Topic
Geography
The regions, provinces and territories, and their capitals.
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All 42 questions, with answers
Open a question to see its answer, why, and the official page it comes from.
1.
How large is Canada compared with other countries?
- AIt is the largest country on earth
- BIt is the second largest country on earthAnswer
- CIt is the third largest country on earth
- DIt is the fifth largest country on earth
Why: Canada covers 10 million square kilometres.
2.
Which three oceans line Canada’s frontiers?
- AThe Pacific, the Atlantic and the Indian
- BThe Atlantic, the Arctic and the Southern
- CThe Pacific, the Atlantic and the ArcticAnswer
- DThe Pacific, the Arctic and the Indian
Why: The Pacific lies to the west, the Atlantic to the east and the Arctic to the north; the Canada–United States boundary runs along the south.
3.
How many provinces and territories does Canada have?
- ATen provinces and three territoriesAnswer
- BTwelve provinces and two territories
- CNine provinces and four territories
- DThirteen provinces and no territories
Why: Each province and territory has its own capital city.
4.
What are the five regions of Canada?
- AThe East, the West, the North, the South and the Centre
- BThe Atlantic Provinces, Central Canada, the Prairie Provinces, the West Coast and the Northern TerritoriesAnswer
- CThe Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies and British Columbia
- DThe Arctic, the Shield, the Lowlands, the Plains and the Cordillera
Why: These are the five distinct regions the guide identifies.
5.
What is the capital of Canada?
- AToronto
- BMontreal
- COttawaAnswer
- DQuébec City
Why: Ottawa, on the Ottawa River, was chosen as the capital in 1857 by Queen Victoria.
6.
What is the capital of Ontario?
- AOttawa
- BTorontoAnswer
- CHamilton
- DKingston
Why: Toronto is the capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. Ottawa is in Ontario, but it is the capital of the country, not of the province.
7.
What is the capital of British Columbia?
- AVancouver
- BKelowna
- CVictoriaAnswer
- DWhistler
Why: Victoria is the capital and the headquarters of the navy’s Pacific fleet. Vancouver is the largest city and busiest port.
8.
Which provinces are referred to as the Atlantic Provinces?
- AQuebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan
- BNewfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New BrunswickAnswer
- CNova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec
- DNunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon
Why: Their capitals are St. John’s, Charlottetown, Halifax and Fredericton.
9.
Which province is known as the birthplace of Confederation?
- APrince Edward IslandAnswer
- BNova Scotia
- COntario
- DQuebec
Why: P.E.I. is also the smallest province, known for its beaches, red soil and potatoes, and is connected to the mainland by the Confederation Bridge.
10.
Where are the world’s highest tides?
- AThe Strait of Georgia
- BThe Gulf of St. Lawrence
- CHudson Bay
- DThe Bay of Fundy, in Nova ScotiaAnswer
Why: Nova Scotia is the most populous Atlantic province, and its capital Halifax is Canada’s largest east coast port.
11.
Which is the only officially bilingual province?
- AQuebec
- BNew BrunswickAnswer
- COntario
- DManitoba
Why: About one-third of New Brunswick’s population lives and works in French.
12.
Which is the largest freshwater lake in the world?
- ALake Huron
- BLake Ontario
- CLake SuperiorAnswer
- DLake Erie
Why: There are five Great Lakes between Ontario and the United States: Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan (in the U.S.A.) and Superior.
13.
Which province is Canada’s largest producer of hydro-electricity?
- ABritish Columbia
- BAlberta
- COntario
- DQuebecAnswer
Why: Quebec’s huge supply of fresh water has made it Canada’s largest producer of hydro-electricity, and its main producer of pulp and paper.
14.
Which province is the largest producer of oil and gas?
- AAlbertaAnswer
- BSaskatchewan
- CNewfoundland and Labrador
- DManitoba
Why: Alberta is also the most populous Prairie province and has five national parks, including Banff, established in 1885.
15.
Which province has 40% of the arable land in Canada?
- AManitoba
- BOntario
- CSaskatchewanAnswer
- DAlberta
Why: Saskatchewan was once known as the “breadbasket of the world”. Regina, its capital, is home to the RCMP training academy.
16.
What does Nunavut mean, and when was it established?
- A“The people”, established in 1949
- B“Our land”, established in 1999Answer
- C“Village”, established in 1905
- D“The north”, established in 1870
Why: Nunavut was created from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories. Its capital is Iqaluit, about 85% of the population is Inuit, and Inuktitut is an official language there.
17.
Where is Mount Logan, the highest mountain in Canada?
- AIn Alberta
- BIn British Columbia
- CIn the YukonAnswer
- DIn the Northwest Territories
Why: The Yukon also holds the record for the coldest temperature ever recorded in Canada.
18.
More than half the people in Canada live near the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River.
- ATrueAnswer
- BFalse
Why: This is Central Canada — southern Quebec and Ontario — the industrial and manufacturing heartland.
19.
Why is the North often called the “Land of the Midnight Sun”?
- ABecause at the height of summer daylight can last up to 24 hoursAnswer
- BBecause the sun never sets there at any time of year
- CBecause of the northern lights
- DBecause the region is closest to the equator
Why: In winter the sun disappears and darkness sets in for three months. Much of the North is tundra, where the soil is permanently frozen.
20.
Which is Canada’s largest and busiest port?
- AThe Port of Halifax
- BThe Port of Montreal
- CThe Port of VancouverAnswer
- DThe Port of Saint John
Why: The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s gateway to the Asia-Pacific. Halifax is Canada’s largest east coast port.
21.
What is the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador?
- AHalifax
- BSt. John’sAnswer
- CCharlottetown
- DFredericton
Why: The other three are also Atlantic capitals: Halifax for Nova Scotia, Charlottetown for Prince Edward Island and Fredericton for New Brunswick.
22.
What is the capital of Nova Scotia?
- AFredericton
- BCharlottetown
- CSt. John’s
- DHalifaxAnswer
Why: Halifax is Canada’s largest east coast port — deep-water and ice-free — and home to Canada’s largest naval base.
23.
What is the capital of Manitoba?
- AWinnipegAnswer
- BRegina
- CEdmonton
- DSaskatoon
Why: Regina is the capital of Saskatchewan and Edmonton of Alberta. Saskatoon is Saskatchewan’s largest city, but not its capital.
24.
What is the capital of Alberta?
- ACalgary
- BWinnipeg
- CEdmontonAnswer
- DRegina
Why: Calgary is in Alberta but is not its capital. Alberta is the most populous Prairie province.
25.
What is the capital of Nunavut?
- AYellowknife
- BWhitehorse
- CIqaluitAnswer
- DHalifax
Why: Yellowknife is the capital of the Northwest Territories and Whitehorse of the Yukon. Iqaluit was formerly called Frobisher Bay.
26.
Which province is the most easterly point in North America and has its own time zone?
- ANova Scotia
- BNew Brunswick
- CPrince Edward Island
- DNewfoundland and LabradorAnswer
Why: It was the oldest colony of the British Empire, and today offshore oil and gas extraction contributes a substantial part of its economy.
27.
Which is the smallest province, connected to the mainland by the Confederation Bridge?
- APrince Edward IslandAnswer
- BNova Scotia
- CNew Brunswick
- DNewfoundland and Labrador
Why: The bridge is one of the longest continuous multispan bridges in the world. P.E.I. is also known for its beaches, red soil and potatoes, and is the birthplace of Confederation.
28.
Who were the province of Alberta and Lake Louise named after?
- AThe wife of Canada’s first Prime Minister
- BPrincess Louise Caroline Alberta, fourth daughter of Queen VictoriaAnswer
- CA Métis leader of the Red River
- DThe first Lieutenant Governor of the province
Why: Alberta has five national parks, including Banff National Park, established in 1885.
29.
How long is the Mackenzie River, and where does it rank in North America?
- A4,200 kilometres — the longest river system in North America
- B4,200 kilometres — the second-longest river system in North America, after the MississippiAnswer
- C1,800 kilometres — the longest river entirely within Canada
- D700 kilometres — the main river of the Prairies
Why: It drains an area of 1.8 million square kilometres in the Northwest Territories.
30.
How much of Canada’s land mass do the three northern territories cover, and what is their population?
- AOne-third of the land mass, with a population of only 100,000Answer
- BHalf the land mass, with a population of one million
- COne-tenth of the land mass, with a population of 500,000
- DOne-quarter of the land mass, with no permanent population
Why: There are gold, lead, copper, diamond and zinc mines there, and oil and gas deposits are being developed.
31.
Thousands of miners came to the Yukon during the Gold Rush of which decade?
- AThe 1850s
- BThe 1890sAnswer
- CThe 1920s
- DThe 1940s
Why: Mining remains a significant part of the Yukon’s economy. The White Pass and Yukon Railway opened to Whitehorse in 1900.
32.
Which city contains Portage and Main, described as the most famous street intersection in Canada?
- AToronto
- BVancouver
- CMontreal
- DWinnipegAnswer
Why: It is in Winnipeg’s Exchange District. Winnipeg’s French Quarter, St. Boniface, has Western Canada’s largest Francophone community.
33.
Which region of Ontario is known for its vineyards, wines and fruit crops?
- AThe Niagara regionAnswer
- BThe Canadian Shield
- CThe National Capital Region
Why: Ontario farmers also raise dairy and beef cattle, poultry, and vegetable and grain crops. In British Columbia, the Okanagan Valley is known for fruit orchards and wine.
34.
Where are some of the world’s richest deposits of prehistoric fossils and dinosaur finds?
- AThe Bay of Fundy, in Nova Scotia
- BThe Badlands, in AlbertaAnswer
- CThe Okanagan Valley, in British Columbia
Why: The Bay of Fundy is known for the world’s highest tides, and the Okanagan Valley for its fruit orchards and wine industry.
35.
Which capital city is called the “diamond capital of North America”?
- AIqaluit
- BWhitehorse
- CEdmonton
- DYellowknifeAnswer
Why: Yellowknife is the capital of the Northwest Territories. Iqaluit is the capital of Nunavut, Whitehorse of Yukon and Edmonton of Alberta.
36.
In which province is Lucy Maud Montgomery’s much-loved story Anne of Green Gables set?
- ANova Scotia
- BPrince Edward IslandAnswer
- CNew Brunswick
- DNewfoundland and Labrador
Why: It is the story of the adventures of a little red-headed orphan girl. Prince Edward Island is the smallest province and the birthplace of Confederation.
37.
Which city is the principal Francophone Acadian centre of New Brunswick?
- ASaint John
- BFredericton
- CMonctonAnswer
Why: Saint John is the province’s largest city, port and manufacturing centre, and Fredericton is the historic capital. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province.
38.
Which province has the largest French-speaking population outside of Quebec?
- AManitoba
- BNova Scotia
- COntarioAnswer
- DAlberta
Why: Ontario was founded by United Empire Loyalists, and its French-speaking population has a proud history of preserving their language and culture.
39.
Who are the Canadian Rangers?
- APart of the Canadian Forces Reserves (militia), who play a key role in the security and sovereignty of the NorthAnswer
- BThe officers who protect national parks such as Banff
- CThe national police force
Why: Drawing on indigenous knowledge and experience, the Rangers travel by snowmobile in the winter and keep the flag flying in Canada’s Arctic. The national police force is the RCMP.
40.
How does Nunavut’s Legislative Assembly choose a premier and ministers?
- ABy consensusAnswer
- BThey are appointed by the Prime Minister
- CBy a vote of all the people of Canada
Why: Nunavut, meaning “our land” in Inuktitut, was established in 1999 from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories. Inuktitut is an official language and the first language in schools.
41.
Who was Mount Logan, the highest mountain in Canada, named in honour of?
- ASir William Logan, a world-famous geologist who founded the Geological Survey of CanadaAnswer
- BAn English explorer who penetrated the uncharted Arctic
- CThe first Prime Minister of Canada
Why: Logan was born in Montreal in 1798 to Scottish immigrant parents and is considered one of Canada’s greatest scientists. The English explorer was Martin Frobisher, after whom Iqaluit was formerly named Frobisher Bay.
42.
Which city is home to the training academy of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police?
- AOttawa
- BSaskatoon
- CWinnipeg
- DReginaAnswer
Why: Regina is the capital of Saskatchewan. Saskatoon, the largest city, is the headquarters of the mining industry.