Canada was named one of the most beautiful countries in the world (and we're in good company)

If you've ever looked out over Banff's turquoise lakes or watched the northern lights dance across the Yukon sky, you already know — Canada is a knockout. Now, we have a fresh global travel ranking to prove it.

Condé Nast Traveler just released its annual list of the 40 most beautiful countries in the world, and for another year, Canada made the cut, placing the Great White North firmly in the ranks of some of the most breathtaking spots on Earth.

According to the travel publication, the second-largest country on the planet is home to "almost too many spectacular sites to pick favourites," although it highlighted a few must-see destinations.

Among them is the remote and breathtaking Torngat Mountains National Park in Labrador, which CN Traveler called "a land of polar bears and caribou, glaciers and fjords, and a stretch of mountains you're not likely to ever forget."

The publication also gave a nod to Canada's impressive 48 national parks and national park reserves, name-dropping Alberta's serene Banff National Park and the extreme wilderness of Kluane National Park in the Yukon.

Of course, our neighbours to the south made the cut too. CN Traveler highlighted the U.S.'s "natural and manmade beauty," from Hawaii's dramatic Na'Pali Coast to the icy wilderness of Denali National Park in Alaska. And naturally, the Grand Canyon also got a mention.

Canada isn't the only stunner on the list — in fact, we're in extremely good company. This year's other picks include some of the most visually striking places on the globe, from tropical getaways to rugged landscapes. Here's the full lineup:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chile
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Ecuador
• France
• Greece
• Iceland
• India
• Indonesia
• Italy
• Japan
• Kenya
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Namibia
• Nepal
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Panama
• Peru
• Philippines
• Portugal
• South Africa
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Switzerland
• Tanzania
• Thailand
• Turkey
• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Venezuela
• Vietnam

From Iceland's dramatic glaciers to Tanzania's Serengeti plains, it's safe to say Canada is in some seriously good company.

So, if you've been looking for an excuse to explore your own backyard, consider this your sign. Whether it's hiking in the Rockies, road-tripping through the Maritimes or spotting wildlife in the Great Bear Rainforest, you don't have to leave the country to experience world-class natural beauty.

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