What Makes Canada Cool?
The Inuit gave us the world's first sunglasses

Photo © Canadian Museum of Civilization, catalogue no. cat no. IX-C-2846, image no. S89-1832-CD94-686-011.
 Gatineau, Quebec / Ottawa, Ontario - We can credit the Inuit of the Arctic for the world's first sunglasses. Often refered to as snow goggles, they were created from ivory with small slits see through, designed to protect the eyes from snowblindness caused by the bright spring sunlight. This example, an artifact of the Thule people (pre-historic Inuit), was crafted from walrus ivory and dates back to about 1200 AD. It was found at an archaeological site on the south coast of Ganon Island in the eastern high Arctic. It's now in the collection of the Canadian Museum of Civilization. It is not on permanent display.

Where: The Canadian Museum of Civilization is located in Gatineau, Quebec, on the banks of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Parliament Hill. The museum is within walking distance of downtown Ottawa.

More cool facts about Ottawa: Skate on the world's largest rink I check out the giant spider I Diana, Lonely Boy, Put Your Head on my Shoulder are just a few of the more than 900 songs written by Ottawa-born Paul Anka I Watch for well-known Senators fan and 'Friend' - Ottawa native Matthew Perry. Canada once allowed a single room in this city to become part of another country I the first sunglasses I

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