Southern Alberta facts for kids

Southern Alberta is a really interesting region located in the Canadian province of Alberta. In 2016, about 291,112 people lived here. The main cities you'll find are Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. This area is mostly famous for its farms and ranches. But other cool things are growing too, like alternative energy (think wind and solar power!), making movies (film production), and tourism.

Northern
Alberta

Alberta's
Rockies

Southern
Alberta

Calgary
Region

Edmonton
Capital Region

Central Alberta

Geography of Southern Alberta

This region covers a huge area, about 75,500 square kilometers (that's 29,151 square miles!).

Southern Alberta sits in the northern part of the Great Plains. To the east, you'll see the amazing Canadian Rocky Mountains and their foothills. The rest of the area is mostly dry prairie land, known as the Palliser's Triangle. Here, you'll find lots of farms and ranches. Farmers often use irrigation to bring water to their crops.

Rivers in this region generally flow from west to east. Some important ones include the Oldman River, Bow River, Red Deer River, South Saskatchewan River, and Milk River. Did you know the Milk River is the only river in Canada that eventually flows all the way to the Gulf of Mexico? That's pretty unique!

Nature is protected in special places like Waterton Lakes National Park and Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Also, some incredible spots like Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Dinosaur Provincial Park, and Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This means they are super important places recognized around the world! The Alberta Badlands, with their cool rock formations, are in the northeast, especially along the Red Deer River. The Cypress Hills, located near the border with Saskatchewan, are the highest point between the Rocky Mountains and Labrador.

Getting Around Southern Alberta: Major Highways

Southern Alberta has several important highways that help people travel and transport goods. These roads connect cities and towns across the region.

• Highway 1 (also called the Trans-Canada Highway)
• Highway 2 (known as QE2)
• Highway 3 (Crowsnest Highway)
• Highway 4
• Highway 5
• Highway 36 (Veteran Memorial Highway)
• Highway 41 (Buffalo Trail)

Economy of Southern Alberta

The economy in Southern Alberta is growing! Many different types of jobs and businesses help the region thrive. Some of the biggest areas include farming, energy, and making things (manufacturing).

Other important parts of the economy are:

• Agriculture: This is a huge part of the economy, with many people working on farms and ranches.
• Business and Community Services: This includes a wide range of jobs that support other businesses and the community.
• Retail and Wholesale: Think about all the stores where you buy things – that's retail! Wholesale is about selling goods in large amounts.
• Manufacturing: This involves making products, from food to other goods.
• Construction: Building new homes, schools, and roads is also a big part of the economy.
• Mining: Getting resources like minerals from the ground.
• Transportation and Utilities: Moving goods and people, and providing services like electricity and water.
• Finance: This includes banks and other money-related services.
• Public Administration: Jobs related to government services.

Communities in Southern Alberta

Southern Alberta is home to many different types of communities, from big cities to small villages.