The Prairie Provinces

Land for growing some of the best grain in the world is located in the southern part of these three provinces. As one moves north, the land changes into semi-arid grassland, and finally, to treeless tundra.

Manitoba

This province of about a million people is ethnically diverse, and plays host to a number of ethnic festivals that have become great tourist attractions. The largest of these is Folklorama, which takes place each August in Winnipeg. Visitors have the opportunity to sample food, drink, and entertainment from a large number of ethnic groups. Winnipeg, home to about three-quarters of a million people, is home to ballet, symphony, opera, and theater companies. Those who want to see a piece of Canada's natural heritage should visit the Living Prairie Museum on Ness Avenue. The wonderful beaches of Lake Winnipeg, one of the world's largest lakes, are also nearby.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is the "wheat province," responsible for more than half of Canada's wheat production. While the province is mostly flat prairie, the Cypress Hills in the southern part of the province provide a stark contrast, with sandstone buttes, dark caves, and impressive cliffs. The area served as a haven for cattle rustlers and outlaws in centuries past. Northern Saskatchewan is a country of forests and lakes, 80 million acres of wilderness. The area is a haven for those who love to hunt, fish, canoe, or hike. In the winter, the province provides plenty of opportunities for the downhill or cross-country skiing enthusiast.

Alberta

Alberta is also a land of prairie, although the magnificent Canadian Rockies serve as the province's border on the west. The crown jewel of North American paleontology may be the Tyrell Museum of Paleontology in Drumheller. Visitors can see a wide variety of fossils and dinosaur bones. A short walk outside the museum building allows viewers to see dinosaur bones as paleontologists first found them.

Calgary

Calgary, Alberta, is home to the Calgary Stampede, "the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth," which takes place during the first two weeks of July. This world-famous rodeo draws visitors from all across the globe. Calgary, the transportation center for the ranching industry in western Canada, was the site of the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Edmonton

Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, is the oil center for western Canada. It is the home of the West Edmonton Mall, an indoor shopping dream with nearly 1,000 stores, a professional-size ice skating rink, and an indoor water park.