638,233 sq km (246,422 sq miles).

3.3 million (2005).

5.1 per sq km.

Edmonton. Population: 1 million (2005 estimate).

Alberta is the most westerly of the ‘prairie and plains’ provinces, bordered to the west by British Columbia and the Rockies, to the southeast by the badlands and prairie, while in the north, along the border with the Northwest Territories, there is a wilderness of forests, lakes and rivers. Mount Columbia on the western Rocky Mountain border is the highest point rising to 3747m (12,293ft). Alberta also has permanent icefields covering 340 sq km (122 sq miles) and releases meltwaters which supply the Mackenzie River flowing into the Arctic Ocean, and the Saskatchewan River flowing into Hudson Bay.

Although Canada is officially bilingual (English and French), English is more commonly spoken in Alberta.