Introduction to Geography of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan, one of the Prairie Provinces of Canada. It is bordered by Alberta and Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, and the states of Montana and North Dakota. Its northeast corner meets the southwest corner of Nunavut. Saskatchewan has an area of 251,866 square miles (65 2,330 km 2). Nearly one-eighth of the province is covered by lakes and streams. Maximum dimensions are about 760 miles (1,220 km) north-south and 390 miles (630 km) east-west.
Saskatchewan's provincial bird is the sharp-tailed grouse.Saskatchewan in briefGeneral informationEntered the Dominion: with Alberta on Sept. 1, 1905, as the 8th and 9th provinces.Provincial abbreviation: SK (postal).Provincial capital: Regina, Saskatchewan's capital since it became a province in 1905. Regina served as capital of the North West Territories from 1883 to 1905.Provincial motto: Multis E Gentibus Vires (From Many Peoples Strength).Symbols of SaskatchewanProvincial flag and coat of arms: Saskatchewan's provincial flag, adopted in 1969, has two horizontal stripes of green and gold. The green stripe represents Saskatchewan's forests, and the gold stripe represents the province's wheat fields. The coat of arms is in the upper-left corner of the flag. The provincial floral emblem, the Western red lily or prairie lily is on the right. On the shield of the provincial coat of arms, authorized in 1906, the lion stands for the United Kingdom. The three golden sheaves represent Saskatchewan's fields of ripening grain.Floral emblem: Western red lily or prairie lily.Land and climateArea: 251,866 mi2 (652,330 km2), including 31,158 mi2 (81,630 km2) of inland water.Elevation: Highest--4,567 ft (1,392 m) above sea level in the Cypress Hills. Lowest--700 ft (213 m) above sea level at Lake Athabasca.Record high temperature: 113 °F (45 °C) at Midale and Yellow Grass on July 5, 1937.Record low temperature: –70 °F (–57 °C) at Prince Albert on Feb. 1, 1893.Average July temperature: 64 °F (18 °C).Average January temperature: 0 °F (–18 °C).Average yearly precipitation: 16 in (40 cm).PeoplePopulation: 968,157 (2006 census).Rank among the provinces: 6th.Density: 4 persons per mi2 (1.5 per km2), provinces average 13 per mi2 (5 per km2).Distribution: 65 percent urban, 35 percent rural.Largest cities and towns: Saskatoon (202,340); Regina (179,246); Prince Albert (34,138); Moose Jaw (32,132); Yorkton (15,038); Swift Current (14,946).EconomyChief productsAgriculture: barley, beef cattle, canola, hogs, wheat.Manufacturing: chemicals, electrical equipment, machinery, processed foods and beverages, wood products.Mining: natural gas, petroleum, potash, uranium.GovernmentProvincial governmentPremier: term of up to 5 years.Members of the Legislative Assembly: 58; terms of up to 5 years.Federal governmentMembers of the House of Commons: 14.Senators: 6.Sources of informationFor information on tourism in Saskatchewan, write to: Tourism Saskatchewan, 1922 Park Street, Regina SK S4N 7M4. Tourism Saskatchewan's Web site at http://www.sasktourism.com also has useful information. For information on the province's economy, write to: Saskatchewan Bureau of Statistics, Fifth Floor, 2350 Albert Street, Regina, SK S4P 4A6. The bureau's Web site at http://www.stats.gov.sk.ca is also helpful. Information on the provincial government of Saskatchewan can be obtained by writing to: Office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Room 239, Legislative Building, 2405 Legislative Drive, Regina, SK S4S 0B3. For information on the province's history, write to: Saskatchewan Archives Board, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2.Physical Geography
Saskatchewan is one of the Prairie Provinces of Canada.LandSaskatchewan lies within three major physiographic regions of North America: the Canadian Shield, the Central Lowlands, and the Great Plains. The entire area now occupied by the province was glaciated during the last Ice Age, when enormous glaciers moved southward, scouring and eroding the land. On retreating, the glaciers left thick coverings of glacial debris in many areas, especially in the south.
The Canadian Shield, or Laurentian Plateau, extends across most of Saskatchewan's northern half. It is a rolling, forested area, about 700 to 1,600 feet (210 to 490 m) above sea level, with thousands of lakes and muskegs (bogs). There are frequent outcroppings of the ancient crystalline rock underlying the entire region.
The Central Lowlands section consists of fertile prairies in the central and southeastern parts of the province. Here are found most of the people and the richest farms. Like the prairies of the north-central and midwestern United States, it is an area of level-to-rolling terrain crossed by broad river valleys. Except for a few isolated ranges of hills, the surface lies at elevations of 1,000 to 2,000 feet (300 to 600m).
The Great Plains section rises fairly abruptly from the Central Lowlands along the Missouri Coteau, a hilly belt extending northwestward from North Dakota. The highest point in the province, 4,816 feet (1,468 m), is in the Cypress Hills, near the Alberta border in the extreme southwest.
saskatchewan's provincial tree is the white birch.WaterMost of the rivers crossing Saskatchewan drain eastward to Hudson Bay; the major ones originate either in the Rocky Mountains or on the Great Plains. The largest is the Saskatchewan, formed by the union of the North and South Saskatchewan rivers near Prince Albert. Many rivers of the Canadian Shield region follow intricate courses marked by frequent rapids and falls. The Assiniboine and the Qu'Appelle are major rivers in the southeast.
Northern Saskatchewan has thousands of lakes, many of which lie in basins gouged by glaciers during the last Ice Age. Lake Athabasca, which lies partly in Alberta, is the largest lake. It is part of the vast Mackenzie River system and receives the waters of the province's northernmost streams. Other large lakes are Reindeer Lake, Wollaston Lake, Lac la Ronge, and Cree Lake.
ClimateSituated near the center of North America, Saskatchewan has a continental climate, with great extremes between winter and summer temperatures Winters are very cold, averaging near 0°F. (-18°C.) in the south during January and as low as -20°F. (-29°C.) in the north. Temperatures of -50°F. (-46°C.) and lower have been recorded throughout the province. Summers are warm and somewhat humid, much like those of the north-central United States. Average July temperatures range from 60°to 70°F. (16°to 21°C). Many weather stations have recorded highs of more than 100°F. (38°C.).
Average yearly precipitation is 10 to 20 inches (250 to 500 mm), the lower amounts occurring in the far north and in the southwest. Most of the rain falls in the summer, when it is most needed for growing crops. Rainfall varies considerably from year to year, however, and occasionally droughts cause severe losses of crops. Snow falls between late October and the end of April, totaling 40 to 50 inches (1,000 to 1,270 mm) in most places.
Natural VegetationEvergreen forests spread across the Canadian Shield region of Saskatchewan; spruce, pine, and fir are the predominant species. Broadleaved trees, such as poplar and birch, become common toward the south as the forest gives way to a zone of scattered wooded areas. Grassland covers most of southern Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan's provincial flower is the western red lily.Interesting facts about Saskatchewan"Pile o' Bones" was the original name for the town that became Regina, the capital of Saskatchewan. The town was so named because a large number of buffalo skeletons were found nearby. After the town became important, its name was changed to Regina in honor of Queen Victoria. Regina is the Latin word for queen.Little Manitou Lake, near Watrous, has water three times saltier than any ocean. This high salt content enables swimmers to float with ease.The first aerial ambulance service in the world began operations in Saskatchewan in February 1946.The world's largest tomahawk is on display in Tomahawk Park in Cut Knife. The handle is 54 feet (16.5 meters) long and 4 feet (1.2 meters) in diameter at the base. The blade is 18 feet (5.5 meters) long and 9 feet (2.7 meters) in diameter. The tomahawk rests on a concrete tepee that is 30 feet (9.1 meters) high. The structure, unveiled in 1971, symbolizes unity and friendship between the region's native peoples and later European settlers.Economy
A combination of favorable climate and rich prairie soils helps make Saskatchewan one of the world's great grain producers. The province's economy is based largely on agriculture, especially the growing of wheat, but it is slowly becoming less dependent on farming. Manufacturing, services, and the production of minerals and fuels account for a growing share of the province's income.
AgricultureSaskatchewan is one of Canada's leading agricultural provinces. It leads all provinces in agricultural acreage and ranks third in cash receipts. Large farms are typical in Saskatchewan, averaging about 1,100 acres (445 hectares). Most of the cultivated land lies in the southern half of the province, where hard red spring wheat is by far the most important crop. Saskatchewan is Canada's leading producer of wheat.
Many farmers in Saskatchewan engage in mixed farming, raising livestock and such crops as barley, oats, rye, canola (rapeseed), and flaxseed. Cattle ranching prevails on the drier plains of the southwest. As a producer of beef cattle, Saskatchewan ranks second only to Alberta.
MiningSaskatchewan's mineral resources are among the most important in Canada. Fuels—petroleum, uranium, lignite, and natural gas—account for most of the province's output by value. Petroleum is the leader. Production amounts to roughly one-sixth of Canada's total output and is surpassed only by that of Alberta. Uranium ranks second to petroleum among the fuels. Lignite, or brown coal, is mined in large amounts and is used primarily for generating electric power. Except for uranium, all the fuels are produced in central and southern Saskatchewan, south of the Canadian Shield.
One of the largest mineral finds in Canada's history was the discovery of huge potash deposits beneath the southern Saskatchewan prairies. Production of the mineral, which is used as a fertilizer, began in the late 1950's, and it has been estimated that the reserves are among the world's largest. Other minerals mined in Saskatchewan include gold, silver, and salt.
ManufacturingThe leading industries are those of the food-processing type, principally flour milling, meat-packing, and the production of dairy goods. A number of activities have developed in association with the mineral industry. Since the discovery of oil and gas in the late 1940's a network of pipelines has been built and there are refineries at such cities as Regina, Saskatoon, and Moose Jaw.
The forested north has pulp and paper mills and other plants specializing in wood products. Saskatchewan's other industries include printing and publishing, and the production of chemicals and electrical and electronic equipment.
ForestryAlthough much of Saskatchewan's 111,200 square miles (288,000 km 2 ) of forest is commercially valuable, only the small area penetrated by roads is actually used for cutting timber. The producing area is largely mixed forest and yields both hard and soft woods. Spruce, pine, and poplar are the main species cut. Prince Albert is the industry's center.
FishingSaskatchewan's larger rivers and lakes, especially those in the north, support a small but active commercial fishing industry. Whitefish, trout, and pike make up most of the catch
TransportationA network of railways serves the heavily agricultural southern half of Saskatchewan. One route extends to Churchill, Manitoba, the grain-shipping port on Hudson Bay. There are no rail lines in the northern half of Saskatchewan.
The highway system is also confined mainly to the southern half of the province, although there are roads extending into the far north. The chief commercial airports are at Regina and Saskatoon.
The People
More than 40 per cent of Saskatchewan's population is of British ancestry. About 50 per cent is of European descent, mainly German, Norwegian, Ukrainian, Polish, and French. Most of the remaining people are native Indians—principally Crees, Assiniboins, and Chipewyans.
According to the 2001 census, Saskatchewan had a population of 978,933. Some 60 per cent of the people live in cities and towns. The percentage of people living on farms is much higher than it is for Canada as a whole, but it is slowly declining.
Annual events in SaskatchewanJanuary-JunePrince Albert Winter Festival (February); Taste of Spring Festival in Regina (April); Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival (May); Northern Saskatchewan International Children's Festival (June); Western Canada Farm Progress Show in Regina (June); Frontier Days in Swift Current (June-July); Saskatchewan Jazz Festival in Saskatoon (June-July).July-DecemberShakespeare on the Saskatchewan in Saskatoon (July-August); Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival in Battleford (July); RCMP Sunset Retreat Ceremonies in Regina (July-August); Buffalo Days in Regina (July-August); Yorkton Threshermen's Show and Seniors' Festival (August); World Bunnock Championship Challenge in Macklin (August); International Fringe Festival in Saskatoon (August); Canadian Western Agribition in Regina (November); Sundog Arts and Entertainment Faire in Saskatoon (November-December).ReligionAbout 30 per cent of the people are members of the United Church of Canada; about 25 per cent belong to the Roman Catholic Church. Other principal denominations are Anglican, Lutheran, Ukrainian Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Mennonite, Baptist, and Presbyterian.
Education
Education in Saskatchewan is free and compulsory from age 7 to age 16. Public elementary and secondary schools are under the direction of the provincial department of education. The department of continuing education handles post-secondary education. There are also a few Roman Catholic and Protestant schools. In addition, there are schools for technical, vocational, and teacher training.
The University of Saskatchewan, the provincial university, was established in 1907 at Saskatoon. It includes colleges or schools of agriculture, arts and sciences, commerce, dentistry, education, engineering, graduate studies and research, law, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical education, and veterinary medicine. The University of Regina (founded in 1974), also under provincial control, has colleges or schools of the arts, education, engineering, administration, fine arts, physical activity studies, social work, science, and graduate studies.
Government
Saskatchewan's Legislative Building is in Regina, the capital since Saskatchewan became a province in 1905.The provincial government consists of a lieutenant governor, the Executive Council {cabinet), and the one-house Legislative Assembly. The lieutenant governor, representing the Crown, is appointed to a five-year term by the Canadian government and can act only on the advice of the Executive Council.
The head of government is the premier, who is the leader of the majority party in the Assembly. The premier serves as the president of the Executive Council and chooses the other members of the Council (cabinet ministers) from majority-party members of the Assembly. The Legislative Assembly is composed of 66 members, elected to five-year terms. However, the Assembly can be dissolved at any time during the five-year period and a new election called by the lieutenant governor upon the advice of the premier.
The judiciary is headed by the Court of Appeal and the Court of the Queen's Bench. Lesser courts include family court and provincial courts. Judges are appointed.
Local government is the responsibility of urban and rural municipalities. There are also unincorporated improvement districts, which are under provincial control.
Saskatchewan is represented in Canada's Parliament by 14 members elected to the House of Commons and 6 members appointed to the Senate.
The minimum voting age is 18.