Canada: 10 Claims to Fame

In Nunavut and other far northern areas of Canada, the landscape is dotted with inuksuit built by Inuit peoples for communication. An inuksuk is typically an anthropoid figure formed of stacked rocks that is visible from great distances in the territory, where there are few trees or other landmarks. Many inuksuit are quite ancient; they have been found near archaeological sites that date from 2400 to 1800 BCE! Inuksuit are still used during hunting and navigation, and some of the figures are of spiritual importance. The flag of Nunavut (the territory that is home to the world's northernmost permanently inhabited city) and badges and other symbols of several local organizations incorporate this amazing emblem of Arctic survival.

Ice hockey rose to prominence in Canada and is the country's most famous sport. The Stanley Cup, North America's oldest professional sporting trophy, hails from Canada, as do many (most?) of the sport's greatest players, including Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, and Mr. Hockey himself, Gordie Howe. Besides their prowess in the National Hockey League, Canadians have dominated the ice in the Winter Olympics.

Maple stuff is a big deal in Canada. Not only does the country produce almost 80% of the world's maple syrup, but the leaf on the country's iconic flag is a sugar maple leaf. In fact, Canada boasts 10 native maple species, all of which contribute to the beautiful leaf displays seen in autumn. You can even visit a massive landscaped maple leaf in High Park, Toronto, or catch a game of the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL team.

Although the hapless Dudley Do-Right and his clever horse, Horse, may have informed how many non-Canadians envision the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada's federal police force obviously is much more than this cartoony stereotype. Founded in 1873, the Mounties serve as the provincial and criminal police establishment in all provinces except Ontario and Quebec, and they are the only police force in Yukon and the Northwest Territories. With their iconic red tunics and brown hats, the Mounties have maintained their image as a frontier force, and many units still do use horses while on patrol.

Canada has more lakes than any other country in the world. The province of Ontario alone has more than 250,000 lakes, which contain about one-fifth of the world's liquid fresh water. Lake Superior, the most voluminous lake of the Western Hemisphere, and Lake Michigan, the most extensive freshwater lake on Earth, are shared between the United States and Canada. Great Slave Lake of the Northwest Territories is considered the deepest lake of the Western Hemisphere, reaching an impressive 614 meters (2,014 feet) in depth. Lake Manitou, on Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron, has the honor of being the most extensive lake on an island in a lake.

Cape Spear, in Newfoundland and Labrador, is the most easterly point in North America (excluding Greenland, which is a self-governing part of Denmark). The rural and rugged Cape Spear lighthouse, built in 1836, is a national historic site. Although Cape Spear is quite a way off the beaten path, tourists go there to see the first sunrise over North America each day. Some hearty souls even brave the trip in winter to witness the first sunrise on New Year's Day!

The polar bear is the largest and most powerful carnivore on land (tied with the Kodiak bear). Polar bears are found throughout the Arctic, but an estimated 60–80% of them are found in Canada. The seaport of Churchill, on Hudson Bay in Manitoba, is one of the most famous places on Earth for polar bear watching. In what is known as "the polar bear capital of the world," it is said that residents leave their cars unlocked in case anyone needs to make a quick escape from a close encounter! Adorably, the license plates in the Northwest Territories are shaped like polar bears. However, despite all the polar bear hype, the beaver is the country's national animal.

Poutine is an iconic Canadian dish that first appeared in snack bars in rural Quebec in the 1950s. Made of fresh-cut french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy, the delicious treat quickly spread throughout Canada and can now be found at fine restaurants and fast-food chains alike. While the classic Quebecois combination remains popular, countless other variations with meat, vegetables, and unconventional sauces have been created to delight any palate.

There are many gorgeous and interesting cities in Canada, but Quebec has the distinction of being the country’s only remaining walled city. Quebec is more than 400 years old and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. With its Old World charm—including narrow cobblestone streets, stone buildings, and fortifications—and its rich French Canadian culture, Quebec is an important tourist destination. It is also an administrative center and a major transatlantic port. In fact, several major Allied strategies of World War II were discussed at the city’s iconic Château Frontenac during the Quebec Conferences of 1943 and 1944.

Canada has the world’s third largest oil reserves, after Saudi Arabia’s and Venezuela’s, and the largest known deposits of tar sands, which occur in the Athabasca River valley of western Canada. Fort McMurray, in northeastern Alberta, went from being a fur-trading post to being the heart of much of Canada's oil production. While advocates of tar sand recovery cited job creation and lower oil prices to justify the endeavor, critics noted the high environmental costs locally—namely, clear-cutting of pristine boreal forests and water contamination—and the risk of additional fossil fuel investments in the face of climate change.