Mother Nature has been kind to Canada and blessed this North American nation with UNESCO-worthy national parks, soaring mountain ranges, shimmering lakes and celestial skyscapes. But with great beauty, comes great responsibility, and Canada also holds the accolades of the world’s longest coastline (151,600 miles) and largest country in the Western Hemisphere (the UK could fit into it 40 times). This immense size can seem daunting, and however willing you are to explore, you’ll need to decide on a starting point. So, we’ve compiled a list of unmissable landscapes in Canada to help you figure out where to begin.
The Canadian Rockies
The Rockies’ reputation proceeds them and the iconic mountain range extends some 3,000 miles from Canada to New Mexico in the Southwest of the US. Straddling the border between British Columbia and Alberta, the saw-tooth mountains of the Canadian section inspire intrepid adventurers and avid skiers, who come to conquer the powdery slopes. As if this region wasn’t already magnificent enough, you’ll also find four of Canada’s 38 national parks nearby (Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay). And if you’re not so enamoured by salopettes and ski boots, hop aboard the Rocky Mountaineer Train, or traverse the many hiking trails to witness one of the most striking landscapes in Canada.
The Northern Lights
Canada may not be the first destination that comes to mind when chasing the elusive aurora borealis (we’re looking at you Scandinavia and Iceland); yet the majority of the country’s northern region actually sits beneath the Northern Hemisphere’s Aurora Oval. This means it’s perfectly placed for catching sight of some night-sky activity and, with a pinch of good luck, you could see the natural phenomenon painting the heavens in hues of violet, emerald and turquoise. You won’t be restricted by the time of year you visit either, as during the summer months (July to September), Torngat National Park is the place to be, while come winter (especially February and March), Churchill and Manitoba play host to the elusive Northern Lights.
Niagara Falls
It’s clear by now that the landscapes in Canada aim to wow, and Niagara Falls is no exception. Spanning the border between Ontario and New York, the trio of thundering cascades are the world’s second largest in terms of water volume. This equals a staggering one million bathtubs of water plummeting over the edge each second, and what the falls lack in height, they more than make up for in power. The largest of the three is Horseshoe Falls and you can ‘explore the roar’ from above by helicopter, or get up close and personal with a guided tour that takes you to an observation deck at the base.
Moraine Lake, Alberta
Canada is a land of lakes. So much so, that it boasts more than any other country in the world (879,800 lakes) and more than all other countries combined. If this feels hard to wrap your head around, we’d recommend setting your sights on just one to begin with, and Moraine Lake strikes the perfect balance between quintessential Canadian lake and remotely-located attraction. Found in Banff National Park, the glacially-fed lake is a startling teal colour and encircled by towering snow-dusted peaks. Its beauty and vibrance is almost surreal; it has to be seen to be believed.
Tablelands, Newfoundland
Last up on our list of unmissable landscapes in Canada is another otherworldly landscape. Situated in Canada’s most easterly province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Tablelands was formed by 500 million years of tectonic activity and mountain erosion. The result? Exposed rock from the Earth’s mantle (the layer between the core and crust) that has oxidised into a rusty, ochre hue. This type of rock is so unusual that plants can’t even grow here and the whole region is a geologist’s dream. See the desolate orange phenomenon up close by hiking the Tablelands Trail, or view it from a distance at the panoramic lookout above Norris Point in Gros Morne National Park.
Written by Luisa Watts