17,394
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − + Line 5:
Line 5: + − In 2006, provincial Gross Domestic Product was over $36 billion. Agriculture is still a large part of the economy and wheat has been its primary agricultural export, but many farmers are increasing production of canola. Manufacturing, mining, petroleum also make up over 20% of the economy. [[Mineral]] resources include world-class deposits of [[potash]] and [[uranium]] as evidenced by cities with names like ''Uranium City''.+ + + + + + + + + + + + + − Saskatchewan has been one of Canada's more left-leaning provinces, because of the largely rural population where many people work independently of large capital. In 1944 [[Tommy Douglas]] became the first overtly socialist premier of any regional (state or provincial) government in North America. The nationwide New Democratic Party (NDP), originally named the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), began here and Douglas was its first federal leader. + Line 16:
Line 29: + +
add details
Saskatchewan is the middle of the three prairie provinces of [[Canada]] between [[Alberta]] and [[Manitoba]]. It has a size of 227,134 square miles or 588,276 square kilometers. Saskatchewan started to grow when the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] was built in the early 1880s; it was part of the Northwest Territories until 1905, whrn it became a province having equal status with the other provinces (which are similar to U.S. states).
Saskatchewan is the middle of the three prairie provinces of [[Canada]] between [[Alberta]] and [[Manitoba]]. With one million people, it has 227,134 square miles of land and water surface (588,276 square kilometers). Saskatchewan started to grow when the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] was built in the early 1880s; it was part of the Northwest Territories until 1905, whrn it became a province having equal status with the other provinces (which are similar to U.S. states).
==Geography==
==Geography==
The name '''Saskatchewan''' is derived from the Cree word kisiskâciwanisîpikikimasiy meaning ''swift-flowing river.''
The name '''Saskatchewan''' is derived from the Cree word kisiskâciwanisîpikikimasiy meaning ''swift-flowing river.''
Saskatchewan's geography includes [[prairie]]s, tree-covered [[plain]]s, [[forest]]s, and [[taiga]]. The climate is continental, characterized by large seasonal [[temperature]] ranges and low [[precipitation]]. It is one of two completely landlocked Canadian Provinces. European contact with Indian peoples occurred during the [[fur]] trade era, and increased when agricultural settlement began in the late 19th century. In the early 20th century, that settlement history produced a largely agrarian population concentrated on [[farm]]s and in communities across the prairie.
Saskatchewan's geography includes [[prairie]]s, tree-covered [[plain]]s, [[forest]]s, and [[taiga]]. The climate is continental, characterized by large seasonal [[temperature]] ranges and low [[precipitation]]. It is one of two completely landlocked Canadian Provinces. European contact with Indian peoples occurred during the [[fur]] trade era, and increased when agricultural settlement began in the late 19th century. In the early 20th century, that settlement history produced a largely agrarian population concentrated on [[farm]]s and in communities across the prairie.
==Economy==
==Economy==
Although it lacks the vast oil wealth of nearby Alberta, Saskatchewan has enjoyed prosperity in recent decades. In 2006, provincial Gross Domestic Product was over $36 billion. Labour unions are moderately active in the cities and mining districts.<ref>Bob Russell, ''More with Less: Work Reorganization in the Canadian Mining Industry'' (1999) </ref>
===Agriculture===
Saskatchewan is a major agricultural producer. Although fewer than 65,000 farms remain, they are large and highly mechanized, and produce two-thirds of the nation's wheat. With soaring prices on the world market, wheat has been a major money maker. Production fluctuates widely according to the weather and rainfall.
Wheat has always been the primary farm export, but many farmers are increasing production of [[canola]], used for cooking oil. Manufacturing, mining, petroleum also make up over 20% of the economy.
===Mining===
Saskatchewan is the world's largest exporter of potash, a vital ingredient in fertilizer, via the state-owned [[PotashCorp]].<ref>See [http://www.potashcorp.com/about_potashcorp/at_a_glance/potash/ "At a Glance" (2006)</ref>
Mineral resources include world-class deposits of [[potash]] and [[uranium]] as evidenced by cities with names like ''Uranium City''.
====Petroleum====
Saskatchewan has a growing oil and gas industry, though on a smaller scale than Alberta, and has pipelines carrying Alberta oil east. The main deposits are part of the vast "Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin", stretching from [[British Columbia]] to [[Manitoba]], as well as parts of [[Montana]] and [[North Dakota]]. <ref>See [http://www.eboardoftrade.com/files/Miscellaneous/Oil_Sands_in_Sask.pdf "Oil Sands in Saskatchewan" (2006)</ref>
The first commercial oil was discovered in 1944. The province produces 17% of total Canadian oil production. Crude oil production in 2006 was a record 24.84 million cubic metres (156.3 million barrels). Remaining recoverable reserves at December 31, 2005 were estimated to be 187 million cubic metres (1.18 billion barrels).<ref>See [http://www.ir.gov.sk.ca/adx/aspx/adxGetMedia.aspx?DocID=5871,5775,2936,Documents&MediaID=18882&Filename=crude.pdf "Fact Sheet: Oil in Saskatchewan" (2006)</ref> Production is centered in four regions: Lloydminster, Kindersley-Kerrobert, Swift Current, and Weyburn-Estevan.<ref>See [http://www.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=4a57f37e-88de-4da5-b6a8-411793a739d5 "Oil and Gas Industry"</ref>
Undeveloped oil sands are located near [[Churchill Lake]]. Unlike Alberta's booming Athabasca Oil Sands, Saskatechewan's deposits are located deeper and cannot be surface-mined.<ref>See [http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/ntn53965.htm "Oil in Saskatchewan"</ref>
==Politics==
==Politics==
In the 1930s and 1940s the left was strong here. In 1944 [[Tommy Douglas]] became the first overtly socialist premier of any regional (state or provincial) government in North America. The nationwide New Democratic Party (NDP), originally named the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), began here and Douglas was its first federal leader.
==Population==
==Population==
The population has hovered around one million in recent decades.
The population has hovered around one million in recent decades.
The Indian ("Native" or "First Nation") population is about 10%.
The Indian ("Native" or "First Nation") population is about 10%.
====Notes====
<references/>
[[Category:Canada]]
[[Category:Canada]]
== External Links ==
== External Links ==
* [http://www.sasktourism.com/ Tourism Saskatchewan]
* [http://www.sasktourism.com/ Tourism Saskatchewan]