Physical Geography

Alberta occupies part of three great physiographic regions of North America: the Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains, and the Canadian Shield.

The Rocky Mountains in Alberta are a high range, varying from 9,000 to more than 12,000 feet (2,750 to 3,650 m) above sea level. Mount Columbia, reaching 12,294 feet (3,747 m), on the British Columbia border, is Alberta's highest point. During the last Ice Age the range was covered by glaciers, of which there are many small remnants. There are many jagged peaks and deep intermountain valleys, particularly in Banff and Jasper national parks.

The Great Plains extend northward into Alberta from the United States. Though the land is generally flat, there are broad, deep valleys, hills, and low ranges locally called mountains. The valley of the Red Deer River has typical badlands topography, with eroded saw-tooth ridges and deep ravines.

The Canadian Shield extends into the northeast corner of Alberta. It is an area of exposed, ancient crystalline rock, part of an enormous formation that covers most of northern and eastern Canada.

Elevations in Alberta decrease from the Rockies and their foothills to an average of about 2,500 feet (760 m) on the Great Plains and 600 feet (180 m) in the Slave River Valley of the northeast.

Almost all of Alberta is drained by streams that flow generally east and northeast, toward Hudson Bay and the Arctic Ocean. Rivers in the north and central parts include the Athabasca, Peace, Hay, and Slave; in the central area, the North Saskatchewan and Pembina; and in the south, the South Saskatchewan, with its tributaries, the Bow, Oldman, and Red Deer rivers. Among the province's many lakes are Athabasca (mainly in Saskatchewan), Lesser Slave, Claire, Bistcho, and Utikuma.

Alberta's climate is an extreme continental type, with great ranges between summer and winter temperatures. In the north, for example, July temperatures average 60° F. (16° C.) and January temperatures average -8° F. (-22° C.). Corresponding figures for Calgary, in the south, are 63° F. (17° C.) and 12° F. (-11° C). The climate is also characterized by abundant sunshine.

Precipitation ranges from 10 to 25 inches (255 to 635 mm) annually, but its occurrence is highly variable. The driest area is the southeast. Snowfall is heavy throughout the province. Most of the precipitation between November and March falls as snow.

Prevailing winds are westerly the year round. An important influence is that of the chinook—a warm, dry, westerly wind blowing from the Rocky Mountains in winter and spring.

Vegetation and Wildlife. In the Rockies plant life is limited to hardy Alpine vegetation, while the foothills have a mixture of evergreen and broadleaf trees. The prairies of the southern Great Plains have short grasses and few, if any, trees.

A transitional zone of mixed grasses and trees marks the northern rim of the prairies. Aspen, birch, and willow become frequent. Farther north lies a great forest, composed principally of spruce, pine, larch, and fir.

In wildlife, Alberta is among Canada's richest provinces. Bear, caribou, and moose roam the northern forests. Small fur-bearing animals are abundant—beaver, mink, otter, and marten. As the boundary of settlement has moved northward, there has been a substantial decrease in the number of wild animals.

The province's many lakes make Alberta a haven for waterfowl. Pheasant, grouse, and partridge are found. Many other bird species pass through Alberta on their yearly migrations. Lakes and streams teem with trout, grayling, Rocky Mountain whitefish, and pike.