What Saskatchewan is known for

Saskatchewan is known for its vast amount of water. Although it is landlocked and does not touch the ocean, it has 100,000 lakes. There are also many rivers and reservoirs. Ten percent of the province is freshwater (251,700 sq. mi), and as such, Saskatchewan is known for its many aquatic activities. There are many places to go fishing, kayaking, boating, and canoeing.[6] Saskatchewan is a province with vast resources. Its economy primarily relies on agriculture, mining, and energy production. It is also the top providing providence for hard wheat in Canada, producing two-thirds of the wheat for the entire country. Because of the large role of wheat and agriculture in the area, the province has been nicknamed "The breadbasket of Canada" and "The wheat province." Other crops grown in the area include oats, barley, rye, rapeseed, and flax. Much of the farmland is in the south but is also found in more fertile regions in the central area of the providence and rarely in the north. In the north, fur trapping is still practiced. [5]

As of 2020, Saskatchewan's population was estimated to be about 1,181,987 people. English is the main language in the region, while a few native tribal languages are still spoken. The majority of people in the area are decedents of Britain, with the next largest group being French. The majority of residents in Saskatchewan are Christian. About seventy-two percent of residents affiliate themselves with this religion. The next largest religion is Aboriginal Spirituality at about one percent of the population. The remaining twenty-four percent are said to have no religious affiliation.[5] 

There are many parks in the province and places to see. Prince Albert National Park, the most northern national park, and the Grassland National Park are Saskatchewan's two most prominent national attractions. At the grasslands national park, bison and other wildlife can be seen on the prairie with rivers and small bodies of water for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Other popular attractions are provincial parks. There are thirty-six located throughout the region. Many of the attractions are located near bodies of water. Fishing and aquatic activities are often the most common activities in the area. Danielson Provincial Park is one such attraction located near many bodies of water where people can fish, windsurf, boat, and visit Danielson's Inflatable Water Park. The Tunnels of Moose Jaw and Royal Saskatchewan are prominent urban attractions for the province, offering different activities from the many attractions of nature in the region. At Regina, the province's capital, there are festivals, symphonies, concerts, and historical celebrations throughout the year.[4]

On the license plates for vehicles in the region are the words, "Land of living skies". Stargazing and nighttime activities can be done on the prairie where there isn't as much light. Hunting is also a large attraction for the area with large games such as moose, deer, caribou, and bison. Fishing can be done year-round as there are many visited areas for its fishing during the winter and summer, such as Lake Diefenbaker. Walleye, rainbow trout, northern pike, yellow perch, and goldeye are a number of fish that can be found there. It is also home to three provincial parks and the recreational site of Elbow Harbor.[9]

Geography

The Saskatchewan Province is one of two landlocked provinces that does not touch the ocean in Canada. It is also the only province with artificial boundaries constituted by longitude and latitude lines. Part of the Prairie Region, Saskatchewan is boarded by the northwest territories above and Nunavut to the northeast. To the west lies Alberta, and on the east, Manitoba borders the province. Below Saskatchewan is the border to the United States of America, leading into the states of Montana and North Dakota. The region is divided into two geographical sections, the north being the Canadian shield or more commonly known as the Boreal Forest, with more sandy and rough forested terrain. The south is called the prairie for its flatter and prairie-like terrain better suited for agriculture and cities. Within Saskatchewan are the major rivers of Churchill, north and south Saskatchewan, and Qu'Appelle. Much of the forested area and resources for timber are located between the Churchill and Saskatchewan rivers. The province is home to many parks and recreational areas. Lake Athabasca Sand Dunes is the largest active sand dune in the northern hemisphere. Another prominent area is the grassland park where much wildlife can be seen and the night's sky allows for stargazing.[5]

Climate can vary depending on the region and time of year in Saskatchewan, though it does see all four seasons; winter, spring, summer, and fall. During these seasons temperatures vary. The most common time for people to visit the region is typically between the summer and fall when the weather is more predictable and the climate is much warmer.[7] The province of Saskatchewan receives more sunlight than any other province in Canada. Exposure to the sun can lead to the summers reaching high temperatures at times. The average temperature during the summer is around 85 degrees Fahrenheit but can be as high as 95 degrees Fahrenheit during the peak season of summer. During the winter, temperatures can drop to some extremes. Winter is generally November through February and possibly March, January, and February being the coldest months. The average temperature during the season is -13 degrees Fahrenheit but can drop as low as -40 degrees during harsh winter storms. During the spring and fall, the weather is generally more cloudy, cool, and wet. Weather is typically around 60 degrees Fahrenheit with a low of 32 degrees and a high of 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the spring and fall.[3]

There is an abundance of wildlife and plants within the varying terrains of Saskatchewan. The province's bird is the sharp-tailed grouse and is the province's most popular game bird for hunting. It became the province bird emblem in the year of 1945. The white birch became the province's tree emblem in 1988, being one of the most common hardy trees found in most of the region used typically for lumber.[8] Other animals life that can be seen within Saskatchewan include Cattle Egret, long-tailed duck, Grey wolf, Coyote, mule deer, black bear, and bison. Much of the Province is diverse with plant life. Some typical plants include balsam fir, pickily tree clubmoss, crataegus acutifolia, mountain rice grass, box elder, and creeping juniper.[1]

History

The Saskatchewan province has been home to many people. It is believed that people have lived in the area since 10,000 BCE. These people were known as the Aboriginal people, living in the prairie areas of the province and small groups in the north. They were a nomadic people. The Athabascan, Algonquian, and Siouan were groups of aboriginal people divided by linguistics who lived in different parts of the land. Many of the groups were still nomadic. They depended on moose and caribou to survive in the north, while those in the south subsisted on deer and bison.[5] 

In the late 1600s, Europeans made their first contact with the land. In 1690 the first person credited with surveying the land was French explorer Henry Kelsey, a member of the Hudson Bay company. It is believed that the Hudson Bay Company became in contact with each of the three groups of nomadic peoples. Trappers and mountaineers were the predominant Europeans in the land for many decades due to the high demand for fur hats and coats. There was no effort to establish themselves in the area for another 50 years. The earliest trading post was successfully established in 1750 by the French. Here they hoped to trade furs with the natives and mill resources from the land. It wasn't until 1774 that the first settlement was established called Cumberland House. Settled by the British fur traders, they began setting up outposts, and more settlements were established. Much of the terrain and land was undiscovered or only slightly inhabited until 1873 when northwest mounter police had a larger presence in the region. The area began promoting its land for agricultural use, bringing immigrants and more people from the east. [6]

Saskatchewan was one of the many territories of Canada and, at one time, was a district of the northwest territories. The region did not become a province until 1905. It is the ninth province of Canada. During this time in the early twentieth century, Farmers created organizations to stabilize the market of grain, the highest producing crop in the region. In the early 20th century, local government began shifting to a more social-democratic government. The province became a prominent area for people supporting social democracy, and in 1944 was the first elected social-democratic government in North America.[5]