Alberta is a province in Western Canada and one of the three prairie provinces. It is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Territories to the north, and the U.S. state of Montana to the south. Together with Saskatchewan, it is one of only two landlocked provinces in the country. The province is the fourth-largest in Canada by area, covering 661,848 square kilometres, and the fourth-most populous, with around 4.26 million residents.
Geography
Alberta stretches 1,223 kilometres from north to south and 660 kilometres from east to west at its widest point. The eastern half lies on the Great Plains, while the western edge runs along the Rocky Mountains. Most of the province’s borders follow straight lines of latitude and longitude, with the southern boundary set by the 49th parallel and the northern by the 60th. The western boundary with British Columbia follows the 120th meridian and then the Continental Divide along the peaks of the Rockies.
The highest point in the province is the summit of Mount Columbia at 3,747 metres, located in the Rockies along the southwestern border. The lowest is the Slave River in Wood Buffalo National Park, sitting at just 152 metres. The province has plenty of water apart from the semi-arid steppe in the southeast, with numerous rivers and lakes used for swimming, fishing, and other water sports. Three lakes stand out for their size: Lake Athabasca, which crosses into Saskatchewan, Lesser Slave Lake, and Lake Claire in Wood Buffalo National Park. The Athabasca River, the longest in the province, flows 1,538 kilometres from the Columbia Icefield to Lake Athabasca.
Climate
Alberta has a continental climate, but the dry air means temperatures can swing quickly between extremes. The west of the province sees milder conditions thanks to the occasional Chinook winds, which can raise winter temperatures dramatically over a few hours.
Cities and Population
Edmonton is the capital, while Calgary is the largest city. Together, the two metropolitan areas are home to more than half of all Albertans, and a long-standing rivalry between them, sometimes called the Battle of Alberta, plays out in everything from sports to politics. English is the official language, spoken by about 76% of residents as a first language.
Things to See
Alberta is famous for its scenery and is home to six UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, Dinosaur Provincial Park, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Wood Buffalo National Park, and Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park. Other major draws include Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Elk Island National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, and the badlands around Drumheller, which are well known for their dinosaur fossils.
Quick Facts
Capital: Edmonton
Largest city: Calgary
Total area: 661,848 km² (4th in Canada)
Population: 4,262,635