Central Alberta facts for kids
Alberta
Capital Region
Central Alberta is a large area in the Canadian province of Alberta. It's a busy rural spot, meaning many people live outside big cities here. Farming and energy are super important for the jobs and money in this region.
Contents
Where is Central Alberta?
Central Alberta is surrounded by amazing places! To the west, you'll find the towering Canadian Rockies. To the south, it borders Southern Alberta and the big city area of Calgary. On the east, it touches Saskatchewan, another Canadian province. And to the north, it meets Northern Alberta.
This region completely wraps around the Edmonton Capital Region, which is where Alberta's capital city, Edmonton, is located. It also includes the middle part of the very busy area between Calgary and Edmonton, often called the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor.
Rivers Flowing Through Central Alberta
Many important rivers flow through Central Alberta. The North Saskatchewan River cuts across the region from west to east. Other rivers you'll find here include the Red Deer River, Battle River, Athabasca River, Pembina River, Brazeau River, and Beaver River. These rivers are important for nature and sometimes for fun activities!
Fun Things to See and Do
Central Alberta is packed with cool places to visit! You can ride an old train with Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions. Learn about oil history at the Canadian Petroleum Discovery Centre in Leduc. See amazing animals at Discovery Wildlife Park. Explore nature at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre and Gaetz Lake Sanctuary in Red Deer.
You can also visit the Nordegg Heritage Centre and Mine Site to learn about mining history. Check out old vehicles and planes at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum. Discover the past at Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site. Step back in time at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. And visit Stephannson House Provincial Historic Site near Sylvan Lake.
Parks and Nature Spots
Central Alberta has many beautiful parks where you can enjoy nature. Some big ones include Elk Island National Park, William A. Switzer Provincial Park, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park, Big Knife Provincial Park, Pigeon Lake Provincial Park, and Sylvan Lake Park. These are great places for hiking, camping, and seeing wildlife.
Giant Roadside Attractions
Keep an eye out for the fun "Giants of the Prairies" when you drive through Central Alberta! These are huge sculptures you can see right from the road. You might spot giant mushrooms in Vilna, huge pumpkins in Smoky Lake, and a giant Perogy (a Ukrainian dumpling) in Glendon. There's also a huge Kielbasa (Ukrainian garlic sausage) in Mundare, a giant Pysanka (Ukrainian Easter egg) in Vegreville, a UFO Landing Pad in St. Paul, and a giant mallard duck in Andrew. They make for great photo opportunities!
People and Jobs in Central Alberta
In 2004, about 240,368 people lived in Central Alberta. Many people work in different jobs here. The biggest job areas are business and community services, which include things like healthcare and education. Retail and wholesale jobs (like working in stores) are also very common. Farming and mining are important too, showing how much the land helps the economy.
Getting Around Central Alberta
The main roads that help people travel through Central Alberta are the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, which goes north to south, and the Yellowhead Highway, which goes east to west. Other important highways include Highway 9, Highway 21, Veteran Memorial Highway, David Thomson Highway, Cowboy Trail, Grizzly Trail, and Buffalo Trail. The Poundmaker Trail also runs through the northeast part of the region.
Cities and Towns
Central Alberta is home to many different communities, from bustling cities to smaller towns and villages.
|
Cities Towns |
Villages |
Summer Villages These are small communities, often around lakes, that are especially popular in the summer.
|
Rural Areas These are larger areas that include many smaller communities and farmlands. |
