Government of Canada map shows the country's extreme minimum temperature zones

Friday, October 24, 2014, 7:20 PM - A map featuring the country's coldest temperatures has gone viral on the content-sharing site Imgur. One look at the data and it's clear why most Canadians live in southern portions of the country.

The map outlines the country's 'extreme minimum temperature zones- -- i.e., the lowest average temperature forecasted in different regions over the course of the year.

It appears on the Government's Plant Hardiness Site and it helps provide information on what plants can grow where.

RELATED: Check out our weather maps

Here at The Weather Network, we're more interested in the temperature variations seen across the country.

Northern portions of the country -- like Nunavut and the Yukon -- can see lows between -56.7 and -51.1 degrees Celsius. That's a far cry from Vancouver Island, where lows can hover around the freezing mark.

Hat tip: The Huffington Post