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Wonders of Canada

Wapta Falls
Wapta Falls./ Keith Young, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

WorldBlue  Highlights

The second-largest country in the world (by size) has plenty of wonders to offer.

Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories.

Provinces of Canada

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan

Territories of Canada

  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon

Map with the described wonders of Canada

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WorldViolet Top 25 wonders of Canada

Geological wonders of Canada

Niagara Falls

Ontario (and also USA)

The most popular waterfall in the world is 51 meters high and 1203 meters wide. The shape of the waterfall and its proportions have become somewhat synonymous with the word “waterfall”.

Niagara Falls in Canada / United States
Niagara Falls in Canada / United States / Photo by IDuke, Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA-2.5
Pingualuit Crater (Chubb Crater)

Quebec

Well-pronounced and well-preserved impact crater, 3.44 km in diameter. Formed some 1.4 million years ago, in the Pleistocene. The rims of the crater rise 160 m above the tundra. The depth of the crater is 400 m, and it is partly filled with 267 m deep Pingualuit lake. Lake water is one of the purest in the world.

Pingualuit crater, Canada
Pingualuit crater / NASA, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Virginia Falls (Naili Cho)

Northwest Territories

Last primeval large waterfall in North America. Here the powerful South Nahanni falls 90 meters, the width of the falls reaches 259 m. Some 120 m tall spire of rock – Mason’s Rock – stands in the middle of the falls.

Virginia Falls, Canada
Virginia Falls / Paul Gierszewski, Wikimedia Commons / public domain
Mount Thor (Qaisualuk)

Nunavut

Granite cliffs with the possibly highest vertical drop on Earth – 1250 meters high, average angle of 105 degrees.

Helmcken Falls

British Columbia

Beautiful, powerful waterfall with a 141 m high vertical plunge. Average width – 15 meters.

Helmcken Falls - lower cascade is seen
Helmcken Falls – lower cascade is seen / Kantokano, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
South Nahanni Canyons

Northwest Territories

Extremely impressive canyons were named consequently – First, Second, Third, and Fourth Canyon. A haunted place with true stories about the mysterious deaths of gold prospectors.

Nahanni Second Canyon, the Gate
Nahanni Second Canyon, the Gate / Gierszep, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Rabbitkettle Tufa Mounds

Northwest Territories

Two tufa and travertine mounds, the largest is 27 m high and 79 m wide. These mounds have been formed by warm thermal springs (21°C) and consist of numerous smaller rimstone pools.

Rabbitkettle Tufa Mounds from above
Rabbitkettle Tufa Mounds from above./ Gharv, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Clearwater Lakes

Quebec

A pair of large meteorite craters – two connected lakes. Diameter of lakes – 26 and 36 km, both created in the Permian (290 million years ago). The larger lake has a ring-shaped circle of islands in the centre.

Spotted Lake (Kliluk, Khiluk Lake)

British Columbia

A weird saline lake that contains various minerals. In the summer much of it evaporates, leaving multiple smaller basins – each in its own color.

Spotted Lake (Kliluk)
Spotted Lake (Kliluk)./ Kyle Pearce, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Athabasca Sand Dunes

Saskatchewan

Unique geophysical feature – largest inland sand dune massif in the world, 100 kilometers long. Sand dunes reach up to 300 meters in height. Contains 9 endemic plant species which is unique for a location that is far north.

Athabasca Sand Dunes
Athabasca Sand Dunes. / Tim Beckett, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Moraine Lake

Alberta

One of the most iconic scenic spots in the world, an unusually blue-colored lake with surrounding extremely beautiful mountains mirrored in it.

Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, Canada
Moraine Lake in Banff National Park / Satoru Kikuchi, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Takakkaw Falls

British Columbia

These are very beautiful falls with a total height of 380 meters and the highest drop at 260 meters.

Takakkaw Falls, Canada
Takakkaw Falls / , Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Mont Saint-Hilaire

Quebec

414 m tall mountain with one of the last stands of primeval forest in Saint-Lawrence valley. Mountain has very high mineral diversity, here have been found 366 minerals, and many are unique or near unique to this site. Here was discovered poudretteite – seven pieces of this beautiful gemstone have been found on this mountain. A legendary site, known also thanks to frequent observations of UFOs.

Banff Springs

Alberta

Nine sulfurous thermal springs with species of endemic freshwater snail Physella johnsoni.

Liard River Hot Springs

British Columbia

The hot water (42 – 52 °C) of these powerful springs helps to sustain the unusually rich biotope with many southern species that are unusual for this harsh northern area.

Big Rock (Okotoks Erratic)

Alberta

Enormous glacial erratic weighing 15,000 tons, one of the largest known glacial erratics in the world.

Okotoks Big Rock, Canada
Okotoks Big Rock / , Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Biological wonders of Canada

Dinosaur Provincial Park

Alberta

Badlands in Red Deer River are world famous due to extremely rich finds of fossils, including more than 500 specimens of dinosaurs. Here have been found fossils of more than 500 extinct species of life. An important site also due to biodiversity values, including several species of cactus.

Dinosaur Provincial Park
Dinosaur Provincial Park./ Suzanne Schroeter, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Archaeological wonders of Canada

L’Anse aux Meadows

Newfoundland and Labrador

Remnants of the only known village of pre-Colombian Europeans in America. Possibly established by the Norse around 1003. Found remains of eight buildings. The site has traces of additional five-six occupation periods by native people.

L’Anse aux Meadows, reconstruction.
L’Anse aux Meadows, reconstruction./ Eric Titcombe, Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Architecture wonders and sites of legends

CN Tower

Ontario

Communication and observation tower, 553.3 meters tall. This tower was the tallest free-standing structure in the world from 1975 to 2007, it is a popular visitor attraction.

CN Tower in Toronto
CN Tower in Toronto./ Matthew, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Old Quebec

Quebec

The former center of French power in North America. This city developed in the 18th century. One of the most authentic old towns in North America, once enclosed by a defense wall. Two gates and a major part of the defensive wall still exist.

Old Quebec
Old Quebec. / Artur Staszewski, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Headless Man Valley in Nahanni National Park

British Columbia

Site of legends where several gold seekers died in mysterious conditions in the early 20th century – reportedly, their heads were ripped off. Some link these attacks to the mysterious people called Naha – but this is little likely. Here are reported other cryptids as well, e.g. nuk-luk – man-like hominid and waheela – giant wolves that have a similarity to bears.

Nahanni Valley, Canada. Mysterious events have taken place here
Nahanni Valley, Canada. Mysterious events have taken place here / Alison and Fil, / CC BY 2.0
Montreal Olympic Stadium

Quebec

World’s tallest slanted structure and world’s tallest stadium, an iconic and visionary building constructed in 1976.

Montreal Olympic Stadium
Montreal Olympic Stadium./ Nic Redhead, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Le Château Frontenac

Quebec

Possibly the most impressive “château” style hotel in the world, constructed in 1893. The most photographed hotel in the world.

Château Frontenac, Quebec
Château Frontenac, Quebec / , Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Cabbagetown

Ontario

The largest Victorian housing area in North America, constructed in the 1840ies. This neighborhood of Toronto has a rich history in the Canadian art scene.

Ninstints (SGang Gwaay Llnaagay)

British Columbia

The largest collection of Haida totem poles in existence, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Totem poles are located in their original location, many are considered to be extremely important works of art. Totem poles slowly disintegrate and get overwhelmed by rainforests and thus are on the border between contemporary and archaeological monuments.

Ninstints (SGang Gwaay Llnaagay)
Ninstints (SGang Gwaay Llnaagay)./ Christine Rondeau, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

WorldYellow Recommended books

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Canada


DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Canada will lead you straight to the best attractions this country has to offer, from the rich historical and cultural treasures of its cities to the stunning scenery of its landscapes and coastlines. Visit the Citadelle of Quebec, eat world-class cuisine in Vancouver, take in the beauty of Niagara Falls, and go whale watching on the coasts.

Fodor’s Montreal and Quebec City


Written by local experts, Fodor’s travel guides have been offering advice and professionally vetted recommendations for all tastes and budgets for 80 years.

Montréal and Québec City are treasured destinations for American travelers: a corner of France in North America. This guide, with rich color photographs throughout, captures the French-speaking cities’ universal appeal, from sidewalk cafés and Jewish delis to winter sports and traditional French cuisine.


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