ALBERTA 154 



cine Hat, Wetaskiwin and Red Deer rank in 

 the order named. These are more fully de- 

 scribed under their titles. 



ALBERTA 



r 



Size of Alberta, as compared with the area 

 of the entire Dominion of Canada. 



Physical Characteristics. The western boun- 

 dary of Alberta, for part of its length, is the 

 main divide of the Rocky Mountains, whose 

 snowy peaks are Western Alberta's distinctive 

 feature. Many of them have altitudes of 

 10,000 feet or more, and a few exceed 12,000 

 feet, notably Mount Athabaska, Mount Colum- 

 bia and Mount Alberta. Mount Assiniboine, a 

 famous peak, reaches 11,830 feet. On clear days 

 the mountains are visible from the plains 100 

 miles to the east. 



The eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains 

 is very gradual, and many foot-hills soften the 

 outlines of the peaks. East of the mountains 



and their foothills Alberta is a part of the 

 Great Central Plain of North America. As far 

 :is the eye can see, in every direction, are undu- 

 lating prairies, with hero and there a low, tree- 

 leaa ridjio. The only striking surface features 

 are the deep-set river channels in narrow val- 

 leys which descend to a depth of 100 to 300 

 feet below the level prairie or bench land. The 

 southern part of the prairie has little native 

 vegetation except grasses, with light scrub 

 growth in the shelter of the coulees and with 

 cottonwoods along the river bottoms. The 

 rainfall is not abundant, and the moisture is 

 quickly evaporated by the warm, dry winds 

 from the west (see CHINOOK) . By reason of its 

 mild winter climate and naturally cured grasses, 

 this area was formerly devoted to ranching, 

 but by special methods suited to the condi- 

 tions the whole of the country is being brought 

 under cultivation. Irrigation is practised on 

 lands tributary to Calgary, Lethbridge and 

 Medicine Hat. Snowfall is not heavy in any 

 part of the province, and in the south seldom 

 lies throughout the winter. 



In the central and northern part of the prov- 

 ince the rainfall is slightly heavier and the 

 evaporation less rapid than in the south. Vege- 

 tation, too, is heavier and more varied. The 

 central part is diversified by poplar and willow 

 bluffs, and farther north there is considerable 

 timber in scattered blocks, chiefly in the lower 

 parts of the river valleys. 



Climate. As Alberta is 750 miles long from 

 north to south, and has a maximum width 



ELEVATION OF ALBERTA 



Lowest point shown is at Medicine Hat, 2,181 feet above sea level. The highest elevation Is 

 on the western boundary, 5,326 feet. (Along the line of the Canadian Pacific Railroad.) 



