This One Fact About Canada Will Change Your Life

One thing Canada is known for is the country’s vast geographical size, which is clear just by looking at any map of the world. It’s generally known that the Great White North is the second largest country in the world after Russia, but breaking the numbers down can yield more surprising facts that will make you look at Canada in an entirely new way.

The Canadian motto is A Mari Usque ad Mare, which means from sea to sea, and indeed, it has the longest coastline of any country in the world at 243,977 kilometers (151,600 miles). You might not think of Canada as a beach destination, but three different oceans—the Atlantic to the east, the Pacific to the west, and the Arctic to the north—border the country on three sides. If you walked without stopping, it would take you around four and a half years to walk the entirety of Canada’s coastline.

The Torngat Mountains and Nachvak Fjord, Labrador

The border between Canada and the United States is the world’s longest unprotected border, and around 90% of Canada’s population is concentrated within 160 kilometers (100 miles) of it. Despite being such a large country, however, Canada has the fourth lowest population density in the world, with only three people living per square kilometer. Additionally, almost half of the populace in the nation was born in other countries—making it among the most diverse.

Dawson City, Klondike and Yukon rivers and Bonanza Creek in Tintina Trench

In addition to coming up close to Russia in terms of size, the two countries also vie for first place as the coldest nation in the world. The average daily annual temperature in Canada is -5.6°C (23°F)—note that this average also incorporates the far north, which gets far colder than most of the major cities ever do. All the same, Canada really can be deadly cold: an average of 108 Canadians die each year from exposure to frigid temperatures.

And this leads us to what is perhaps the most surprising fact of all: Canada’s lowest recorded temperature is as cold as Mars! In the small village of Snag, in the Yukon Territory, the temperature of -63°C (-81.4°F) was recorded in February 1947. On average, the surface temperature of Mars is about -60°C (-80°F).

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.