin that reflects French and British influences in the country's history. Top of Form

11- Canada has the highest education rate in the world

Education is very important in Canada and has a large university and college system. The country generally invests in educational standards. More than 56% of adults in Canada have a university degree, the first among developed countries. The second country with the second highest education rate in the world is Japan, at just over 50%, followed by Israel at 49.9%.

12- The lowest temperature recorded in Canada was as cold as Mars.

Canada is a country that can be exposed to very cold weather conditions during the winter months. Particularly cold weather can be experienced in the northern regions of Canada. Canada's officially recorded lowest temperature was -63 °C in 1947 in Snag, Yukon. This temperature is similar to the surface temperatures of Mars.

13- Canada has national parks that are larger than some countries

Wood Buffalo National Park covers an area of 44,000 square kilometers, exceeding the combined area of Denmark and Switzerland. Likewise, Nahanni National Park Reserve, located in the Northwest, covers more than 30,000 square kilometers, exceeding the surface area of Israel.

14- Canadians put milk in bags

Canadians can usually find milk in bags at supermarkets. These sachets usually come in packs of three and each sachet contains 1 liter of milk. Milk bags are widely used, especially in Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces. This packaging method seems more practical and environmentally friendly to some people, but others may prefer traditional milk cartons or plastic bottles. This preference varies depending on the region.

15- Canada is home to 10% of the world's forests

Canada is home to a significant portion of the world's forests. Large areas of the country, especially the northern regions, are covered with dense forest cover. There is information from various sources that Canada's forests constitute more than 10 percent of the total world forest area. These forests play an important role in both sustaining biodiversity and providing ecosystem services such as carbon storage. Canada continues its efforts to protect its natural resources by focusing on sustainably managing its forests.

16- There is a polar bear prison in Churchill, Canada

This practice is used for polar bears that spend too much time in or around the town of Churchill and pose a problem. The bears are shot with a drug injection and then carefully transported to the polar bear prison. At the end of the season, they are anesthetized again and released into the wild.

17- Many world-renowned singers are Canadian

Canada has been home to many well-known singers and musical groups from around the world. Here are some famous musicians from Canada:

1. Justin Bieber: He is one of the young and successful representatives of pop music.
2. Celine Dion: She is a world-famous pop and ballad singer.
3. Drake: He is an artist who has achieved significant success in both rap and pop music genres.
4. Leonard Cohen: A legendary folk and rock musician known for his poetic lyrics and deep vocals.
5. Alanis Morissette: She is one of the pioneers of alternative rock music and achieved great success with her album "Jagged Little Pill".
6. Shania Twain: She is one of the important names of country and pop music.
7. The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye): He is a singer and songwriter who has an important place in R&B and pop music.
8. Joni Mitchell: She is a singer and songwriter influential in folk and rock music.

18- Residents of Churchill town do not lock their car doors because of polar bears

The town of Churchill in Manitoba, Canada, is known for not locking cars. This is due to the town's proximity to the Churchill Wildlife Management Area, where there are many polar bears. There have been cases where bears have entered town and approached people. That's why residents of the town don't lock their doors and leave them open so anyone can hop in a car when they want to get away from a polar bear.

19- Canada has the world's second largest oil reserves after Saudi Arabia

Canada is one of the countries with the largest oil reserves in the world. These large oil reserves of Canada are often referred to as "heavy oil". These reserves are located primarily in areas such as the Southern Athabasca Oil Sands in the province of Alberta. However, Saudi Arabia generally has reserves of "light oil" that can be more easily and economically extracted.

20- Approximately 90% of Canada's population lives within 160 meters of the Canada-US border

This statistic shows that the majority of Canada's total population is concentrated in an area near the country's southern borders. In these regions, the density of large cities, economic activities and infrastructure is higher. This shows that despite the geographical size of the country, its population is concentrated in certain regions.