World's longest trail

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In September 2000, water from the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific oceans was poured into a fountain in the National Capital Region. The symbolic merging marked the official opening of the Trans Canada Trail—the world's longest recreational trail.

The idea of a Canadian trail for walkers, cyclists, horseback riders, skiers and snowmobilers was born in 1992, Canada's 125th year. A network of new trails—making its way along abandoned railway lines, through Crown lands and over purchased private land—was linked with existing trails. Trail councils champion the cause of the trail in their own region, and maintain it through 1.5 million volunteers.

The complete trail traces a 16,110-kilometre, jagged line on the face of the country, linking such communities as Truro, Tignish, Tweed, Trail and Tuktoyaktuk. The Confederation Bridge carries it over to Prince Edward Island, and in Saskatchewan a one-kilometre section of the trail honours the 190 seniors in that province who have lived in three centuries.