Interior Plains: Land of Open Skies

GENERAL INFORMATION

About 500 million years ago, shallow seas covered the Interior Plains. Rivers flowing into these waters deposited sediments, which were transformed into layer upon layer of sedimentary rock. In the southern part of the Interior Plains lie grasslands. The sedimentary materials here provide fertile soils for the patchwork of prairie farms. In the northern part, aspen trees become sparse. Over time, weathering and erosion have cut deeply into the soft rock in parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. At Horseshoe Canyon, near Drumheller, Alberta, these processes have exposed multicoloured layers from the Mesozoic era when dinosaurs roamed this region.

The Plains region is in between the Cordillera and the Great Canadian Shield. It is found in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Sometimes, people make the mistake of calling the Plains the Prairie Provinces or just the Prairies. The term prairie refers to the prairie grasses that grow wild in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

The Interior Plains landscape includes much more than just the prairie grasslands. You'll find that this entire region is generally flat in elevation.

Just as in the Cordillera, the human population tends to be greater in the southern region of the plains, but you'll also notice that town and cities generally are beside a water source like a lake or river. The Plains truly rely upon water, because the region's climate is generally dry. Water not only helps irrigate crops and livestock but it is also a source of transportation for our products, supplies, goods and services. In the past, these water routes were also major fur trading routes. Similar to the Cordillera, these waterways also act as areas of recreation, tourism, as well, as resources like hydro-electricity for Canadians.

Each city in the Interior Plains offers its own unique industries, services and resources. Yet, it is important to discuss major industries found within this landscape. First of all, the farming is extremely important. Crops such as wheat, barley, oats, flax, canola, mustard, potatoes, corn and sugar beets are grown in the plains. Farmers also raise cattle, pigs, poultry, to name a few. Both the crops and livestock produced in this area, feed many Canadians, as well as, others around the world. Moreover, the agricultural industry is also linked with promoting the tourism industry. Many rodeos, stampedes and agricultural shows are held throughout this region for everyone to enjoy.

Secondly the mining of fuel products like oil, natural gas, coal , potash copper, zinc, gold and uranium is crucial. Here Canadians take these resources that lie below the Plains and refine or make these resources into other products that all Canadians need on a daily basis. Lastly many of the forest , low mountain areas found in the Plains are harvested for the lumber industry or else admired for the tourism industry. The resources found in the Interior Plains are transported across Canada to other regions. Since the majority of the Interior Plains are flat, transportation of goods and services is easily accommodated by trains, pipelines, trucks, and planes. In other words the Interior Plains supply a very important link for all Canadians and their economic development. $$$$

To drive across the Prairies is to see endless fields of wheat and canola ripening under a sky that seems to go on forever. The plains of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are among the richest grain-producing regions in the world.

Yet even here are surprises. If you leave the road at Brooks, Alberta, and drive north, you descend into the Red Deer River valley. Here, in desert-like conditions, water and wind have created strange shapes in the sandstone called "hoodoos." The same forces of erosion have uncovered some of the largest concentrations of dinosaur fossils in the world.

Alberta is Canada's leading producer of petroleum. The sedimentary rocks underlying the Prairies have important deposits of oil, natural gas and potash.

CLIMATE

The climate is always different throughout the year. Summers could be from 10 and 30 degrees Celsius. Winters are actually pretty cold. It could be from negative 10 and 30 degrees. Another interesting fact is that people say there is more sunshine there than any other region in Canada.

HOW DOES THE CLIMATE AFFECT THE PEOPLE?

Farmers like it there because there are big plots of land to grow things and there is just the right amount of water and sunlight. there are plenty of jobs like forestry and farming, and there are also sporting events and other opportunites for jobs.

Tourist attractions:

Some places are the Calgary Stampede and Canadian Finals Rodeo. There are also some national parks that you can visit like, Elk Island, Jasper, and Banff.

Activities:

There are a wide variety of things to do in the Interior plains depending on the season, such as cross country, swimming, hiking, fishing, jogging, hunting, and soccer in the summer, and skiing, skating, or hockey in the winter. Warm summers and cold winters help give the best of both worlds, so you can participate in many different activities year round.

Large Communities:

Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg are some of the largest cities. in Edmonton there is the gigantic West Edmonton Mall, In Calgary there is the famous Calgary Stampede, and in Winnipeg there are a wide variety of attractions and events.

Large Cultural Groups:

First Nations groups, Métis, French and many others.

Why have people chosen to live in the Interior Plains region of Canada? There are many reasons why. Some of these reasons include jobs such as forestry and farming, sports such as cross country skiing and fishing, and the climate, which is dry and moderate. As you can see, the Interior Plains region has much to offer to the people who chose to live there.

This region provides people of Canada with wheat and grains. It is also a valuable region for tourism as it holds many large cities with attractions such as the Calgary Stampede or West Edmonton Mall. It provides an abundant amount of jobs for the people of Canada due to the resources found (i.e.. Good soil for growing crops, large quantities of oil and gas).

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Source: Knight’s Canadian Info Collection

ANIMALS OF THE REGION

A variety of wildlife can be found throughout the Interior Plains region. Some of the animals include mule deer, pronghorn antelopes, brown bears, wolves, and elks. These animals make this region their home because there is lots of space and food.