ALBERTA, A district in Canada, formed in 1832 out of the Northwest Territories, containing 100.000 square miles (Map: North West Territories, F 4). It is hounded On the north by Athabasca, on the east by Saskatch ewan and Assiniboia, on the south by United States, and on the west by British Co lumbia, the western boundary running northwost and southeast along the line of the Rocky Moun tain divide. It lies between hit. 49° and 55° and long. 1 l 1° and 120°. Topographically. the eastern half of the district is a part of the great central plain, the western half belonging to the Rocky Mountain region. The ascent from the plain to the mountain is very steep. The head waters of three great river systems, which reach the sea in three different directions, have their origin within the district; the Athabasca and other streams of the north drain northward into the Mackenzie system, the tributaries of the Missouri drain the southern portion into the Mississippi system, while between the two the Saskatchewan and its tributaries drain the re gion into the Hudson Bay, through the Nelson system. The plain is prairie land, hut the foot hills of the mountains are well wooded. The
rain and snowfall are light, and the atmosphere clear and invigorating. Sudden and decided ex tremes in temperature are common in winter and summer. The winter winds from the northeast are at times very severe, while the western winds the Chinooks—are warm and pleasant. The prairie affords excellent grazing, and there are some large, well-stocked cattle ranches. Mixed farming has been found practicable at a few places, particularly in the valley of the fled Deer River. The greatest wealth of the district, however, is in its mineral resources. The coal area is very extensive, and recent inter est in its mining indicates an enormous growth of this industry in the near future. Gold is found near Edmonton. Two branches of the Canadian Pacific Railway cross the district from east to west, while a third braneh extends northward to Edmonton. The country is but sparsely settled (for population see article NowThivE8r TERRI TORIES ) , most of the settlements being close to the railway lines. There are a nnmber of small foreign colonies along the line running north to Edmonton.