Canada is a beautiful place filled with rich history spanning thousands of years. When one thinks of Canada, specific highlights come to mind like maple syrup, snow blanketed mountains and hockey. However, there is much more to this diverse nation that goes untold. Little-known, curious facts like place names to place and natural resources yet to be discovered.
In this article, strange facts about Canada that you never knew will be detailed. These are not necessarily your run-of-the-mill trivia facts but things that will cause you to want to visit or learn more about another country. So whether you are a curious traveler or someone who enjoys history and trivia facts for fun, hop aboard as we go on a journey through this world with curious facts about Canada sure to make your mind spin!
There’s A Place Called Dildo
Yes, you read that correctly. In Newfoundland and Labrador, Dildo is a small fishing town that has become a running joke amongst tourists snapping photos at its sign. While many people burst out laughing and say crude things about living in Dildo, its residents stay calm and carry on with their daily lives. It’s believed the name comes from an old pin used for various tasks on old sailing ships, but Dildo seems likely to confuse tourists who are not familiar with Canadian towns.
The town itself boasts Victorian homes overlooking cliffs, selling seafood businesses and even an annual Dildo Days festival to celebrate its uniqueness. In all seriousness, when one hears that there’s a Dildo, the first response might be that there’s no way. But yes there is! And the Canadians have a great sense of humor about it!
The Longest Non-Guarded Border in The World
Did you know that America shares the longest international border in the world with Canada? Spanning over 5,500 miles with much of it unguarded, it’s true! There are obviously guards in various hot spots but when you’re out in the middle of nowhere, one could literally cross the border without realizing it.
In fact, that’s exactly what happens in certain spots for hikers and campers who cross markers without even knowing it. It’s funny to think that an international border is chalked up to just a marker on some roads and it’s not even observed by all people. The friendship between America and Canada is strong as they have shared values for years which likely explains the lack of concern. Even just southwest of Montreal there lies a library between Canada and Vermont where one could stand in two places at once! How cool is that?!
The World’s Smallest Desert
When one thinks of Canada, the desert likely doesn’t pop into mind. But it’s true that Canada’s Carcross Desert exists in Yukon and is hailed as the world’s smallest desert at only one square mile. It’s truly bizarre looking—golden sand dunes nestled adjacent between snow-capped mountains and lush forests. But how did a desert come to exist within a country known for its chill?
Thousands of years ago glaciers melted leaving behind sandy lakebeds. Wind blew sand into dunes and with a dry climate, vegetation was kept away. Today the Carcross Desert is known for its hiking and sandboarding activities. Imagine being in a desert and the wind blowing on your face reminds you that you’re still in Canada!
The Spotted Lake
When people visit lakes, they’re typically blue and green but one particular lake in British Columbia looks like a leopard! Spotted Lake is known for the bizarre green, blue and yellow spots found on its topography. Why does this happen? It’s all due to minerals!
Rich in magnesium sulfate, calcium and sodium, the lake gets so dry in the summertime that little pools form where the water evaporates. For the Okanagan Syilx people, this lake is sacred and possesses health benefits—something visitors are not recommended to test out, as access is restricted to protect any wildlife found within. However, Spotted Lake is best viewed from afar and it’s hard to believe something so weird exists on our planet still today!
A Town That Lives Underground
In Fermont, Quebec there exists an underground town (not really—but close enough). Due to horrible northern Canadian winters, the town’s majority of access is lived through a massive wall known as the Wind Screen which houses schools, shops and apartments without ever having to go outside!
Why such precautions? Fermont is a mining town that sees harsh winters due to its location by the Arctic climate. The Wind Screen allows passage between buildings without stepping outside into minus-40 degree temperatures as well as keeping individuals safe from blizzards outside. Can you imagine being able to walk your slippers to the grocery store because you never had to go outside?
Canada’s UFO Landing Pad
Did you know there’s a UFO landing pad in Canada? In St. Paul Alberta this 1967 centennial platform boasts a small sign welcoming extraterrestrial beings—and it’s serious! The project was made for fun but has become an international sight for tourists looking for something fun to take a picture of (the platform has a time capsule set for 2067).
St. Paul boasts a visitor center made up of UFO-formed designs making “extraterrestrial” curiosities abound. Whether your scientific inclination believes in aliens or not, it’s still incredibly cool that a small Canadian town celebrates such unknown possibilities! Would you travel to visit a placement made strictly for aliens?
Canada Has The Great Lakes
People often think that the Great Lakes are just one massive area comprising all five smaller lakes in America; but the fact is that when people think of the largest freshwater lakes on earth…what’s even crazier is that Canada partakes in some of them too! The Great Lakes hold about 20% of Earth’s freshwater and are so large that Lake Superior alone could hold all of Scotland inside of it with plenty of room left over—just over ten feet wide!
The Great Lakes provide drinking water and wildlife—and as they surround cities (Toronto included) it’s easy for those living near them to presume they’re oceans due to their largeness (the wave sizes mirror those of oceans). Have you ever stood on a beach at one of the Great Lakes feeling like you’re looking at infinity?
A River That Flows Backward
In New Brunswick, there’s something peculiar—the St. John River flows backward during high tides—and it’s known for it! At Reversing Falls visitors flock to see this phenomenon where high and low tides run parallel coming from two opposite directions; sometimes creating rapids (which happen twice daily).
Due to high tides—the Bay of Fundy possesses some of Earth’s highest tides rising over 50 feet—which creates so much pressure where even a river feels inclined to change its course—can you imagine seeing a river flowing backward?! The Reversing Falls is worth seeing for anyone who loves fun nature sightings.
The Magnetic Hill Mystery
In Moncton New Brunswick there’s a fascinating point—magnetic hill—for a visitor attraction where cars roll uphill by themselves. Basically what happens is you drive your car down to the bottom of a slope, turn your car into neutral and voila—your car rolls up hill automatically.
How does this happen? Is it magic? A magnetic force? Aliens?! Well spoiler alert—for those who understand perspective—it’s an optical illusion. The landscape surrounding magnetic hill goes downhill instead; however people who test things out do so repeatedly never believing their eyes. It’s always better not to trust what we see anyway!
The World’s Longest Beaver Dam
In Wood Buffalo National Park lies Canada’s longest beaver dam run spanning more than half a mile—longer than eight football fields! Located in northern Alberta this massive sight was discovered via satellite imaging in 2007; however due to beavers’ industrious creations it’s no wonder over generations it’s built up since it takes decades upon decades for beavers (as actual single family units) to build them up before moving around—even longer when counted from guestimated generations living in one area.
The dam makes a vast wetland for fish birds and plants; it’s an attraction that reminds humans why the beaver is so important to Canadian environments—to beaver bridges where water needs to be diverted sometimes intelligently don’t mind any human trespassers! Thus while this dam is located far out into Canada where no one will likely ever see it up close—it still exists which makes it pretty cool!
Canada Has Floating Islands
In Lake Chippewa which boasts floating islands—literally islands breaking away from their foundation and floating throughout—as they consist of massive tons of peat holes trees etc which allows people to explore them and then paint them as concepts out of fantasy novels or cartoons when they float across clear blue waters against stark clear skies—whimsical images coming out alive—and not merely concepts inside children’s books!
For humans they’re hazards as they tumble into docks but for nature they’re an attraction where unsuspecting travelers have no idea where they’re stumbling into—they’re drifting across the land or sinking underground—incredible occurrences every step along Canada’s wildest waterways!
A Town With Polar Bears
In Churchill Manitoba—polar bears roam like squirrels do elsewhere making it known as “Polar Bear Capital of the World”. Located just off Hudson Bay (the bears historically know their terrain and wander as they come across half grown seals/food—especially in autumn) they tend to wander onto towns although they’re generally sedated before being relocated far away where they’ll never encounter civilization without food.
To promote safety—polar bear jail exists so when bears get too close—or unfortunately snowed out with cubs—they’re kept until they wake—but this also promotes safety for humans too who leave their doors unlocked so they can run inside if need be (or jump in vehicles). How would one open their backyard door looking for bears?! This is what life looks like in Churchill!
Canada’s Secret WWII Weather Station
A weather station called Kurt existed located on Cahill’s northern coast built during World War II to clandestine efforts by Nazi Germany over seeking out U-boats operations built on Atlantic waters; but once the war happened/kids revolted against adults it was abandoned—a time capsule sent back crossing waves allowing humans unaware until recently getting back on board.
In fact, this time capsule was discovered in 1980 still intact with materials from World War II—even still rusty cans—and while it might not be easy to access via the rough Canadian tundras straddling polar bears—which few Canadians ever get access into—it’s quite notable there’s a buried history few humans even understand today.
In Conclusion…
Canada is more than just maple syrup and snowy winters—it’s home of strange crazy events that urge nomadic humans/travelers to take value down there to appreciate unknown worthy curiosities that belittle life’s biggest experiences concerning what they knew inside their heads; now accessible worlds via single Canadian cities.
Whether it’s Dildo (yes there is one there), or exploring deserts, lakes that appear spotted looking like a leopard or alternative realities—or floating islands or beaver dams or even towns without any power/dispute or access—its curious findings alongside one of Hollywood’s biggest magnets keeps seasons thriving along until new travelers can find their quirks out all along.
What’s stopping you next? Consider reversing falls and exploring what unreal side encompasses one part/perception against what’s already assessable here at home!? Which surprised you?! Grab a map/go pack your sense of adventure and explore Canada’s wild world that’s ready for exploration!