Alberta is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Territories (NWT) to the north, and the U.S. state of Montana to the south. It is one of the only two landlocked provinces in Canada (Saskatchewan being the other). The eastern part of the province is occupied by the Great Plains, while the western part borders the Rocky Mountains. The province has a predominantly continental climate but experiences quick temperature changes due to air aridity. Seasonal temperature swings are less pronounced in western Alberta due to occasional Chinook winds.
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| Alberta in the early 20th century |
Alberta is the fourth largest province by area at 661,848 square kilometers (255,541 square miles), and the fourth most populous. Alberta’s capital is Edmonton, while Calgary is its largest city. More than half of Albertans live in either Edmonton or Calgary, which contributes to continuing the rivalry between the two cities.
Alberta is renowned for its natural beauty, richness in fossils and for housing important nature reserves. It is home to six UNESCO designated World Heritage Sites: the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, Dinosaur Provincial Park, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Wood Buffalo National Park and Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park. Other popular sites include Banff National Park, Elk Island National Park, Jasper National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, and Drumheller.
In 1906, Percy George Bartram (1888-1963) travelled from his home in Battersea, London, to Canada. He arrived in Strathcona, Alberta (now part of the city of Edmonton), working for a milling company. He returned to England in 1911 in the cargo boat “Protesilaus”, via Japan, Hong Kong, Red Sea and Egypt. He took these amazing photos that show life of Alberta in the early 20th century.
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| CPR Locomotive, Strathcona, Alberta, Canada, November 1906 |
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| A Walter's excursion boat, then used for taking provisions to lumber camps - laid up for winter, North Saskatchewan River, Strathcona, Alberta, Canada, November 1907 |
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| Clover Bar Railway Bridge, North Saskatchewan River, Alberta, Canada, December 25, 1907 |
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| CPR Locomotive, Strathcona, Alberta, Canada, January 1907 |
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| Hay Lake Trail, Alberta, Canada, August 1907 |
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