Dec 18, 2011
Presentation of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan a guide for tourists
The Athabasca River
Saskatchewan is one of thee three provinces often referred to as the “Prairies.” And this name is quite appropriate; for prairies cover a large part of the provinces. In this article we will look at the geography, history, people, and tourist attractions of the province.
Geography of Saskatchewan
Geographically, it is possible to divide Saskatchewan into two contrasting regions. In the north, the Canadian Shield dominated the landscape. This structure is in the shape of a horseshoe; it is composed of rocks that date back millions and millions of years. Here can be found pine and spruce forests, and many diamonds and other minerals have been discovered and mined. The area is dotted with lakes, most of which are small (the largest is Athabasca, in the northwest).
The south, on the other hand, is a land of flat plains. Farmers in the region grow much of Canada’s wheat. The Cypress Hills cross the extreme southwest of Saskatchewan, and the big Saskatchewan River flows through.
Fossils of many kinds of dinosaurs have been unearthed in Saskatchewan, including triceratops and anatotitan.
Winter in Saskatchewan
History of Saskatchewan
Before the arrival of the Europeans, Indian tribes inhabited the area, of which the most important were the Cree and the Assiniboine. They hunted deer and bison on the vast plains. In 1670, King Charles II granted the Hudson Bay Company the right to trade furs in western Canada.
For may years, fur traders were the only white people in Saskatchewan. It was not until the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1882 that many settlers began to arrive. Some of these immigrants came from eastern Canada or from the United States; others came from Europe— from Poland, Ukraine, the Scandinavian countries, and Hungary provided large numbers of settlers.
Population of Saskatchewan
Today, most of Saskatchewan’s people are of European descent, mainly British but also Polish, Hungarian, Scandinavian, and Ukrainian. Of the official languages, 85.7 percent speak English, while 1.7 percent speak French. German and Ukrainian (especially the Canadian variety) are also widely spoken. And 12 percent of the province’s people are Indians, most of home live on reserves.
Saskatchewan has provided at least two popular singers— Buffy Sainte- Marie (a Cree Indian) and Joni Mitchell.
Tourism in Saskatchewan
In Saskatchewan there is a great variety of places for the tourist to visit. In Prince Albert National Park, in the approximate center of the province, one can go boating, hunting, or fishing; and the province also has 17 provincial park, like Lac la Ronge in the north- central region, and Moose Mountain and Cypress Hill in the south.
Moose Mountain
Other sites attract those who are interested in history: Battleford, Fort Walsh, and Batoche National Historic Parks are among them. In Regina you can see the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Training Academy, and see their museum, where uniforms and weapons used by the police in past times are on display.
Cypress hill
Annual festivals held in Saskatchewan include the Prince Albert Winter Festival (February), Frontier Days Rodeo in Swift Current and Pioneer Days (both in July), and the Agribition (an agricultural fair and rodeo) in Regina (November). (Incidentally, one episode of “Murder She Wrote” is set at a rodeo in Saskatchewan!)
May 22, 2012 @ 15:22:11
Hi! I have a friend who just moved in Saskatchewan and I’ll be visiting him on November. He invited me to go hunting but he is not yet familiar with the schedule and the laws. So what are the season dates for hunting big game species in Saskatchewan and what can non-residents of Canada hunt? Hope to hear from you. Thanks!
May 30, 2012 @ 01:49:25
Hi Gary
White-tailed deer – September to December
Moose – October to December
Black bear – April to June and September to October
With the services of a guide/outfitter, non-residents of Canada may hunt Moose, White-Tailed Deer, and Black Bear. Canadian residents residing outside of Saskatchewan can also hunt these species, however a guide/outfitter is only required for Moose hunting.
May 28, 2012 @ 15:36:03
Hi! My brothers and I are visiting Saskatchewan on July and I am very excited. I am looking forward for the things in store for me and my brothers. I read here that we can go boating, hunting and fishing. We are adrenaline junkies and I am wondering if there are other activities we can do there, preferably extreme outdoor activities? Thanks.
May 30, 2012 @ 01:51:12
Hello Sophia
Saskatchewan’s diverse landscape provides outdoor enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies with the perfect environment for that next big fix.
Numerous heart pounding experiences await you; kayak the white water rapids along the Churchill River or take a leap…literally, and go ziplining 40-feet above the ground in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.
If a mix of windsurfing, wakeboarding and kite-flying sounds appealing then why not try kiteboarding? With over 100,000 lakes in the province and a wide open fields or gently rolling hills Saskatchewan is the perfect place to get whisked off your feet. However, if activities such as skydiving and kiteboarding sound a little too risky and you’d rather stay closer to the ground, then you could always try dog sledding or dog carting!