Which country has the longest coastline?
Canada has the longest coastline in the world, at about 243,000 kilometers including its many islands. That is more than six times the distance around the equator.
Canada borders three oceans: the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Arctic. Its northern Arctic Archipelago is made up of thousands of islands with jagged, winding shores, which adds enormously to the total. Much of this coastline is remote and frozen for most of the year.
Measuring a coastline is surprisingly difficult. The more closely you measure, following every bay and rock, the longer the coastline becomes. This puzzle is known as the coastline paradox. Different sources may give different figures, but Canada comes first in almost every ranking.
Other long coastlines
Countries with many islands also have long coastlines. Norway, with its deep fjords and islands, Indonesia, Russia and the Philippines are usually ranked among the top countries. Some figures place Norway second when every fjord and island is measured in detail.
Did You Know?
If you walked Canada's coastline at 20 kilometers a day, it would take you more than 33 years to finish.