Canada’s eight priceless wonders

The Seven Wonders of the World are old news to Canadians, who recently voted on Canada’s own seven wonders (and in doing so ended up with eight), recognizing our country’s majestic beauty and achievement in engineering.

According to the 2006 Priceless Index, a MasterCard Canada study that tracks what Canadians find priceless about their country, the top three wonders in Canada have one thing in common: they’re not for people who have a fear of heights as Canadians chose Niagara Falls as Canada’s top wonder, followed by the Rocky Mountains and the CN Tower.

Canada’s top wonders:
Niagara Falls (51 per cent) – The magnificent Niagara Falls are located on the border between Canada and the United States. With more 168,000 cubic metres (six million cubic feet) of water falling over the crestline every minute, it is the most powerful waterfall in North America and one of Canada’s biggest tourist attractions.

The Rocky Mountains (45 per cent) – The mighty Canadian Rockies, towering over the plains of Alberta and British Columbia, are rich in wildlife and a host of muntain adventures year round.

CN Tower (29 per cent) – An architectural wonder, Toronto’s CN Tower, at 553.33 metres (1,815 ft., 5 inches), is the tallest building on land in the world. Offering a spectacular view from its three observation decks, the CN Tower attracts millions of visitors annually.

The Great Lakes (14 per cent) – The Great Lakes are the largest group of fresh water lakes on Earth, comprising one-fifth of the world’s fresh surface water. The vitality of tourism and local economies critically depends on the health of this significant eco-system.

The St. Lawrence Seaway (5 per cent) – Encompassing the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, the Saint Lawrence Seaway is a vital transportation system of canals that permits ocean-going vessels to move goods between the heartland of North America and international markets.

Bay of Fundy (5 per cent) – Located on the Atlantic coast between New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the state of Maine, the phenomenal Bay of Fundy is known for having the highest tides in the world.

The Arctic (5 per cent) – Comprising the most northern parts of Canada, the Canadian Arctic is close to the Earth’s North Pole. Stunningly beautiful, the Canadian Arctic is home to unique and diverse scenery, wildlife, flora, and geology.

Quebec’s Percé Rock (5 per cent) – Percé Rock (French rocher Percé, or “pierced rock”) is one of the largest and most spectacular natural arches in the world. The massive limestone stack (433 m/1420 ft long) rises sheer from the Gulf of St. Lawrence just off the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec near the village of Percé. The rock gets its name from a large 15-metre (50 ft) arch near its seaward end.

“From coast to coast, Canada is an exceptionally diverse, rich and beautiful country,” says Jennifer Reed, Vice President, Public Affairs, MasterCard Canada. “Canadians are proud of so many of our natural treasures, it was impossible to narrow it down to only seven Priceless Wonders of Canada.”

The results of the 2006 Priceless Index are summarized visually in MasterCard’s Priceless Map of Canada, highlighting the places and landmarks Canadians find most priceless. To download a copy please visit www.mastercard.ca/pricelessmap.