Alberta is located in the western part of Canada Essay Example

natural vegetation such as Tropical and middle-latitude grasslands, as well as Broadleaf, mixed broadleaf and coniferous forests.

According to Quentin and Stanford (1988), Alberta is a region characterized by glacial lakes. The highest temperature ever documented in Alberta occurred on July 18th, 1941, reaching 43.3 C at Fort Macleod. Conversely, the lowest temperature on record in Alberta was recorded at -61.1 C at Fort Vermilion on January 11, 1911. In terms of precipitation, the largest amount of rainfall in Alberta was recorded as 1440m at Cameron Falls in 1975.

According to a study by McClelland and Stewart (1995), the highest recorded snowfall in Alberta was 1066cm at Columbia Icefields during the 1973-74 period. In terms of geography, Alberta is situated in Mountain Standard Time and showcases Mount Columbia as its tallest peak, which stands at an impressive height of over 3747m. Other notable peaks include the Twins (3733m), Mount Alberta (3620m), and Mount Assiniboine (3670m). McClelland and Stewart (1995) also state that the lowest point in Alberta is the Slave River, with an elevation of 152m. In regards to lakes, Lake Claire measures approximately 1434km2 within Alberta's borders alone, while Lesser Slave Lake covers an area of about 1168km2. It should be mentioned that Alberta comprises only 6.66% of Canada's total land area.

(McClelland and Stewart, 1995)

Cultural Diversity

In 1991, Alberta had a population of 2,545,553. Of this total, 79.9% lived in urban areas and 20.2% resided in rural areas. Additionally, 2.6% of the population identified as aboriginal. In terms of language diversity, English was spoken by 81% of the population, French by 2.1%, while other languages made up 13.3%. (Hurtig Publishers)

Alberta takes pride in its Provincial Government which

consists of a Lieutenant Governor and an Executive Council that collaborates with a Legislative Assembly consisting of 83 members.

(McClelland and Stewart, 1995) Alberta got its name from Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the 4th child of Queen Victoria. The province of Alberta was established in 1905. (McClelland and Stewart, 1995) According to Hurtig Publishers, Alberta ranks 4th in Canada. The motto of Alberta is 'Fortis et Liber', which translates to Strong and Free. The official flower of Alberta is the Wild Rose, also known as the prickly rose. In 1789, Sir Alexander Mackenzie discovered the Mackenzie River.

The Mackenzie River, known as Canada's longest river, witnessed the conversion of mixed descent individuals (both white and Indian) into Christianity by missionaries during the 19th century. These converted individuals then settled down, adopting agricultural practices and establishing permanent homes for themselves. According to The World Book Encyclopedia (1989 edition), the ranching industry took root in 1880, with Montana driving their cattle across the Canadian border.

According to The World Book Encyclopedia (1989), the Northwest Mounted Police arrived in Alberta in 1874 with the purpose of eliminating outlaws and traders. A significant milestone for the province was the discovery of oil and natural gases in Turner Valley in 1914, which eventually led to the establishment of a petroleum industry that is still active today. Furthermore, Alberta has also revealed small portions of its land in both the Precambrian Era and the Mesozoic Era.

During the early stages of the Cenozoic Era, which is our current era as of today (Matthews and Morrow Jr., 1995), Alberta made a discovery. Economic Diversity

Agriculture remains an important part of Alberta's economy. The main crop is wheat,

particularly in the south where extensive irrigation projects, like those near Lethbridge, have facilitated the cultivation of thousands of additional acres (Columbia University Press, 1993). This region also produces various crops such as sugar beets and potatoes. Furthermore, Alberta is well-known for its high-quality livestock.

Alberta has been primarily focused on exploiting its extensive petroleum and mineral resources since the early 1960s. The province is well-known for key industries like meatpacking, flour milling, dairying, and food processing. It is a major producer of oil with significant coal reserves. The Athabasca River's famous tar beds are believed to contain the world's richest oil deposits. Additionally, Alberta has abundant sources of natural gas. The province's pipelines transport crude oil and natural gas to various locations in Canada and the U.S.A. Although there was a slight decline in crude oil production in the 1980s, there was an increase in natural gas and coal production.

(Columbia University Press, 1993) The construction industry in Alberta has been significantly impacted by the decline in oil production, leading to higher unemployment rates. Additionally, other industries present in the province include food and beverage production, lumbering, printing and publishing, as well as the manufacturing of iron, steel, and clay products.

(McClelland and Stewart, 1995) Tourism plays a significant role in Alberta's industrial economy as it ranks third among major sectors. The province's vast landscape featuring plentiful wheat fields, large granaries, and cattle ranches attracts numerous visitors.

Additionally, there are also vast oil refineries in the area. The Annual festivals are diverse and include the Indian Days Celebration in Banff, which brings together thousands of Native Americans from a wide area, as well as the famous Calgary Exhibition

and Stampede. Other tourist attractions worth visiting are Elk Islands National Park and the remarkable Wood Buffalo National Park, which provides protection to around 5,000 bison. Edmonton has hosted various special events such as the Common Wealth Games in 1978 and the World University Games in 1983.

But we cannot forget when Calgary hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics. (McClelland and Stewart, 1995)

Conclusions

Alberta is certainly well known for the famous Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, but another thing Alberta is known for is the amount dinosaur fossils found here. (McClelland and Stewart, 1995) The dinosaur was still unknown to man until the year 1824 when fossil teeth and bones had been found. Badlands, Alberta, are located in Red Deer R Valley.

Here, a scientist first collected dinosaur fossils over a century ago. (McClelland and Stewart, 1995) Five years later, another skull of a species known as the Albertasaurus Sarcophagus, the Alberta carcass eater, was discovered in Red Deer Valley near Rumsey. This area is now famously recognized as Dinosaur Provincial Park. (McClelland and Stewart, 1995)

Conclusion

I believe that the future prospects for Alberta are promising. While unforeseen circumstances may arise and potentially alter our perception of Alberta today, it would take something of significant magnitude to bring about such a drastic change.

However, speaking from my personal perspective, I believe that Alberta is heading towards a promising future in the upcoming years.