Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean. It has the longest coastline of any country in the world, as well as more lakes than all the other countries combined. The border between Canada and the United States is officially known as the International Boundary. At 5,525 miles, including 1,538 miles between Canada and Alaska, it is the world’s longest border between two nations, and at over 3 million square miles, Canada is the second largest country in the world, behind Russia.
Canada is known as the home of large animals like the moose and grizzly bear, and has the world’s safest highways for animals. There are million-dollar highway overpasses in Banff National Park which have been used by grizzly and black bears, wolves, coyotes, cougars, moose, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, wolverine and lynx. By 2014, there will be 38 wildlife underpasses and six overpasses from Banff National Park’s east entrance to the border of Yoho National Park. Ontario built its first bridge for animals over Highway 69, south of Sudbury, in 2012. Given there are on average 247 car accidents every year involving moose it would be so much safer for all concerned if they could be persuaded to use these overpasses more often!
There is a fun side to Canada too! An annual bath tub race is held every year in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Canadians love attempting wacky world records, such as balancing spoons on your face, with Aaron Caissie becoming title holder in 2009 when he managed an incredible 17 spoons. If you want to know more fascinating and downright weird facts about this beautiful country, then read our fun infographic.