Canada's 4 corners: See the country's most extreme tourist spots (location-wise)
Check out some of Canada's most extreme tourist attractions, location-wise.
So you’re thinking of exploring Canada.
If you’re a nature lover, we have beautiful scenery as far as the eye can see, some of which is nestled in our 37 national parks.
But these aren't the only locations Park’s Canada oversees. Its responsibilities include more than 200 historic sites, parks, and conservation areas. Here's a look at its four corners, i.e., its most northern, eastern, western, and southern points:
North: Quttinirpaaq National Park (Nunavut)
Quttinirpaaq National Park on Ellesmere Island is Canada’s northernmost protected area. Located in the Arctic wilderness, its name means “top of the world” in Inuktitut, and is the second most northerly park on Earth, after Northeast Greenland National Park.
Its extreme latitude means the sun doesn’t set for nearly five months in the summer, while winter sees 24-hour darkness from November to February.
The location means it isn't a highly-frequented area, either, with around 50 visitors annually.
East: Cape Spear Lighthouse historic site(Newfoundland and Labrador)
The historic Cape Spear Lighthouse is the oldest surviving lighthouse in the province, located at a park that represents the easternmost point of North America. Its geographic location means Cape Spear is the first place in North America to greet the sunrise each day.
Cape Spear lighthouse (KristaKals/Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
At the historic site, you can see whales playing in the water, take in iceberg alley, and learn about the isolation and harsh conditions a lighthouse-keeping family would have experienced in the 1800s.
South: Point Pelee National Park (Ontario)
Point Pelee National Park is a crucial habitat for migratory birds and butterflies.
The site offers all-season camping, and offers exploration opportunities for paddlers, hikers, and cyclers.
Interestingly, Middle Island lies at a more southerly latitude than parts of Northern California.
West: Kluane National Park (Yukon)
Located in the Yukon, Kluane National Park is home to breathtaking wilderness, as well as the country’s highest peak, Mount Logan, which stands at 5,959 metres above sea level.
And that's not all: Seventeen of the country's 20 tallest mountains reside within the park borders.
Kluane is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for its glaciers, grizzly bears, and hiking trails.
Mount Logan. (File photo/Getty Images via Canva Pro)