World AIDS Day, observed on 1 December every year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Government and health officials, non-governmental organizations and individuals around the world observe the day, often with education on AIDS prevention and control.
-Half of the country is covered with forests, which should come as no surprise considering one-tenth of the world’s forests are here.
-The highest mountain in Canada is Mount Logan, Yukon Territory, 5959 meters (19,551 feet).
-Wasaga beach is the longest fresh water beach in the world.
-Alert, in Nunavut Territory, is the northernmost permanent settlement in the world.
-The highest waterfall in Canada is Della Falls, British Columbia, 440 meters high (1444 feet).
-The loudest sound in history was recorded in July 1883 when a volcano on the tiny Indian Ocean island of Krakatau erupted. The explosion was heard 3,000 miles away in Madagascar. Ash clouds shot 25 miles into the sky. The eruption also created giant tsunami, sea waves, that reached heights of 175 feet, speeding across the ocean at 400 miles an hour and destroyed over 300 towns.
-Ball lightning can sometimes float through a glass window without breaking it; other times the glass is smashed to pieces!
-Have you ever heard the expression, “knock your socks off”? If you are struck by lightning, your socks and shoes may be knocked off. Rapid evaporation and expansion of sweat on your skin blows your clothes off. You may not be hurt if the current does not enter your body.
It’s illegal to skinny dip in Bancroft, Ont.
Travel writer Melanie Chambers highlighted this unusual bylaw ban, and it may well still be on the books.
It was illegal for non-dark soft drinks to contain caffeine
Sprite, Mountain Dew and other non-dark soft drinks couldn’t contain caffeine, but that all changed in March 2010 with the advent of ‘energy drinks’ like Redbull. Now you can have caffeine in soft drinks like orange and grape soda, however there is a limit, and it’s still lower than colas
Keep out of the water in Toronto Harbour
According to the Toronto Port Authority, you can’t swim anywhere in the harbour that hasn’t been designated a swimming area by the City of Toronto. Then again, who would want to? We’re pretty sure three-eyed fish have been spotted in those waters