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  • Canada is the second largest country in the world, with only Russia outsizing us. We have six time zones: Pacific, Mountain, Central, Eastern, Atlantic and Newfoundland time.
  • We cover 9,984,670 square kilometers, of which 9,093,507 sq. km. is land and 891,163 sq. km is water. We have 1/10 of the world’s forests, and nearly 1/4 of the world’s fresh water.
  • From Victoria on the west coast to St Johns on the east, the distance is 7,604 kilometres, (4,725 mi). Our Trans Canada Highway is the longest national highway in the world.
  • We have the world’s longest coastline – bordered on the west by the Pacific, on the east by the Atlantic and on the north by the Arctic Ocean, our total coastline is 202,080 km.
  • On the south, and on the north-west corner, we are bordered by the United States. The Canada/US contiguous states border is 6,416 km long, but we also share a northern border with Alaska, which is 2,477 km long. (Unfortunately, we do not share a border with Hawaii).
  • We have roughly 3 people per square kilometre, giving us the fourth lowest population density in the world.
  • As of April 2011, Canada’s population was estimated at 34,349,200. The province with the highest population is Ontario with an estimated 13,310,900. The lowest population is in Nunavut Territory, with 33,400 people.
  • The average age of Canadians in 2011 was 41 years. The population is made up of 15.7% under 15 years old, 68.5% at 15-64 years and 15.9% are 65 and over. Life expectancy is 81.3 years.
  • About 90% of us are concentrated within 160 km of the USA border. That leaves a lot of land for wildlife! In 2005 the percentage of land use was: arable cropland 5.2%, leaving 94.7% classed as ‘other’ – forests, water, tundra and arctic areas.
  • Our highest point is Mount Logan in The Yukon, which reaches 5,959 metres above sea level.
  • We have two official languages: English spoken by 59.3% and French spoken by 23.2%. Other languages spoken: 17.5%. Our literacy rate, those 15 and over who can read, is 99%.
  • Canada is made up of ten provinces and three northern territories. We became a unified country inn 1867.

Canada Facts and information from Stats Canada and the CIA World Factbook