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Saskatoon

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Saskatoon is the largest city in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

Saskatoon in Winter
Saskatoon in Winter

It sits in the central part of the province along the South Saskatchewan River. The river makes a big bend through the middle of the city. Because there are nine different ways to cross the water, people call it the "City of Bridges."

Saskatoon Skyline Night
Saskatoon Skyline Night

Some people also call it the "Paris of the Prairies." The city is a busy hub for the northern prairies. It is a place where many people live and work together.

The city's name comes from the Cree language. It refers to the saskatoon berry, which is a sweet, violet-colored fruit.

Parkland near Saskatoon
Parkland near Saskatoon

Some stories say a man named John Neilson Lake named the place after these berries. Other ideas suggest the name comes from a Cree word for a place where willows are cut. This might be because people used willow branches to make arrow shafts. The land around the city is part of the aspen parkland biome. This area is a mix between the prairies and the boreal forest.

Saskatoon began as a settlement in 1882.

BarrColonists
BarrColonists

A group called the Temperance Colonization Society wanted to start a "dry" community. This meant they wanted to live in a place without the liquor trade. Settlers arrived in 1883 by traveling on a railway and then by horse-drawn cart. In 1906, several separate towns joined together to become the city of Saskatoon.

Saskatoon The Wonder City
Saskatoon The Wonder City

Over time, the city grew by adding nearby areas like Sutherland in 1956.

Today, the city has a population of 266,141 people.

Royal University Hospital
Royal University Hospital

The larger metropolitan area has about 317,480 people. Many people from different countries live in Saskatoon, including people from the Philippines and India. The city is also home to a large Indigenous population.

Wanuskewin National Historic Site of Canada
Wanuskewin National Historic Site of Canada

Wanuskewin Heritage Park is a special site that shows 6,000 years of First Nations history. The University of Saskatchewan is also a major part of the city life.

Life in Saskatoon changes with the four seasons. The summers are usually warm and sunny.

MidtownPlaza
MidtownPlaza

However, the winters are very long and can be extremely cold. In 2007, a massive blizzard hit the city with huge amounts of snow. The city is also a place of many landmarks. You can visit the Meewasin Valley Authority to see beautiful riverbank parks. There are also many different neighborhoods to explore, like the historic area of Riversdale.

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🖼️ Images & Media (25)
File:BarrColonists.jpg
BarrColonists.jpg
File:Saskatoon The Wonder City.jpg
Saskatoon The Wonder City.jpg
File:Parkland near Saskatoon.jpg
Parkland near Saskatoon.jpg
File:Saskatoon in Winter.jpg
Saskatoon in Winter.jpg
File:Wanuskewin National Historic Site of Canada.jpg
Wanuskewin National Historic Site of Canada.jpg
File:ShakespeareOnTheSaskatchewan.jpg
ShakespeareOnTheSaskatchewan.jpg
File:Remai Modern Art Gallery.jpg
Remai Modern Art Gallery.jpg
File:SRM-West.jpg
SRM-West.jpg
File:PrairieWindAtPersephone.JPG
PrairieWindAtPersephone.JPG
File:Delta Bessborough, Spadina Cres E, Saskatoon (505718) (26106521286).jpg
Delta Bessborough, Spadina Cres E,...
File:MidtownPlaza.jpg
MidtownPlaza.jpg
File:Nutrien Tower.jpg
Nutrien Tower.jpg

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