1. How large is Canada compared to other countries?

Canada is the second-largest country globally, covering 9.98 million square km (3.85 million square miles), about 40 times larger than the UK and slightly larger than the contiguous US.

2. What are Canada's main geographical regions?

Canada has six regions: Atlantic Provinces, Central Canada, Prairie Provinces, West Coast, Northern Territories, and Arctic Archipelago, each with unique landscapes.

3. Does Canada have any deserts?

Canada has a cold desert region known as the Arctic tundra, with low precipitation and cold temperatures.

4. What's the longest river in Canada?

The Mackenzie River is the longest at approximately 4,241 km (2,635 miles), flowing from Alberta to the Arctic Ocean.

5. How many time zones does Canada have?

Canada spans six time zones: Newfoundland, Atlantic, Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific.

6. What's the highest mountain in Canada?

Mount Logan in Yukon is the highest peak at 5,959 meters (19,551 feet) above sea level.

7. How much of Canada is covered by forests?

Forests cover around 40% of Canada’s land, about 397 million hectares (980 million acres).

8. What are the Great Lakes, and why are they important?

The Great Lakes—Superior, Huron, Erie, Ontario, and Michigan—hold 20% of the world’s fresh surface water and support transportation, recreation, and ecosystems.

9. Does Canada have any active volcanoes?

There are potentially active volcanoes in BC and Yukon, including Lava Fork, Mount Meager, and the Mount Edziza complex.

10. What's the climate like in major Canadian cities?

Vancouver: Mild winters, warm summers. Toronto: Cold winters, hot summers. Montreal: Similar to Toronto, more extremes. Calgary: Variable due to Chinook winds.

11. How cold does it get in Canada during winter?

Winter temperatures range widely, from -5°C to 5°C (23°F to 41°F) in southern cities to below -40°C (-40°F) in northern areas.

12. Does it snow everywhere in Canada during winter?

Snow is common in most areas, though coastal regions like Vancouver may receive little to none, while interior regions get significant snowfall.

13. What's the warmest place in Canada?

Windsor, Ontario, with an average temperature of about 10°C (50°F). Summers in the Okanagan Valley, BC, can exceed 35°C (95°F).

14. Are there any rainforests in Canada?

Yes, the Great Bear Rainforest in BC is the largest intact temperate rainforest worldwide.

15. What effect does climate change have on Canada?

Climate change is causing melting permafrost, altered precipitation, extreme weather, and rising sea levels, impacting agriculture, biodiversity, and infrastructure.

16. What are the Prairie Provinces, and what's their landscape like?

Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba feature grasslands, agriculture, and oil resources, with cold winters and hot, dry summers.

17. What's unique about Canada's Arctic region?

The Arctic has tundra landscapes, unique wildlife like polar bears, and experiences extreme seasonal daylight/darkness. It's also severely impacted by climate change.

18. How many lakes are there in Canada?

Canada has around 2 million lakes, covering 60% of the world’s lake area. Major lakes include the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, Great Bear Lake, and Great Slave Lake.

19. What's the Bay of Fundy famous for?

Known for the highest tides in the world, up to 16 meters (52 feet), creating unique landscapes and marine biodiversity.

20. How do the Rocky Mountains influence Canada's climate?

The Rockies create a rain shadow effect, drying the prairies, and influence winds like Chinooks in Alberta, causing temperature shifts.