Alberta: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{About|the Canadian province|other uses|Alberta (disambiguation)}}

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| AdmittanceDate = {{start date and age|1905|09|01|mf=y}} (split from [[Northwest Territories|NWT]])

| area_rank = 6th

| area_total_km2 = ~~661848~~661849

| area_land_km2 = ~~640081~~640082

| area_water_km2 = ~~19531~~19532

| PercentWater = 2.9597

| population_demonym = Albertan

| population_rank = 4th

| population_total = ~~4262635~~4368370

| population_ref =<ref name="Alberta">{{cite web|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&GENDERlist=1&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0&DGUIDlist=2021A000248&SearchText=Alberta|work=Statistics Canada|date=February 9, 2022|access-date=February 9, 2022|title=Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Data table|archive-date=February 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209170542/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&GENDERlist=1&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0&DGUIDlist=2021A000248&SearchText=Alberta|url-status=live}}</ref>

| population_as_of = [[2021 Canadian census|2021]]

| population_est = ~~4800768~~4888723

| pop_est_as_of = Q1Q3 2024

| pop_est_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |date=September 27, 2023 |title=Population estimates, quarterly |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1710000901 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928010937/https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1710000901 |archive-date=September 28, 2023 |access-date=September 28, 2023 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]]}}</ref>

| DensityRank = 6th

| Density_km2 = 6.7<ref name="Alberta"/>

| GDP_year = ~~2015~~2022

| GDP_total = {{CAD|~~326~~459.~~433~~288 billion}} <ref ~~name=GDP2011~~>{{~~cite~~Cite web | url=~~http~~https://~~www~~www150.statcan.gc.ca/~~tables-tableaux~~t1/~~sum-som~~tbl1/~~l01~~en/~~cst01/econ15-eng~~cv.~~htm~~ action?pid=3610022101| title=Gross domestic product, expenditure-based, ~~by province~~provincial and ~~territory~~territorial, ~~(2015)~~annual | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=8 November ~~9, 2016~~2023 | access-date=~~January 26, 2017 | archive~~2023-~~date=September 19, 2012 | archive~~11-~~url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919211233/http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/econ15-eng.htm | url-status=live~~ 08}}</ref>

| GDP_rank = 3rd

| GDP_per_capita = {{CAD|78101,~~100~~818}}

| GDP_per_capita_rank = ~~2nd~~3rd

| HDI_year = 2021

| HDI = 0.955<ref>{{cite web|title=Sub-national HDI |url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/CAN/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0|access-date=July 18, 2021 |publisher=Global Data Lab |archive-date=July 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718222007/https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/CAN/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0|url-status=live}}</ref>—Very high

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}}

'''Alberta''' ~~({{IPAc-en|æ|l|ˈ|b|ɜːr|t|ə}} {{respell|al|BUR|tə}})~~ is one of the thirteen [[provinces and territories of Canada|provinces and territories]] of Canada. It is a part of [[Western Canada]] and is one of the three [[Canadian Prairies|prairie provinces]]. Alberta borders [[British Columbia]] to the west, [[Saskatchewan]] to the east, the [[Northwest Territories]] to the north, and the [[U.S. state]] of [[Montana]] to the south. It is one of the only two landlocked provinces in Canada, with Saskatchewan being the other.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|date=April 1, 2011|title=Get to know Canada - Provinces and territories|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/prepare-life-canada/provinces-territories.html|access-date=October 16, 2020|website=aem|archive-date=October 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018025653/https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/prepare-life-canada/provinces-territories.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The eastern part of the province is occupied by the [[Great Plains]], while the western part borders the [[Rocky Mountains]]. The province has a predominantly [[humid continental climate|continental climate]] but experiences quick temperature changes due to air [[arid]]ity. Seasonal temperature swings are less pronounced in western Alberta due to occasional [[Chinook wind]]s.<ref>{{cite web |author=Wenckstern |first=Erin |date=January 8, 2015 |title=Chinook winds and Alberta weather |url=http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/chinook-winds-and-alberta-weather/43265 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004121500/http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/chinook-winds-and-alberta-weather/43265/ |archive-date=October 4, 2015 |access-date=October 3, 2015 |publisher=The Weather Network}}</ref>

Alberta is the fourth -largest province by area at {{convert|661848|km2|abbr=off}},<ref>{{cite web |last=Harrison |first=Raymond O. |title=Alberta - Climate |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Alberta-province |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921052209/https://www.britannica.com/place/Alberta-province |archive-date=September 21, 2017 |access-date=October 16, 2020 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en}}</ref> and the fourth -most populous, being home to 4,262,635 people.<ref name="Alberta"/> Alberta's capital is [[Edmonton]], while [[Calgary]] is its largest city.<ref>{{cite web|title=The 10 Biggest Cities In Alberta|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-10-biggest-cities-in-alberta.html|access-date=October 16, 2020|website=WorldAtlas|date=September 9, 2019|archive-date=October 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017090546/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-10-biggest-cities-in-alberta.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The two are Alberta's largest [[Census geographic units of Canada|census metropolitan areas]].<ref name=StatCan2016CMAsCAs>{{cite web |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=201&SR=1&S=3&O=D&RPP=25 |title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations, 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) |publisher=Statistics Canada |date=February 7, 2018 |access-date=December 29, 2020 |archive-date=February 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223062340/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=201&SR=1&S=3&O=D&RPP=25 |url-status=live }}</ref> More than half of Albertans live in either Edmonton or Calgary, which contributes to continuing the [[Battle of Alberta|rivalry between the two cities]]. [[English language|English]] is the official language of the province. In 2016, 76.0% of Albertans were anglophone, 1.8% were [[Franco-Albertans|francophone]] and 22.2% were [[Allophone (Canada)|allophone]].<ref>[https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/249af6f8-092e-44f4-a065-0a5e48ffc337/resource/82d4417f-71b9-4842-958a-279baec851e3/download/2016-census-language-characteristics-of-albertans.pdf "Census 2016 Language of Albertans"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204091023/https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/249af6f8-092e-44f4-a065-0a5e48ffc337/resource/82d4417f-71b9-4842-958a-279baec851e3/download/2016-census-language-characteristics-of-albertans.pdf |date=December 4, 2019 }} (consulted April 2021)</ref>

[[Economy of Alberta|Alberta's economy]] is based on [[hydrocarbon]]s, [[Petrochemical industry|petrochemical industries]], livestock and agriculture.<ref>{{cite web|title=Key Sectors|url=https://investalberta.ca/industries/?redirect=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116234543/https://investalberta.ca/industries/?redirect=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 16, 2019|access-date=October 16, 2020|website=investalberta.ca}}</ref> The [[Petroleum industry in Canada|oil and gas industry]] has been a pillar of Alberta's economy since 1947, when substantial oil deposits were discovered at [[Leduc No. 1|Leduc No. 1 well.]]<ref name="alberta1947">{{cite web|title=The Leduc Era: 1947 to 1970s - Conventional Oil - Alberta's Energy Heritage|url=http://history.alberta.ca/energyheritage/oil/the-leduc-era-1947-to-1970s/default.aspx|access-date=October 16, 2020|website=history.alberta.ca|archive-date=October 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019204800/http://history.alberta.ca/energyheritage/oil/the-leduc-era-1947-to-1970s/default.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> It has also become a part of the province's identity. Since Alberta is the province most rich in hydrocarbons, it provides 70% of the oil and natural gas produced on Canadian soil. In 2018, Alberta's output was {{CAD|338.2}} billion, 15.27% of Canada's GDP.<ref>{{cite web|title=Economic Dashboard - Gross Domestic Product|url=https://economicdashboard.alberta.ca/grossdomesticproduct|access-date=September 21, 2019|website=economicdashboard.alberta.ca|language=en|archive-date=February 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218224337/https://economicdashboard.alberta.ca/GrossDomesticProduct|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/ref/dict/pop069-eng.cfm|title=Dictionary, Census of Population, 2016 - Market income |~~website~~publisher=~~www12.statcan.gc.ca~~[[Statistics Canada]] |date=May 3, 2017|access-date=November 7, 2019|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308190358/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/ref/dict/pop069-eng.cfm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Until the 1930s, [[Politics of Alberta|Alberta's political landscape]] consisted of 2two major parties: the centre-left [[Alberta Liberal Party|Liberals]] and the [[Agrarianism|agrarian]] [[United Farmers of Alberta]]. Today, Alberta is generally perceived as a conservative province. The right-wing [[Alberta Social Credit Party|Social Credit Party]] held office continually from 1935 to 1971 before the centre-right [[Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta|Progressive Conservatives]] held office continually from 1971 to 2015, the latter being the longest unbroken run in government at the provincial or federal level in Canadian history.

Since before becoming part of Canada, Alberta has been home to several [[First Nations in Alberta|First Nations]] like [[Plains Indians]] and [[Woodland Cree]]. It was also a territory used by [[fur trade]]rs of the rival companies [[Hudson's Bay Company]] and [[North West Company]]. The Dominion of Canada bought the lands that would become Alberta as part of the NWT in 1870.<ref>{{cite web |title=History & Geology|url=https://www.bowvalleynaturalists.org/natural-history/banff-snail/history-geology/|access-date=October 16, 2020|website=Bow Valley Naturalists|language=en-CA|archive-date=February 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214081724/https://www.bowvalleynaturalists.org/natural-history/banff-snail/history-geology/|url-status=dead}}</ref> From the late 1800s to early 1900s, many immigrants arrived to prevent the prairies from being annexed by the USUnited States. Growing wheat and cattle ranching also became very profitable. In 1905, the [[Alberta Act]] was passed, creating the province of Alberta.<ref name="Alberta becomes a Province">{{cite web|title=Alberta becomes a Province|url=http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/events/becoming_province.html|access-date=August 6, 2009|publisher=Alberta Online Encyclopedia|archive-date=April 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422163353/http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/events/becoming_province.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Massive oil reserves were discovered in 1947. The exploitation of [[oil sands]] began in 1967.<ref name="alberta1947"/>

Alberta is renowned for its natural beauty, richness in fossils and for housing important nature reserves. Alberta is home to six [[UNESCO]] -designated [[World Heritage Site]]s: the [[Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site|Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks]], [[Dinosaur Provincial Park]], [[Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump]], [[Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park]], [[Wood Buffalo National Park]] and [[Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park]].<ref>{{cite web|title=World Heritage Sites in Alberta|url=https://www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/management-land-use/national-international-programs/world-heritage-sites-in-alberta/|access-date=October 16, 2020|website=www.albertaparks.ca|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930230556/https://www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/management-land-use/national-international-programs/world-heritage-sites-in-alberta/|url-status=live}}</ref> Other popular sites include [[Banff National Park]], [[Elk Island National Park]], [[Jasper National Park]], [[Waterton Lakes National Park]], and [[Drumheller]].

==Etymology==

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[[File:Alberta Topo Labeled 90 dpi.png|thumb|400px|A topographic map of Alberta, showing cities, towns, municipal district (county) and rural municipality borders, and natural features]]

Alberta, with an area of {{convert|661848|km2|abbr=off}}, is the fourth-largest province after [[Quebec]], [[Ontario]], and [[British Columbia]].<ref name=area>{{cite web|url=http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/phys01-eng.htm|title=Land and freshwater area, by province and territory|publisher=Statistics Canada|date=February 2005|access-date=May 19, 2016|archive-date=~~October~~August 161, 2012|archive-url=https://~~www~~archive.~~webcitation.org~~today/20120801122111/~~6BT3ItfJe?url=~~http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/phys01-eng.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Alberta's southern border is the [[49th parallel north]], which [[Canada–United States border|separates it]] from the U.S. state of [[Montana]]. The [[60th parallel north]] divides Alberta from the [[Northwest Territories]]. The [[110th meridian west]] separates it from the province of [[Saskatchewan]]; while on the west its boundary with British Columbia follows the [[120th meridian west]] south from the Northwest Territories at 60°N until it reaches the [[Continental Divide of the Americas|Continental Divide]] at the [[Rocky Mountains]], and from that point follows the line of peaks marking the Continental Divide in a generally southeasterly direction until it reaches the Montana border at 49°N.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Alberta-province|title=Alberta, Canada|work=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=September 20, 2017|archive-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921052209/https://www.britannica.com/place/Alberta-province|url-status=live}}</ref>

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The largest river is the [[Peace River]] with an average flow of {{cvt|2100|m3/s}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PEACE RIVER AT PEACE POINT |url=https://www.r-arcticnet.sr.unh.edu/v4.0/ViewPoint.pl?Point=801 |access-date=October 29, 2022 |website=www.r-arcticnet.sr.unh.edu}}</ref> The Peace River originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows through [[northern Alberta]] and into the Slave River, a tributary of the [[Mackenzie River]].

Alberta's capital city, [[Edmonton]], is ~~located~~ at about the geographic centre of the province. It is the most northerly major city in Canada and serves as a gateway and hub for resource development in northern Canada. With its proximity to Canada's largest oil fields, the region has most of western Canada's oil refinery capacity. Calgary is about {{cvt|280|km}} south of Edmonton and {{cvt|240|km}} north of Montana, surrounded by extensive ranching country. Almost 75% of the province's population lives in the [[Calgary–Edmonton Corridor]]. The land grant policy to the railways served as a means to populate the province in its early years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://railways.library.ualberta.ca/Maps-2-2-5|title=Atlas of Alberta Railways Maps – Alberta Land Grants|work=ualberta.ca|access-date=May 15, 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042350/http://railways.library.ualberta.ca/Maps-2-2-5/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:1 moraine lake pano 2019.jpg|thumb|[[Moraine Lake]] at [[Banff National Park]]. The [[Alberta Mountain forests]] makes up the southwestern boundary of Alberta.]]

Most of the northern half of the province is [[Taiga|boreal forest]], while the Rocky Mountains along the southwestern boundary are largely [[temperate coniferous forest]]s of the [[Alberta Mountain forests]] and [[Alberta–British Columbia foothills forests]]. The southern quarter of the province is [[prairie]], ranging from [[shortgrass prairie]] in the southeastern corner to [[mixed grass prairie]] in an arc to the west and north of it. The central [[aspen parkland]] region extending in a broad arc between the prairies and the forests, from Calgary, north to Edmonton, and then east to [[Lloydminster]], contains the most [[soil fertility|fertile soil]] in the province and most of the population. Much of the unforested part of Alberta is given over either to grain farming or tocattle ~~[[dairy farming]]~~ranching, with [[mixed farming]] more common in the north and centre, while [[ranch]]ing and [[Irrigation|irrigated agriculture]] predominate in the south.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Alberta|encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia|publisher=Historica Foundation of Canada|year=2008|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alberta|access-date=October 1, 2008|archive-date=December 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213034807/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/alberta/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Alberta [[badlands]] are ~~located~~ in southeastern Alberta, where the [[Red Deer River]] crosses the flat prairie and farmland, and features deep canyons and striking landforms. [[Dinosaur Provincial Park]], near [[Brooks, Alberta|Brooks]], showcases the badlands terrain, desert flora, and remnants from Alberta's past when dinosaurs roamed the then lush landscape.

=== Climate ===

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Alberta has a [[humid continental climate]] with warm summers and cold winters. The province is open to cold Arctic weather systems from the north, which often produce cold winter conditions. As the [[Weather front|fronts]] between the [[air mass]]es shift north and south across Alberta, the temperature can change rapidly. [[Arctic front|Arctic air masses]] in the winter produce extreme minimum temperatures varying from {{cvt|-54|C}} in northern Alberta to {{cvt|-46|C}} in southern Alberta, although temperatures at these extremes are rare.

In the summer, continental air masses have produced record maximum temperatures from {{cvt|32|C}} in the mountains to over {{cvt|40|C}} in southeastern Alberta.<ref name="climatlas">{{cite web|title=Climate of Alberta|work=Agroclimatic Atlas of Alberta|publisher=Government of Alberta|year=2003|url=http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/sag6299|access-date=October 1, 2008|archive-date=August 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828144440/http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/sag6299|url-status=live}}</ref> Alberta is a sunny province. Annual bright sunshine totals range between 1,900 up to just under 2,600 hours per year. Northern Alberta gets about 18 hours of daylight in the summer.<ref name="climatlas"/> The average daytime temperatures range from around {{cvt|21|C}} in the [[Rocky Mountains|Rocky Mountain valleys]] and far north, up to around {{cvt|28|C}} in the dry prairie of the southeast. The northern and western parts of the province experience higher rainfall and lower evaporation rates caused by cooler summer temperatures. The south and east-central portions are prone to drought-like conditions sometimes persisting for several years, although even these areas can receive heavy precipitation, sometimes resulting in flooding.

In the winter, the [[Alberta clipper]], a type of intense, fast-moving winter storm that generally forms over or near the province and, pushed with great speed by the continental polar [[Jet stream|jetstream]], descends over the rest of southern Canada and the northern tier of the United States.<ref name="Alberta Clipper">{{cite web|title=Alberta Clipper|url=http://www.weathernotebook.org/transcripts/2000/02/15.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219182706/http://www.weathernotebook.org/transcripts/2000/02/15.html|archive-date=February 19, 2015|publisher=The Weather Notebook|access-date=October 1, 2012}}</ref> In southwestern Alberta, the cold winters are frequently interrupted by warm, dry [[Chinook wind]]s blowing from the mountains, which can propel temperatures upward from frigid conditions to well above the freezing point in a very short period. During one Chinook recorded at [[Pincher Creek]], temperatures soared from {{cvt|-19|to|22|C}} in just one hour.<ref name="aboutab"/> The region around Lethbridge has the most Chinooks, averaging 30 to 35 Chinook days per year. Calgary has a 56% chance of a [[white Christmas (weather)|white Christmas]], while Edmonton has an 86% chance.<ref name=Canadawhitechristmas>{{cite web|title=Chance of White Christmas|url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=642F4B39-1|publisher=Environment Canada|access-date=December 6, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301190705/http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En|archive-date=March 1, 2013}}</ref>

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!data-sort-type=number|January daily maximum<ref name="Cities Climate"/>

!Annual precipitation<ref name="Cities Climate"/>

!Plant hardiness zone<ref name="NRC-PHZ">{{cite web|title=Plant Hardiness Zone by Municipality|url=http://www.planthardiness.gc.ca/?m=22&lang=en&prov=Alberta&val=A |~~website~~department=[[Natural Resources Canada]] |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=July 27, 2016|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305181823/http://www.planthardiness.gc.ca/?m=22&lang=en&prov=Alberta&val=A|url-status=live}}</ref>

|[[Medicine Hat]] || [[Southern Alberta]] || {{cvt|28|C}} || {{cvt|-3|C}} || {{cvt|323|mm}} || 4b

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Central and northern Alberta and the region farther north are the nesting ground of many migratory birds. Vast numbers of ducks, [[goose|geese]], [[swan]]s and [[pelican]]s arrive in Alberta every spring and nest on or near one of the hundreds of small lakes that dot northern Alberta. [[Eagle]]s, [[hawk]]s, owls, and [[crow]]s are plentiful, and a huge variety of smaller seed and insect-eating birds can be found. Alberta, like other [[Temperate climate|temperate]] regions, is home to [[mosquito]]es, [[fly|flies]], [[wasp]]s, and bees. Rivers and lakes are populated with [[Esox|pike]], [[walleye]], [[Freshwater whitefish|whitefish]], [[rainbow trout|rainbow]], [[Brook trout|speckled]], [[brown trout]], and [[sturgeon]]. Native to the province, the [[bull trout]], is the provincial fish and an official [[Symbols of Alberta|symbol of Alberta]]. Turtles are found in some water bodies in the southern part of the province. Frogs and [[salamander]]s are a few of the [[amphibian]]s that make their homes in Alberta.

Alberta is the only province in ~~Canada—as~~Canada — as well as one of the few places in the ~~world—that~~world — that is free offrom [[brown rat|Norwegian rat]]s.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex3441?opendocument| title=The History of Rat Control in Alberta| publisher=Alberta Department of Agriculture| access-date=January 11, 2007| archive-date=August 28, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828164627/http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex3441?opendocument| url-status=dead}}</ref> Since the early 1950s, the [[Executive Council of Alberta|Government of Alberta]] has operated a rat-control program, which has been so successful that only isolated instances of wild rat sightings are reported, usually of rats arriving in the province aboard trucks or by rail. In 2006, Alberta Agriculture reported zero findings of wild rats; the only rat interceptions have been domesticated rats that have been seized from their owners. It is illegal for individual Albertans to own or keep Norwegian rats of any description; the animals can only be kept in the province by zoos, universities and colleges, and recognized research institutions. In 2009, several rats were

found and captured, in small pockets in southern Alberta,<ref name="Rodents defying Alberta's rat-free claim">{{cite news | url=http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=e2e136e9-fa2d-45ab-91dc-fe9951d40c3e&p=2 | title=Rodents defying Alberta's rat-free claim | last=Markusoff | first=Jason | date=September 1, 2009 | newspaper=Calgary Herald | access-date=November 12, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822090845/http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=e2e136e9-fa2d-45ab-91dc-fe9951d40c3e&p=2 | archive-date=August 22, 2012 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> putting Alberta's rat-free status in jeopardy. A colony of rats was subsequently found in a landfill near [[Medicine Hat]] in 2012 and again in 2014.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/albertas-rat-free-status-in-jeopardy-more-than-dozen-found-in-landfill/article4483243/ | title=Alberta's rat-free status in jeopardy: More than dozen found in landfill | newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]] | date=August 15, 2012 | access-date=August 18, 2012 | archive-date=August 17, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817105207/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/albertas-rat-free-status-in-jeopardy-more-than-dozen-found-in-landfill/article4483243/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/several-rats-found-at-medicine-hat-landfill-one-spotted-at-nearby-farm-1.2602916 | title=Several rats found at Medicine Hat landfill, one spotted at nearby farm | publisher=[[CBC News]] | date=April 8, 2014 | access-date=August 18, 2012 | archive-date=August 19, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819002313/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/several-rats-found-at-medicine-hat-landfill-one-spotted-at-nearby-farm-1.2602916 | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Paleontology ===

[[File:Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|Specimens at the [[Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology]], ~~located~~ in the [[Horseshoe Canyon Formation]] at [[Dinosaur Provincial Park]]. Some of the specimens, from left to right, are ''[[Hypacrosaurus]]'', ''[[Edmontosaurus]]'', ''[[Lambeosaurus]]'', ''[[Gorgosaurus]]'' (both in the background), ''[[Tyrannosaurus]]'', and ''[[Triceratops]]''.]]

Alberta has one of the greatest diversities and abundances of [[Late Cretaceous]] dinosaur fossils worldwide.<ref name="alberta-paleo" /> [[Taxon|Taxa]] are represented by complete fossil skeletons, isolated material, microvertebrate remains, and even [[Bone bed|mass graves]]. At least 38 dinosaur [[Type (biology)|type specimens]] were collected in the province. The [[Foremost Formation]], [[Oldman Formation]] and [[Dinosaur Park Formation]]s collectively comprise the [[Judith River Group]] and are the most thoroughly studied dinosaur-bearing strata in Alberta.<ref name="alberta-paleo" />

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In 2016, the [[2016 Fort McMurray wildfire|Fort McMurray wildfire]] resulted in the largest fire evacuation of residents in Alberta's history, as more than 80,000 people were ordered to evacuate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fort McMurray residents flee in the largest fire evacuation in Alberta's history|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/fort-mcmurray-wildfire-pushed-back-even-as-temperatures-climb|access-date=September 26, 2020|website=Edmonton Journal|language=en-CA|archive-date=May 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510222635/http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/fort-mcmurray-wildfire-pushed-back-even-as-temperatures-climb|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|agency=The Canadian Press|date=May 1, 2017|title=One year later: A look back at how the Fort McMurray wildfires unfolded - BNN Bloomberg|url=https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/a-look-back-at-how-the-fort-mcmurray-wildfires-unfolded-1.739324|access-date=September 26, 2020|website=BNN|archive-date=March 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301130253/https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/a-look-back-at-how-the-fort-mcmurray-wildfires-unfolded-1.739324|url-status=live}}</ref>

~~Since~~From 2020 until restrictions were lifted in 2022, Alberta ~~has been~~was affected by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="CBC_20201019">{{Cite news|date=October 19, 2020|title=Alberta hits new pandemic peak for active COVID-19 cases|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-covid-19-coronavirus-active-cases-pandemic-1.5768458|access-date=November 10, 2020|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101042029/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-covid-19-coronavirus-active-cases-pandemic-1.5768458|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Demographics ==

[[File:Alberta population density 2021.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|Population density of Alberta]]

The [[2021 Canadian census]] reported Alberta had a population of 4,262,635 living in 1,633,220 of its 1,772,670 total dwellings, an 4.8% change from its 2016 population of 4,067,175. With a land area of {{cvt|634658.27|km2}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|4262635|634658.27|km2|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref name=Alberta/> [[Statistics Canada]] estimated the province to have a population of 4,~~543~~800,~~111~~768 in Q3Q1 of ~~2022~~2024.<ref name=StatCan2017Q1Est>{{cite web|url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1710000901|title=Population by year of Canada of Canada and territories|publisher=Statistics Canada|date=September 26, 2014|access-date=September 29, 2018|archive-date=June 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624174426/https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1710000901|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 2000, Alberta's population has experienced a relatively high rate of growth, mainly because of its burgeoning economy. Between 2003 and 2004, the province had high birthrates (on par with some larger provinces such as British Columbia), relatively high immigration, and a high rate of [[Interprovincial migration in Canada|interprovincial migration]] compared to other provinces.<ref name="Components of population growth of Alberta">{{cite web | url=http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo33c.htm | title=Components of population growth, by province and territory | publisher=Statistics Canada | access-date=August 7, 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930052549/http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/demo33c.htm |archive-date=September 30, 2008}}</ref>

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About 81% of the population lives in urban areas and only about 19% in rural areas. The [[Calgary–Edmonton Corridor]] is the most urbanized area in the province and is one of the most densely populated areas of Canada.<ref name="muntypes">{{cite web | url=http://www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/am_types_of_municipalities_in_alberta | publisher=Alberta Municipal Affairs | title=Types of Municipalities in Alberta | date=May 16, 2006 | access-date=May 19, 2016 | archive-date=March 26, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326172759/http://municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/am_types_of_municipalities_in_alberta | url-status=dead }}</ref> Many of Alberta's cities and towns have experienced very high rates of growth in recent history.{{when|date=April 2020}} Alberta's population rose from 73,022 in 1901<ref name="Population urban and rural Alberta">{{cite web | url=https://www65.statcan.gc.ca/acyb02/1927/acyb02_19270133032a-eng.htm | title=Population urban and rural, by province and territory | date=March 31, 2008 | publisher=Statistics Canada | access-date=January 23, 2022 | archive-date=January 24, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124063540/https://www65.statcan.gc.ca/acyb02/1927/acyb02_19270133032a-eng.htm | url-status=live }}</ref> to 3,290,350 according to the [[2006 Canadian census|2006 census]].<ref name="Population and dwelling counts, for Alberta">{{cite web | url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/rel/Rp-eng.cfm?TABID=2&LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GK=0&GRP=0&PID=94533&PRID=0&PTYPE=89103&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2006&THEME=81&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= | title=Profile for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 2006 Census | publisher=Statistics Canada | access-date=January 23, 2022 | archive-date=January 24, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124063542/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/rel/Rp-eng.cfm?TABID=2&LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GK=0&GRP=0&PID=94533&PRID=0&PTYPE=89103&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2006&THEME=81&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= | url-status=live }}</ref>

According to the 2016 census Alberta has 779,155 residents (19.2%) between the ages of 0–14, 2,787,805 residents (68.5%) between the ages of 15–64, and 500,215 residents (12.3%) aged 65 and over.<ref name=":0">{{cite web~~|last=Government~~ ~~of Canada|first=Statistics Canada~~|date=February 8, 2017|title=Census Profile, 2016 Census - Alberta [Province] and Canada [Country]|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=PR&Code1=48&Geo2=PR&Code2=01&SearchText=Alberta&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0|access-date=September 26, 2020 |~~website~~publisher=~~www12.statcan.gc.ca~~[[Statistics Canada]] |archive-date=June 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614011505/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=PR&Code1=48&Geo2=PR&Code2=01&SearchText=Alberta&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0|url-status=live}}</ref>

Additionally, as per the 2016 census, 1,769,500 residents hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree, 895,885 residents have obtained a secondary (high) school diploma or equivalency certificate, and 540,665 residents do not have any certificate, diploma or degree.<ref name=":0" />

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! [[Census metropolitan areas]]:

! 2016<ref name=":1">{{cite web~~|last=Government~~ ~~of Canada|first=Statistics Canada~~|date=February 8, 2017|title=Population and Dwelling Count Highlight Tables, 2016 Census|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=205&S=3&RPP=100|access-date=September 26, 2020 |~~website~~publisher=~~www12.statcan.gc.ca~~[[Statistics Canada]] |archive-date=September 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923090409/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=205&S=3&RPP=100|url-status=live}}</ref>

! 2011<ref name=StatCan2011CMAs>{{cite web | url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=205&S=3&RPP=50 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for census metropolitan areas, 2011 and 2006 censuses | publisher=Statistics Canada | access-date=April 3, 2012 | archive-date=June 22, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622041944/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=205&S=3&RPP=50 | url-status=live }}</ref>

! 2006<ref name=StatCan2006CMAs>{{cite web | url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=202&SR=1&S=3&O=D&RPP=50&PR=48 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations, 2006 and 2001 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) | year=2006 | publisher=Statistics Canada | access-date=December 5, 2010 | archive-date=October 15, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015194911/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=202&SR=1&S=3&O=D&RPP=50&PR=48 | url-status=live }}</ref>

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! [[List of communities in Alberta#Urban municipalities|Urban municipalities]] (10 largest):

! 2016<ref name=":2">{{cite web~~|last=Government~~ ~~of Canada|first=Statistics Canada~~|date=February 8, 2017|title=Population and Dwelling Count Highlight Tables, 2016 Census|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=3&O=D&RPP=25&PR=48&CMA=0#tPopDwell|access-date=September 26, 2020 |~~website~~publisher=~~www12.statcan.gc.ca~~[[Statistics Canada]] |archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101234942/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=3&O=D&RPP=25&PR=48&CMA=0#tPopDwell|url-status=live}}</ref>

! 2011<ref name=StatCan2011CSDs>{{cite web | url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=51&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48&CMA=0 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta) | publisher=Statistics Canada | access-date=April 3, 2012 | archive-date=July 22, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722143610/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=51&O=A&RPP=9999&PR=48&CMA=0 | url-status=live }}</ref>

! 2006<ref name=StatCan2006CSDs>{{cite web | url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=3&O=D&RPP=9999&PR=48 | title=Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2006 and 2001 censuses – 100% data (Alberta) | publisher=Statistics Canada | year=2006 | access-date=December 5, 2010 | archive-date=July 22, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722154714/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table-Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=302&SR=1&S=3&O=D&RPP=9999&PR=48 | url-status=live }}</ref>

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=== Language ===

As of the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 Canadian Census]], the ten most spoken languages in the province included English (4,109,720 or 98.37%), French (260,415 or 6.23%), Tagalog (172,625 or 4.13%), Punjabi (126,385 or 3.03%), Spanish (116,070 or 2.78%), Hindi (94,015 or 2.25%), Mandarin (82,095 or 1.97%), Arabic (76,760 or 1.84%), Cantonese (74,960 or 1.79%), and German (65,370 or 1.56%).<ref name="language2021">{{Cite web ~~|last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada~~ |date=August 17, 2022 |title=Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Profile table Alberta [Province] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?LANG=E&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&DGUIDlist=2021A000248&HEADERlist=,15,13,18,12,16,14,17&SearchText=Alberta |access-date=August 17, 2022 |~~website~~publisher=~~www12.statcan.gc.ca~~[[Statistics Canada]] }}</ref> The question on knowledge of languages allows for multiple responses.

As of the 2016 census, English is the most common mother tongue, with 2,991,485 native speakers.<ref name=":0" /> This is followed by [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], with 99,035 speakers, German, with 80,050 speakers, French, with 72,150 native speakers, and [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], with 68,695 speakers.<ref name=":0" />

The 2006 census found that English, with 2,576,670 native speakers, was the most common mother tongue of Albertans, representing 79.99% of the population. The next most common mother tongues were Chinese with 97,275 native speakers (3.02%), followed by German with 84,505 native speakers (2.62%) and French with 61,225 (1.90%).<ref name="Detailed Mother Tongue Alberta">{{cite web | url=http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GID=838045&GK=0&GRP=1&PID=89201&PRID=0&PTYPE=88971,97154&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2006&THEME=70&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= | title=Detailed Mother Tongue (186), Knowledge of Official Languages (5), Age Groups (17A) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 and 2006 Censuses – 20% Sample Data | publisher=Statistics Canada | access-date=August 7, 2009 | archive-date=January 14, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114170646/http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GID=838045&GK=0&GRP=1&PID=89201&PRID=0&PTYPE=88971,97154&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2006&THEME=70&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= | url-status=dead }}</ref> Other mother tongues include: [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], with 36,320 native speakers (1.13%); [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], with 29,740 (0.92%); [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]], with 29,455 (0.91%); Spanish, with 29,125 (0.90%); [[Polish language|Polish]], with 21,990 (0.68%); [[Arabic]], with 20,495 (0.64%); [[Dutch language|Dutch]], with 19,980 (0.62%); and [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]], with 19,350 (0.60%). The most common aboriginal language is [[Cree language|Cree]] 17,215 (0.53%). Other common mother tongues include Italian with 13,095 speakers (0.41%); [[Urdu]] with 11,275 (0.35%); and [[Korean language|Korean]] with 10,845 (0.33%); then [[Hindi]] 8,985 (0.28%); [[Persian language|Persian]] 7,700 (0.24%); [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] 7,205 (0.22%); and [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] 6,770 (0.21%).

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[[File:St Josaphat from W.jpg|thumb|[[St. Josaphat Cathedral|St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral]] in Edmonton]]

According to the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 census]], religious groups in Alberta included:<ref name="2021censusB">{{Cite web ~~|last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada~~ |date=October 26, 2022 |title= Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Alberta&DGUIDlist=2021A000248&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1&HEADERlist=0 |access-date=November 9, 2022 |~~website~~publisher=~~www12.statcan.gc.ca~~[[Statistics Canada]] }}</ref>

*[[Christianity in Canada|Christianity]] (2,009,820 persons or 48.1%)

*[[Irreligion in Canada|Irreligion]] (1,676,045 persons or 40.1%)

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*Other (33,220 persons or 0.8%)

As of the [[2011 Canadian census|2011 National Household Survey]], the largest religious group was Roman Catholic, representing 24.3% of the population. Alberta had the second-highest percentage of [[Irreligion|non-religious]] residents among the provinces (after British Columbia) at 31.6% of the population. Of the remainder, 7.5% of the population identified themselves as belonging to the [[United Church of Canada]], while 3.9% were [[Anglican Church of Canada|Anglican]]. [[Lutheranism|Lutherans]] made up 3.3% of the population while [[Baptists]] comprised 1.9%.<ref name="NHS Profile, Alberta, 2011">{{cite web | url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=PR&Code1=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Alberta&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&GeoLevel=PR&GeoCode=48 | title=NHS Profile, Alberta, 2011 | date=May 8, 2013 | publisher=Statistics Canada | access-date=November 7, 2014 | archive-date=December 4, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204235129/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=PR&Code1=48&Data=Count&SearchText=Alberta&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&GeoLevel=PR&GeoCode=48 | url-status=live }}</ref> ~~The remainder belonged to a wide variety of different religious affiliations, none of which constituted more than 2% of the population.~~

Members of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|LDS Church]] are mostly concentrated in the extreme south of the province. Alberta has a population of [[Hutterites]], a communal [[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]] sect similar to the [[Mennonites]], and has a significant population of [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventists]]. Alberta is home to several [[Byzantine Rite]] Churches as part of the legacy of Eastern European immigration, including the [[Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton]], and the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]]'s [[Ukrainian Orthodox Eparchy of Western Canada|Western Diocese]] which is based in Edmonton. Muslims made up 3.2% of the population, Sikhs 1.5%, Buddhists 1.2%, and Hindus 1.0%. Many of these are immigrants, but others have roots that go back to the first settlers of the prairies. Canada's oldest mosque, the [[Al-Rashid Mosque]], is ~~located~~ in Edmonton,<ref name="Al-Rashid Mosque">{{cite web | url=http://muslim-canada.org/alrashidmosque.html | title=Al-Rashid Mosque | publisher=Canadian Islamic Congress | access-date=August 7, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305234233/http://muslim-canada.org/alrashidmosque.html | archive-date=March 5, 2009 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> whereas Calgary is home to Canada's largest mosque, the [[Baitun Nur Mosque]].<ref name="Baitun Nur">{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=c1ce5c3b-de23-4093-85b8-36162ac636a6 |title=Politicians and faithful open Canada's largest mosque |access-date=September 2, 2010 |date=July 5, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012150130/http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=c1ce5c3b-de23-4093-85b8-36162ac636a6 |archive-date=October 12, 2008 }}</ref> Alberta is also home to a growing Jewish population of about 15,400 people who constituted 0.3% of Alberta's population. Most of Alberta's Jews live in the metropolitan areas of Calgary (8,200) and Edmonton (5,500).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0001_0_00683.html |author=Jewish Virtual Library |title=Encyclopedia Judaica: Alberta, Canada |access-date=December 15, 2016 |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220123818/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0001_0_00683.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Economy ==

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{{See also|List of Canadian provinces and territories by gross domestic product}}

[[File:Petroleum resources in Alberta, according to the Argonne National Labs.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Petroleum resources in Alberta]]

Alberta's economy was one of the strongest in the world, supported by the burgeoning petroleum industry and to a lesser extent, agriculture and technology. In 2013, Alberta's per capita GDP exceeded that of the United States, Norway, or Switzerland,<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/provincial/economy/income-per-capita.aspx | work= How Canada Performs | publisher= The Conference Board of Canada | title= Provincial and Territorial Ranking: Income per Capita | date= May 2014 | access-date= April 19, 2015 | archive-date= April 19, 2015 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150419202832/http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/provincial/economy/income-per-capita.aspx | url-status= live }}</ref> and was the highest of any province in Canada at {{CAD|84,390.}} This was 56% higher than the national average of {{CAD|53,870}} and more than twice that of some of the [[Atlantic Canada|Atlantic provinces]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/econ15-eng.htm | title= Gross domestic product, expenditure-based, by province and territory | publisher= Statistics Canada | date= November 5, 2014 | access-date= November 6, 2014 | archive-date= September 19, 2012 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120919211233/http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/econ15-eng.htm | url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/demo02a-eng.htm | title=Population by year, by province and territory | publisher=Statistics Canada | date=September 27, 2012 | access-date=November 21, 2012 | archive-date=November 11, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111161152/http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/demo02a-eng.htm | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2006, the deviation from the national average was the largest for any province in [[History of Canada|Canadian history]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-010-x/00906/9298-eng.htm| format=PDF| publisher=Statistics Canada| title=The Alberta economic Juggernaut:The boom on the rose| date=September 2006| access-date=May 19, 2016| archive-date=June 11, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611040420/http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-010-x/00906/9298-eng.htm| url-status=live}}</ref> According to the 2006 census,<ref name="Median earnings for economic families with earnings Alberta">{{cite web | url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/income/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=5&Data1=1&Data2=1&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page | title=Median earnings for economic families with earnings, both senior and non-senior families, for Canada, provinces and territories – 20% sample data | publisher=Statistics Canada | access-date=August 9, 2009 | archive-date=May 6, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506115228/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/income/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=5&Data1=1&Data2=1&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page | url-status=dead }}</ref> the median annual family income after taxes was $70,986 in Alberta (compared to $60,270 in Canada as a whole). In 2014, Alberta had the second-largest economy in Canada after Ontario, with a GDP exceeding {{CAD|376 billion}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/econ15-eng.htm|title=Gross domestic product, expenditure-based, by province and territory |~~first~~publisher=~~Government of~~[[Statistics Canada,]] ~~Statistics|last=Canada|website=statcan.gc.ca~~|date=November 19, 2012|access-date=September 27, 2013|archive-date=September 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919211233/http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/econ15-eng.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The GDP of the province calculated at basic prices rose by 4.6% in 2017 to $327.4 billion, which was the largest increase recorded in Canada, and it ended two consecutive years of decreases.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://economicdashboard.alberta.ca/GrossDomesticProduct|title=Gross Domestic Product|website=Economic Dashboard|access-date=April 22, 2019|archive-date=February 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218224337/https://economicdashboard.alberta.ca/GrossDomesticProduct|url-status=live}}</ref>

Alberta's [[debt-to-GDP ratio]] is projected to peak at 12.1% in [[fiscal year]] 2021–2022, falling to 11.3% the following year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rbc.com/economics/economic-reports/pdf/canadian-fiscal/prov_fiscal.pdf|title=Canadian Federal and Provincial Fiscal Tables|date=January 14, 2020|website=Economic Reports|publisher=Royal Bank of Canada|access-date=January 18, 2020|archive-date=February 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205160447/http://www.rbc.com/economics/economic-reports/pdf/canadian-fiscal/prov_fiscal.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Calgary-Edmonton Corridor is the most urbanized region in the province and one of the densest in Canada. The region covers a distance of roughly {{cvt|400|km}} north to south. In 2001, the population of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor was 2.15 million (72% of Alberta's population).<ref name="CECorridor">{{cite web|url=http://geodepot.statcan.ca/Diss/Highlights/Page9/Page9d_e.cfm |title=Calgary-Edmonton corridor |work=Statistics Canada, 2001 Census of Population |date=January 20, 2003 |access-date=March 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223191204/http://geodepot.statcan.ca/Diss/Highlights/Page9/Page9d_e.cfm |archive-date=February 23, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is also one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. A 2003 study by [[Toronto-Dominion Bank|TD Bank Financial Group]] found the corridor to be the only Canadian urban centre to amass a United States level of wealth while maintaining a Canadian style [[quality of life]], offering [[universal health care]] benefits. The ~~study~~report found that GDP per capita in the corridor was 10% above average United States metropolitan areas and 40% above other [[List of cities in Canada|Canadian cities]] at that time.<ref>{{cite news |title=A corridor with clout |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/a-corridor-with-clout/article750283/ |website=The Globe and Mail |date=April 28, 2003 |access-date=4 June 2024}}</ref>

The [[Fraser Institute]] states that Alberta also has very high levels of [[economic freedom]] and rates Alberta as the freest economy in Canada,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://oldfraser.lexi.net/media/media_releases/2001/20010626.html |title=Alberta Rated as Best Investment Climate |publisher=The Fraser Institute |date=November 2006 |access-date=March 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070416011123/http://oldfraser.lexi.net/media/media_releases/2001/20010626.html |archive-date=April 16, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and second-freest economy amongst U.S. states and Canadian provinces.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.freetheworld.com/efna.html |title=Economic Freedom of North America 2008 Annual Report |publisher=The Fraser Institute |year=2008 |access-date=August 1, 2008 |isbn=978-0-88975-213-9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621175010/http://www.freetheworld.com/efna.html |archive-date=June 21, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2014, merchandise exports totalled US$121.4 billion. Energy revenues totalled $111.7 billion and Energy resource exports totalled $90.8 billion. Farm Cash receipts from agricultural products totalled $12.9 billion. Shipments of forest products totalled $5.4 billion while exports were $2.7 billion. Manufacturing sales totalled $79.4 billion, and Alberta's [[information and communications technology]] (ICT) industries generated over $13 billion in revenue. In total, Alberta's 2014 GDP amassed $364.5 billion in 2007 dollars, or $414.3 billion in 2015 dollars. In 2015, Alberta's GDP grew unstably despite low oil prices, with growth rates as high 4.4% and as low as 0.2%.<ref name="albertacanada.com">{{cite web|url=http://albertacanada.com/business/statistics/economic-highlights.aspx|title=Economic highlights|first=Government of|last=Alberta|date=December 12, 2017|website=albertacanada.com|access-date=August 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703162735/http://albertacanada.com/business/statistics/economic-highlights.aspx|archive-date=July 3, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/related/inflation-calculator/|title=Inflation Calculator|website=bankofcanada.ca|access-date=August 3, 2015|archive-date=September 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921005344/http://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/related/inflation-calculator/|url-status=live}}</ref>

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=== Agriculture and forestry ===

[[File:Cows in the Foothills - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Cows in [[Rocky View County|Rocky View]]. Nearly one-half of Canadian beef is produced here.]]

Agriculture has a significant position in the province's economy. The province has over three million head of cattle,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$Department/deptdocs.nsf/all/rsb13754 | title=Alberta Livestock Inspections – October 2011 | date=November 24, 2011 | publisher=Government of Alberta | access-date=December 13, 2011 | archive-date=January 28, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128130424/http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$Department/deptdocs.nsf/all/rsb13754 | url-status=live }}</ref> and Alberta beef has a healthy worldwide market. ~~Nearly~~Forty ~~one half~~percent of all Canadian beef is produced in Alberta.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why Alberta's isgrasslands ~~one~~are ofthe perfect place to raise cattle |url=https://www.cbc.ca/2017/we-are-the-best/why-alberta-s-grasslands-are-the-perfect-place-to-raise-cattle-1.4156953 ~~top~~|website=CBC ~~producers~~News of|access-date=4 June 2024}}</ref> The province also produces the ~~plains~~most [[American bison|~~buffalo (~~bison)]] ~~for~~meat ~~the~~in ~~consumer~~Canada.<ref>{{cite ~~market~~web |title=Bison ranching in Alberta: a lifestyle, not a job |url=https://www.cbc.ca/2017/we-are-the-best/bison-ranching-in-alberta-a-lifestyle-not-a-job-1.4222112 |publisher=[[CBC News]] |access-date=4 June 2024}}</ref> Sheep for wool and mutton are also raised.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sheep and lamb |date=April 2021 |url=https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/sector/animal-industry/red-meat-and-livestock-market-information/sheep-and-lamb |publisher=[[Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada]] |access-date=4 June 2024}}</ref>

Wheat and [[canola]]<ref name="Canola">

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|{{*}} {{cite journal | date=2014 | volume=36 | issue=sup1 | publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] ([[Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada]]) | journal=[[Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology]] | issn=0706-0661 | last1=Peng | first1=Gary | last2=Lahlali | first2=Rachid | last3=Hwang | first3=Sheau-Fang | last4=Pageau | first4=Denis | last5=Hynes | first5=Russell K. | last6=McDonald | first6=Mary Ruth | last7=Gossen | first7=Bruce D. | last8=Strelkov | first8=Stephen E. | title=Crop rotation, cultivar resistance, and fungicides/biofungicides for managing clubroot (''Plasmodiophora brassicae'') on canola | doi=10.1080/07060661.2013.860398 | pages=99–112 | bibcode=2014CaJPP..36S..99P | s2cid=85013123}}

|{{*}} {{cite journal | date=2014 | volume=36 | issue=sup1 | publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] ([[Canadian Phytopathological Society]]) | journal=[[Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology]] | issn=0706-0661 | last1=Hwang | first1=S.-F. | last2=Howard | first2=R. J. | last3=Strelkov | first3=S. E. | last4=Gossen | first4=B. D. | last5=Peng | first5=G. | title=Management of clubroot (''Plasmodiophora brassicae'') on canola (''Brassica napus'') in western Canada | doi=10.1080/07060661.2013.863806 | pages=49–65 | bibcode=2014CaJPP..36S..49H | s2cid=85393051}}

|{{*}} {{cite journal | year=2018 | volume=101 | publisher=[[Elsevier]] ([[European Society for Agronomy]]) | last1=Hegewald | journal=[[European Journal of Agronomy]] | issn=1161-0301 | first1=Hannes | last2=Wensch-Dorendorf | first2=Monika | last3=Sieling | first3=Klaus | last4=Christen | first4=Olaf | title=Impacts of break crops and crop rotations on oilseed rape productivity: A review | doi=10.1016/j.eja.2018.08.003 | pages=63–77 | bibcode=2018EuJAg.101...63H | s2cid=92683017}}

|{{*}} {{cite journal | issue=1 | date=2018 | volume=9 | publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] | journal=[[Virulence (journal)|Virulence]] | issn=2150-5594 | last1=Pérez-López | first1=Edel | last2=Waldner | first2=Matthew | last3=Hossain | first3=Musharaf | last4=Kusalik | first4=Anthony J. | last5=Wei | first5=Yangdou | last6=Bonham-Smith | first6=Peta C. | last7=Todd | first7=Christopher D. | title=Identification of ''Plasmodiophora brassicae'' effectors — A challenging goal | doi=10.1080/21505594.2018.1504560 | pages=1344–1353 | pmid=30146948 | pmc=6177251 | s2cid=52090181}}

|{{*}} {{cite journal | publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] ([[Canadian Phytopathological Society]]) | journal=[[Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology]] | last1=Gossen | first1=Bruce D. | last2=Carisse | first2=Odile | last3=Kawchuk | first3=Lawrence M. | last4=Van Der Heyden | first4=Hervé | last5=McDonald | first5=Mary Ruth | title=Recent changes in fungicide use and the fungicide insensitivity of plant pathogens in Canada | volume=36 | issue=3 | date=July 3, 2014 | issn=0706-0661 | doi=10.1080/07060661.2014.925506 | pages=327–340 | bibcode=2014CaJPP..36..327G | s2cid=85040709}}

}}

</ref> are primary farm crops, with Alberta leading the provinces in [[spring wheat]] production; other [[cereal|grains]] are also prominent. Much of the farming is dryland farming, often with fallow seasons interspersed with cultivation. Continuous cropping (in which there is no fallow season) is gradually becoming a more common mode of production because of increased profits and a reduction of [[soil erosion]]. Across the province, the once common [[grain elevator]] is slowly being lost as rail lines are decreasing; farmers typically truck the grain to central points.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gerson|first1=Jen|title=Preserving prairie cathedrals: Progress is leaving Alberta's historic grain elevators in its wake|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/preserving-prairie-cathedrals-progress-is-leaving-albertas-historic-grain-elevators-in-its-wake|access-date=January 18, 2017|work=National Post|date=April 7, 2013|archive-date=June 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614011533/https://nationalpost.com/category/news/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Alberta is the leading [[beekeeping]] province of Canada, with some beekeepers wintering [[Beehive|hives]] indoors in specially designed barns in southern Alberta, then migrating north during the summer into the [[Peace River]] valley where the season is short but the working days are long for [[Western honey bee|honeybee]]s to produce honey from [[clover]] and [[Chamaenerion angustifolium|fireweed]]. [[Hybrid (biology)|Hybrid]] canola also requires bee pollination, and some beekeepers service this need.<ref>{{cite web|title=Beekeeping in Alberta|url=http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/content/ag_in_alberta_beekeeping|website=Government of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development|publisher=Government of Alberta|access-date=January 18, 2017|archive-date=January 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118171830/http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/content/ag_in_alberta_beekeeping|url-status=live}}</ref>

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=== Industry ===

Alberta is the largest producer of [[petroleum|conventional crude oil]], [[synthetic crude]], [[natural gas]] and gas products in Canada. Alberta is the world's second-largest exporter of natural gas and the fourth-largest producer.<ref name="Alaska and Alberta - An Overview">{{cite web| url=http://economic.alberta.ca/documents/Alaska-AB.pdf| title=Alaska – Alberta Relations| publisher=Government of Alberta| access-date=May 19, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611125209/http://economic.alberta.ca/documents/Alaska-AB.pdf| archive-date=June 11, 2016| url-status=dead| df=mdy-all}}</ref> Two of the largest producers of [[petrochemical]]s in North America are ~~located~~ in central and north-central Alberta. In both Red Deer and Edmonton, [[polyethylene]] and [[Polyvinyl chloride|vinyl]] manufacturers produce products that are shipped all over the world. Edmonton's [[oil refinery|oil refineries]] provide the raw materials for a large [[petrochemical industry]] to the east of Edmonton.

The [[Athabasca oil sands]] surrounding [[Fort McMurray]] have estimated [[unconventional oil]] reserves approximately equal to the conventional oil reserves of the rest of the world, estimated to be {{convert|1.~~6 trillion~~6e12|oilbbl|km3}}.<ref ~~barrels~~name="a496">{{cite ~~(254~~web | title=How Much CO2 Comes from Alberta Crude Oil? Much More Than You Think | website=Alberta Beyond Fossil Fuels | date=2023-02-06 | url=https://albertabeyondfossilfuels.ca/greenhouse-gas-emissions-from-alberta-crude-oil/?utm_source=dlvr.it&~~nbsp;km3~~utm_medium=mastodon | access-date=2024-07-08}}</~~sup~~ref>). Many companies employ both conventional [[surface mining|strip mining]] and non-conventional [[in situ]] methods to extract the [[bitumen]] from the [[oil sands]]. As of late 2006, there were over $100 billion in oil sands projects under construction or in the planning stages in northeastern Alberta.<ref name="Canada's Oil and Gas Industry">{{cite web | url=http://www.buyusa.gov/montana/canadaoilsands.html | title=Canada Oilsands Opportunities | publisher=U.S. Commercial Service | access-date=August 9, 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206021755/http://www.buyusa.gov/montana/canadaoilsands.html |archive-date=December 6, 2008}}</ref>

Another factor determining the viability of oil extraction from the oil sands is the [[price of oil]]. The [[World oil market chronology from 2003|oil price increases since 2003]] have made it profitable to extract this oil, which in the past would give little profit or even a loss. By mid-2014, rising costs and stabilizing oil prices threatened the economic viability of some projects. An example of this was the shelving of the Joslyn ~~north~~North project<ref name="z848">{{cite web | title=Total E&P Canada Ltd. Joslyn North Mine Project | website=Open Government | date=2008-01-22 | url=https://open.alberta.ca/publications/environmental-assessment-total-e-p-canada-ltd-joslyn-north-mine-project | access-date=2024-07-08}}</ref> in the Athabasca region in May 2014.<ref name="TotalJoslyn">{{cite news | title=Cost escalation leads Total to put Joslyn oil sands project on hold | url=https://edmontonjournal.com/business/layoff+talk+swirls+Total+update+Joslyn+oilsands+status/9888984/story.html | access-date=June 14, 2014 | newspaper=Edmonton Journal | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605062522/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/layoff+talk+swirls+Total+update+Joslyn+oilsands+status/9888984/story.html | archive-date=June 5, 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

With concerted effort and support from the provincial government, several high-tech industries have found their birth in Alberta, notably patents related to interactive [[liquid-crystal display]] systems.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130809034342/http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5448263.html Interactive display system]—US Patent U.S. Patent No. 5,448,263; {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215131340/http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5448263.html |date=February 15, 2009}}—SMART Technologies</ref> With a growing economy, Alberta has several financial institutions dealing with civil and private funds.

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==Government and politics==

{{Main|Politics of Alberta|Monarchy in Alberta}}{{See also|List of premiers of Alberta|List of Alberta general elections|Executive Council of Alberta|List of Alberta public agencies}}

[[File:Alberta's Specialized and Rural Municipalities.png|thumb|upright=1.3|alt=Locations of Alberta's specialized and rural municipalities|Distribution of Alberta's [[List of specialized municipalities in Alberta|6 specialized municipalities]] (red) and 74 rural municipalities, which include [[List of municipal districts in Alberta|municipal districts]] (often named as [[List of municipal districts in Alberta|counties]]) (orange), [[Improvement districts of Alberta|improvement districts]] (dark green) and [[Special Areas Board|special areas]] (light green) (2020)]]

The Government of Alberta is organized as a [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary]] democracy with a unicameral legislature. Its [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] legislature—the [[Legislative Assembly of Alberta|Legislative Assembly]]—consists of 87 members elected [[First-past-the-post voting|first past the post]] (FPTP) from single-member constituencies.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=mla_home | title=Legislative Assembly of Alberta | work=assembly.ab.ca | access-date=May 15, 2016 | archive-date=May 14, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514220035/http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=mla_home | url-status=live }}</ref> Locally municipal governments and school boards are elected and operate separately. Their boundaries do not necessarily coincide.

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===Public transit===

Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, and Lethbridge have substantial [[Public transport|public transit]] systems. In addition to buses, Calgary and Edmonton operate [[Light rail|light rail transit]] (LRT) systems. [[~~Edmonton Light Rail Transit|~~Edmonton LRT]], which is underground in the downtown core and on the surface outside the downtown core was the first of the modern generation of light rail systems to be built in North America, while the Calgary [[CTrain~~|C Train~~]] has one of the highest numbers of daily riders of any LRT system in North America.

===Rail===

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Passenger trains include [[Via Rail]]'s ''[[Canadian (train)|Canadian]]'' (Toronto–Vancouver) and [[Jasper–Prince Rupert train]]s, which use the CN mainline and pass through Jasper National Park and parallel the Yellowhead Highway during at least part of their routes. The [[Rocky Mountaineer]] operates two sections: one from Vancouver to Banff over CP tracks, and a section that travels over CN tracks to Jasper.

Alberta's premier, [[Danielle Smith]] has also confirmed a 15-year master plan to expand passenger rail into Alberta.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alberta government announces master plan to expand rail passenger service {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10458312/alberta-passenger-rail-master-plan/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref> This plan is set to provide rail services to [[Lethbridge]], [[Medicine Hat]], [[Banff, Alberta|Banff]], [[Grande Prairie|Grand Prairie]], [[Fort McMurray]], and most importantly an intercity rail service between [[Edmonton]] and [[Calgary]], as well as a [[commuter rail]] systems in the respective cities. Groundbreaking is set to start in 2027, according to Transportation Minister [[Devin Dreeshen]].

===Road===

Alberta has over {{cvt|473000|km}} of highways and roads in its road network,.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fletcher |first=Robson |date=October 1, 2018 |title=How Alberta built enough roads to reach the moon |work=[[CBC News]] |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-roads-highways-statistics-data-history-1.4824736}}</ref> ~~of which nearly {{cvt|41000|km}} are paved.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}~~ The main north–south corridor is [[Alberta Highway 2|Highway 2]], which begins south of [[Cardston]] at the [[Carway, Alberta|Carway]] border crossing and is part of the [[CANAMEX Corridor]]. Beginning at the [[Coutts, Alberta|Coutts]] border crossing and ending at Lethbridge, [[Alberta Highway 4|Highway 4]], effectively extends [[Interstate 15]] into Alberta and is the busiest United States gateway to the province. [[Alberta Highway 3|Highway 3]] joins Lethbridge to [[Fort Macleod]] and links Highway 2 to Highway 4. Highway 2 travels north through Fort Macleod, Calgary, Red Deer, and Edmonton.<ref name=highwaychart>{{cite web | url=http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/Content/docType329/Production/2015_PROVINCIAL_HWY_1-216_CONTROL_SECTION_MAP.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410182657/http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/Content/docType329/Production/2015_PROVINCIAL_HWY_1-216_CONTROL_SECTION_MAP.pdf |archive-date=April 10, 2016 | access-date=October 12, 2016 | date=March 2015 | title=Provincial Highway 1–216 Progress Chart | publisher=Alberta Transportation | url-status=live}}</ref>

North of Edmonton, the highway continues to [[Athabasca, Alberta|Athabasca]], then northwesterly along the south shore of [[Lesser Slave Lake]] into [[High Prairie]], north to [[Peace River, Alberta|Peace River]], west to [[Fairview, Alberta|Fairview]] and finally south to [[Grande Prairie]], where it ends at an interchange with [[Alberta Highway 43|Highway 43]].<ref name=highwaychart/> The section of Highway 2 between Calgary and Edmonton has been named the Queen Elizabeth II Highway to commemorate the visit of the monarch in 2005.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=18089FD23DB4D-FD6C-4FCB-BF561512BB437544 | publisher=Alberta Transportation | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325212610/http://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=18089FD23DB4D-FD6C-4FCB-BF561512BB437544 | archive-date=March 25, 2016 |date=May 23, 2005 |title=Highway 2 receives 'Royal' treatment |access-date=November 4, 2016 |quote=Highway 2 between Edmonton and Calgary is now known as the Queen Elizabeth II Highway.}}</ref> Highway 2 is supplemented by two more highways that run parallel to it: [[Alberta Highway 22|Highway 22]], west of Highway 2, known as ''Cowboy Trail'', and [[Alberta Highway 21|Highway 21]], east of Highway 2. Highway 43 travels northwest into Grande Prairie and the [[Peace River Country]]. Travelling northeast from Edmonton, the [[Alberta Highway 63|Highway 63]] connects to Fort McMurrayand the Athabasca oil sands.<ref name=highwaychart/>

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* [[Outline of Alberta]]

* [[Royal eponyms in Canada]]

* [[Edmonton]]

* [[Calgary]]

* [[Banff National Park]]

==Notes==

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* {{Official website|name=Official website of the Government of Alberta}}

* {{curlie|Regional/North_America/Canada/Alberta}}

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190109112227/http://albertasource.ca/ Alberta Encyclopedia]

* [https://cartographic.info/ca_street/place.php?p=ab List of streets in Alberta with maps]

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▲{{pp-move}}

[[Category:Alberta| ]]

[[Category:1905 establishments in Canada]]

[[Category:Canadian Prairies]]▼

[[Category:Provinces and territories of Canada]]

[[Category:States and territories established in 1905]]

▲[[Category:Canadian Prairies]]