• United States!

    United States: Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Go Now!

    United States
    Explore the vast openness and wildlife found roaming in the western United States, including Theodore Roosevelt National Park (pictured) in North Dakota. Begin Your Journey!

  • Trinidad & Tobago!

    Trinidad & Tobago: Beautiful Coastline. Go Now!

    Trinidad & Tobago
    These Caribbean islands mix Indian, African, and European cultures alongside beautiful beaches. Go Now!

  • St. Kitts & Nevis!

    St. Kitts & Nevis: Nevis Island. Go Now!

    St. Kitts & Nevis
    This island nation mixes aspects of European, African, and Caribbean culture... not to mention incredible beaches. Go Now!

  • Honduras!

    Honduras: Children. Go Now!

    Honduras
    The original banana republic, Honduras has made a name for itself with the banana trade; however foreign influences have also vastly altered the culture. Go Now!

  • Mexico!

    Mexico: Sunrise over the mountains in Puerto Vallarta. Go Now!

    Mexico
    Although many people just go for the beaches, Mexico offers impressive mountain vistas (pictured in Puerto Vallarta), great food, and historic ruins that compete with the best in the world. Begin Your Journey!

  • Barbados!

    Barbados: Pier on the beach. Go Now!

    Barbados
    This Caribbean island has hints of British culture, but is wholly Caribbean as well. Explore Barbados!

Geography, Weather, & Wildlife of Canada

Geography

Canadian Geography - Rockies
Banff National Park

Canada covers the northern part of North America and stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean and in the north borders the Arctic Circle. Canada's only land neighbor is the United States of America, which borders it in the south from ocean to ocean and again in the northwest, where it borders the U.S. state of Alaska. Just off of Canada's northeast coast is Greenland, which is a territory of Denmark.

Canada is a fairly diverse country as it consists of tall mountains, huge lakes, flatlands, and rocky coastline. Beginning in Canada's west, a couple mountain chains runs north and south; these chains include the Rocky Mountains, and the Coast Mountains. Also off this coast are a number of islands, including the large Vancouver Island. Moving east, there is a large plain from the Rocky Mountains, slowly lowering in elevation until they reach the Arctic Ocean in the north, the Hudson Bay in the northeast, and the Great Lakes in the southeast. Around the large Hudson Bay there is a large depression, while to the east of the bay the elevation slowly rises up until it reaches mountains in the far east, including a part of the Appalachian Mountain chain and rocky coastline in Labrador, Newfoundland, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. In Canada's north are a number of rocky islands and in the south is where most of the population lives as the weather is much more hospitable.

Weather

Canadian Geography - Forest
Vancouver

The colder months in Canada offer few sunlight hours as much of the country is covered in snow and ice. During this period average temperatures vary from 35° F (3° C) in Vancouver to -18° F (-28° C) in Yellowknife.

The fall (autumn) in Canada can be unpredictable as the country offers breathtaking fall foliage (especially in Quebec), and some of the animals from the north, like the polar bears travel further south and can be seen in a number of locations, like Churchill, Manitoba. The spring is similar in temperatures and unpredictability, but this season gets more rain.

For most people, summer is the best time to visit much of the country. The summer also offers great animal sightings in the wilderness, whale watching on the coasts, and the most pleasant temperatures to meander around the cities. During this period average temperatures vary from 72° F (22° C) in Toronto to 46° F (8° C) in Iqaluit.

Wildlife

Canadian Wildlife - Goose
Canadian Goose

As a northern country Canada's wildlife is very limited in scope, but its uniqueness and preservation of those animals make the wildlife more impressive than many other places. Most of the best known animals in Canada are mammals and birds. Among the large mammals are buffalo, caribou, grizzly and polar bears, mountain lions (cougar/puma), deer, and more. There are also dozens of mid-sized and small mammals including badgers, beavers, hares, coyotes, fox, raccoons, skunks, mice, and squirrels. Just off the coasts are water mammals including whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

Canadian Wildlife - Racoon
Racoon

The sea life in Canada is also impressive, mostly due to their long ocean border. Although there are many fresh water fish in lakes and rivers, such as perch, Canada is more well known for their saltwater animals including salmon, lobster, and other fish and shellfish.

The bird life is also fairly diverse as there are many water fowls and forested birds. The most common among these are robins, blue jays, chickadees, geese, loons, and owls. Many of these birds and others migrate to and from Canada so few stay the winter. Due to the northerly climate and weather there are very few reptiles or amphibians in Canada, although they do have their share of insects in the summer months.

This page was last updated: March, 2013