Alberta Province Of Canada
Alberta is one of the three Prairie Provinces in Canada. Of the three, Alberta is the highest populated and most rapidly developing province. One of the ten provinces in Canada, Alberta was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. In size, the province is as big as Texas or France, and as of 2009, there were approximately 3.7 million people in Alberta. This province is economically advanced because of the presence of petroleum reserves. The healthcare system in this province is one the most sophisticated and advanced, and a well educated population and growing economy contributes to this factor. Edmonton is the capital city and is located in the center of the province. Edmonton located in close proximity to many of the western Canada's refineries and oil fields. Climate And Weather Conditions Alberta is a landlocked province and experiences cold winters and warm summers. The climate in Alberta is largely dry and continental in character. The province is located in the Western part of Canada and hence is exposed to the cold arctic winds that blow from the north. The temperature also differs largely as the province extends from north to south. People And Economy The rapidly growing Alberta economy attracts immigrants from all over the world, especially Europe and parts of Asia, and also people from the other provinces. Most of the population in Alberta is concentrated around the Calgary-Edmonton corridor, as most of the northern part of the province is covered by dense forest. The southern half of the region in covered by short and mixed grass, typical prairie vegetation. English is the mother tongue of most of the native speakers, followed by Chinese, German, and French amongst other languages. The burgeoning economy in Alberta revolves round the petroleum industry and to some extent, technology and agriculture sector. Alberta is the largest producer of crude oil, natural gas, synthetic crude, and other gas products in the country. The other major industries include telecom and forestry. The province's GDP as recorded in 2007, was far higher than the GDPs of other provinces. Tourism Besides the oil reserves, Alberta is well known for its tourist attractions. It is an ideal destination for hiking, skiing, and camping. Also, shopping points, sporting events and competitions of international acclaim, and outdoor festivals make this province a favorite destination for tourists. The province is an eclectic mix of both natural and man-made attractions. The most noted ones include the Banff and Jasper National Parks, Rocky mountains, ski resorts, etc. The onset of summer brings in a number of festivals to this province. The most popular is the Edmonton Fringe Festival, which is the second largest in the world after Edinburgh's. Calgary Stampede is a much visited festival and is related to cattle ranching. The folk music festivals in the province are equally popular, and the largest of these festivals in Canada are organized in Calgary and Edmonton. Carifest is second biggest Caribbean festival in the country after Caribana is hosted by Toronto. Alberta has a parliamentary democracy and the legislative assembly comprises of 83 members. Local school boards and municipal governments also operate in the province. The provincial government is led by the Progressive Conservative Partyand the premier heads the state government.
