Facts about Canada Day

Canada was named through a misunderstanding. When Jaques Cartier, a French explorer, arrived in the region, the local Iroquoian natives invited him to their 'kanata' (their word for 'village'). The explorers mistakenly thought the name of the country was 'Kanata'. Canada Day Facts

Canada is the second largest country in the world, after Russia, though Canada is just 1.5% larger in land than the U.S.A. Canada Day Facts

Canada has the longest coastline in the world with 202,080 km/125,567 miles of coast. Canada Day Facts

Three Canadian islands are among the top ten biggest islands in the world. They are Baffin Islands (more than double the size of Great Britain), Victoria Island and Ellesmere Island. Canada Day Facts

Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world's lakes combined. Canada Day Facts

The Trans-Canada highway is the longest national highway in the world, at over 7,604 km/4,725 miles in length. Canada Day Facts

Canada is the World's Most Educated Country with over half its residents having college degrees. Canada Day Facts

Canada has twice been invaded by the USA, first in 1775 and again in 1812. They lost both times. Canada Day Facts

Canada holds the record for the most gold medals ever won at the Winter Olympics, taking 14 Golds at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Canada Day Facts

Alternative names proposed for Canada in 1867 were Borealia, Cabotia, Transatlantica, Victorialand and Superior. Canada Day Facts

Canada's only desert in British Columbia is only 15 miles long and is the only desert in the world with a long boardwalk for visitors to walk on. Canada Day Facts

The U.S. / Canada Border is the longest international border in the world. Officially known as the International Boundary, it is 8891 km/5,525 miles long, including the border between Canada and Alaska. It is the world's longest unprotected border. Canada Day Facts

There are more doughnut shops per capita in Canada than anywhere else in the world and Canadians eat more doughnuts per person than any other country. Canada Day Facts

The most popular pizza in Australia is the Hawaiian Pizza, which was invented in Canada. Canada Day Facts

Montreal is the world's second largest French speaking city after Paris. Canada Day Facts

Alert, in Nunavut Territory, is the northernmost permanent settlement in the world. Canada Day Facts

Canadians drink more fruit juice per capita than any other country. Canada Day Facts

The beaver is Canada's national animal, and it was once proposed that a beaver appear on the redesigned Canadian flag. Canada Day Facts

In 2017, the 150th anniversary, known as the sesquicentennial, was met with much fanfare and special events, including a commemorative postage stamp. While Queen Elizabeth II wasn’t in attendance, her son Prince Charles and his wife, the Dutchess of Cornwall, attended the national celebration. Canada Day Facts