Introducing Canada
Oh, it’s big all right. Damn big. And we’re not referring to Canada’s size (a whopping 10 million sq km, making it the world’s second-largest country). What we’re talking about here is the handle on a Canadian beer case – big enough to fit your hands, even with mittens on. If you think that’s impressive, consider Canada’s other mondo attributes. Its terrain is filled with them, from mammoth mountains to hulking glaciers to immense polychromatic skies. Then there are the creatures that roam the terrain and its waterways – grizzly bear, moose, polar bear, humpback whales – each one huger than the next.
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Canada is impossible to dislike, but go ahead and give it a shot. You don’t like festival-packed cities like Toronto and Montreal that offer the world’s best quality of life? Then take a double dose of history in St John’s, Newfoundland, North America’s oldest city. Not enamoured with the prospect of hiking, skiing or snowboarding over the cloud-poking mountains of Banff & Jasper National Parks? Try a slow ride through the wheat-waving prairies of Saskatchewan. You want a nosh lighter than Alberta beef or Nunavut whale blubber? Pick up ripe peaches and cheeses from the Kelowna’s local farmers’ markets.
And it’s a wonder everyone is so nice, given the weather. It’s cold, as in world’s-coldest-country cold (based on average temperatures nationwide), which explains the mitten-sized beer case handles. Snag, a town in the Yukon, recorded North America’s coldest temperature ever: minus 62.8°C.
Voltaire may have written off Canada as ‘a few acres of snow’ back in the mid-18th century, but those ‘few acres’ have yielded vast amounts of oil, timber and other natural resources, that in turn have propelled Canada to a very enviable standard of living.
Flying to Canada? Download the free Just Landed guide (PDF)
Last updated: 13/09/2011
Tips & articles
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Saddle up for the world’s best cycling routes
1 febrero 2012
There’s no better way to explore a place than by bike. In honour of our favorite two-wheeled travel companion, here...
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Perfect day in Saskatoon
20 enero 2012
I always wanted to go to Saskatoon. I’m a sucker for the flatlands, and when you have a tongue-roller of...
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Classic campervan capers
18 enero 2012
Take the open road, some glorious scenery, and the right to camp wherever you like – hey presto, you’ve got...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Paypal
by Jorgeguide58 14 septiembre 2011
Ah buying! I see. May be doing TG-Canada would work although a bit higher prices.
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RE: What to move to asia for a bit ? Should I choose Thailand ?
by helloworldz 14 septiembre 2011
To be honest, I don't blame the Thais AT ALL.. I think we should do the same in Canada, where real estate has became only for rich people…
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RE: VISA CHANGES For people entering Thailand by land
by maddogg1980 14 septiembre 2011
I've gone ahead and booked my flights after being told everything would be ok with my visa for thailand, but after reading on here I am…
Hotels & Hostels
Top cities in Canada
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Canada
Things to do
- All things to do (3,353)
- Activities (580)
- Entertainment (708)
- Restaurants (880)
- Shopping (436)
- Sights (733)
- Tours (16)
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Our Top Picks For Canada
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1 Banff & Jasper National Parks
Towering peaks, tumbling glaciers, baby-blue lakes and an ark's worth of animals
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2 Québec Old Town
Distinguished birthplace of modern Canada, lorded over by Le Château Frontenac's mighty towers
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3 Dawson City
Character-filled heritage town amid awesome natural beauty
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4 Toronto
Canada's biggest, busiest and many say best city to eat, shop and drink in
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5 Queen Charlotte Islands
Isles of beauty, mystery and the resurgent Haida culture
Fast Facts about Canada
- Canadians who speak only French
13.3%
- Hours TV watched per week
21.4
- Median family income
$67, 600
- Amount of world’s diamonds produced
15%
- Defense budget
$10.9 billion
- Annual potato consumption
15.8kg per person
- Unemployment rate
6%
- Population
33 million
- Life expectancy
women 83.7 years, men 76.9 years
- Annual beer consumption
77 L per person over age 15
Our favourite Canada Blogs (beta)
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7 Must-Have FREE Canadian iPhone and iPad Apps
Blog: i Backpack Canada - 3 febrero 2012
There are over 500,000 apps available in the iOS App Store, with downloads numbering over 18,000,000,000 to date! That’s a lot of zeros fellow Apple Fanboys & Fangirls. While I’m sure that 80% of the Apps on the App Store are completely useless, I’ve come across 7 apps in the remaining 20% that are perfect for anyone [...]7 Must-Have FREE Canadian iPhone and iPad Apps is a post from: I Backpack Canada
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True or False – A Look at Six Stereotypes About Canada
Blog: Landlopers - 1 febrero 2012
I admit, in the past I may have made some jokes at the expense of our friends to the north. I seem to remember a quip involving America’s hat in particular. But those days are gone, I’m now an avowed lover of Canada and her...Copyright LandLopers All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
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Crashed Ice is Coming Back to Quebec, and this Hoser’s checking it out!
Blog: i Backpack Canada - 31 enero 2012
It’s getting to that time again in the winter season when athletes from around the world (30 nations!) compete in what can only be described as one of those most awesome sports ever created! These athletes come from all walks of life.
