Geography of Saskatchewan

The geography of Saskatchewan (suskăch'uwun, –wän", săs"–, –oowun"), is unique among the provinces and territories of Canada in some respects. It is one of only two landlocked regions (Alberta is the other) and it is the only region whose borders are not based on natural features like lakes, rivers or drainage divides. The borders of Saskatchewan, which make it very nearly a trapezoid, were determined in 1905 when it became a Canadian province. The population in May 2012 was 1072853. Saskatchewan has a total area of 651,036 square kilometres (251,366 sq mi) of which 591,670 km2 (228,450 sq mi) is land and 59,366 km2 (22,921 sq mi) is water.

The province's name comes from the Saskatchewan River, whose Cree name is: Kisiskatchewani Sipi, meaning "swift flowing river".

Saskatchewan can be divided into three regions: grassland (part of the Great Plains) in the south, aspen parkland in the center, and forest (taiga) in the north, part of the Canadian Shield. Its principal rivers are the Assiniboine River, North and South Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan's economy is based on its abundant natural resources, notably petroleum, natural gas, coal, potash, uranium and forests, and agriculture (wheat and other grains, and cattle ranching).

The original inhabitants of Saskatchewan were the Cree Indians in the south and central regions and the Dene in the north. The Hudson's Bay Company controlled the area named Rupert's Land beginning in 1670. The French established settlements in the region c. 1750, though the Hudson’s Bay Company made the first permanent settlement in 1774. The Hudson’s Bay Co. ceded Rupert’s land in 1869, and by 1870, the North West became a member of the Dominion of Canada as a part of the Northwest Territories. From 1882 into the early 1900s, the extension of the railroad brought in large numbers of European settlers. Saskatoon is the largest city and Regina is the second largest city and capital.