11 Facts about Canada

As I wrote earlier: it is helpful to know a handful of facts about your country before you travel. Here I've assembled a collection of 11 facts about my country: Canada.

1. Canada is the second largest country in the world (9,971,000 square kilometres), second to Russia.
2. Canada has the fourth lowest population density in the world – 3 people per square kilometre
3. Canada has the ninth biggest economy of the world
4. According to the United Nations Human Development Index, Canada has the highest quality of life in the world.
5. Vancouver, Canada is tied with Zurich, Switzerland for the highest quality of life of any city in the world.
6. Contrary to popular opinion, Canada does not own the North Pole. In fact, the North Pole is not owned by any country.
7. Canada is the world's eighth largest trading nation.
8. Canada is in the top five producers of the world's natural gas, copper, zinc, nickel, aluminum, and gold.
9. Canada is the fifth largest energy producer.
10. Canada is the home of many great inventions, including: basketball, the electric light bulb, the electric range, the electron microscope, standard time, the television, the telephone, and the zipper.
11. Canada has the world's highest post secondary education enrolment.