Alberta

Alberta is a major province located in Western Canada. It is one of the three prairie provinces in that region.

The province is bordered by British Columbia to the west. Saskatchewan lies to the east, and the Northwest Territories are to the north. To the south, Alberta shares a border with the U.S. state of Montana. Alberta and Saskatchewan are the only two landlocked Canadian provinces. This means they do not have access to an ocean.

The geography of Alberta changes significantly from west to east. The western boundary follows the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains.

The northern half of the province is mostly boreal forest. In the middle, the aspen parkland region forms a broad arc. This area contains the most fertile soil and most of the population. The southern quarter consists of prairies. These range from mixed grass to shortgrass prairie. In the southeast, the Alberta badlands feature deep canyons and striking landforms.

Alberta's climate is largely continental and can be quite dry. The Rocky Mountains create a rain shadow over much of the province. This happens because the mountains disrupt prevailing westerly winds. These winds drop most of their moisture on the western slopes. Consequently, the province is quite arid in many areas. The southeast sits in the Palliser Triangle, which is a semi-arid steppe. This area faces frequent droughts and lower rainfall.

Weather in Alberta can change very rapidly. Cold Arctic air masses often move in from the north during winter. These can cause extreme minimum temperatures in northern Alberta. However, western Alberta experiences a different pattern. Warm, dry Chinook winds blow from the mountains. These winds can raise temperatures very quickly. In one recorded instance at Pincher Creek, temperatures rose by 20 degrees Celsius in one hour.

The history of the land involves many different groups. Several First Nations, such as the Plains Indians and Woodland Cree, lived here long ago.

Fur traders from the Hudson's Bay Company also used the territory. The Dominion of Canada purchased the land in 1870. Many immigrants arrived in the late 1800s to grow wheat and ranch cattle. Alberta officially became a province in 1905. In 1947, massive oil reserves were discovered. This discovery changed the province forever.

Alberta has a highly advanced and market-based economy. The service sector is the largest employer, covering 80% of the workforce. This includes healthcare, education, and tourism. The knowledge economy is also growing. About 3,000 tech companies employ roughly 60,000 people. The energy sector is a massive part of the economy. While it employs only 5% of Albertans, it heavily impacts exports. In 2023, Alberta's output was $350 billion. This represents 15% of Canada's total GDP.

The province is also famous for its natural beauty and fossils. Alberta contains six UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites.

These include the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks and Dinosaur Provincial Park. Other notable areas are Banff and Jasper National Parks. The province's exports are also significant. About 70% of exports are oil and gas. Food products make up 13%, and industrial products make up 12%. Most of these goods are sent to the United States.