Lecture 9
Lecture 9
Lecture 9
Saskatchewan
Derived from a cree word
meaning swift flowing water
Manitoba
Derived from a cree word meaning lake of the
prairies Figure 8.1
Land Settlement
Before 1869:
Land division was based on Métis settlement
patterns. Lots were narrow and provided frontage
along rivers.
Photo 8.8
Rural Population Decline
Since 1940, the rural population in the Prairies has
steadily declined.
Why?
Photo 8.12
1.Farms became larger and more mechanized
leading to a lower population density
2. Grain farms became more common. There was
no livestock on these types of farms thus minimal
staffing is necessary.
Changes in Farming
Declining Villages
Since 1940, the population of many villages has
declined while larger towns and cities have grown.
Why?
3. Resources towns
Gateway Cities
Some cities in the central Prairies act as collection
and distribution points between the city and the
nearby hinterland to their north.
The size of the gateway city often reflects the
economic strength and etent of the hinter land
Examples:
Edmonton northern alberta hinterland
Prince albert northern sask hinterland
Thompson northern Manitoba hinterland
U.S. demand was high for oil and gas from alberta
increased at this time.
Figure 8.4
Agricultural Belts
Agricultural land in the Prairies can be divided into
three distinct regions:
Fertile belt, dry belt, agricultural fringe
Photo 8.3
The Dry Belt
Cattle ranching is most common. Wheat is the only
crop that can grow in this area.
Irrigation is necessary.
Photo 8.4
The Great Sand Hills
This isolated area is located in southwestern
Saskatchewan.
Photo 8.9
Livestock Industry
Livestock processing is an important secondary
sector industry in the region.
Possible solution:
Bury the sludge in deep pits
and cover it with layers
of soil.
Environmental Issues
The extraction of oil sands presents several
environmental challenges to Alberta:
Winnipeg
Regina
Saskatoon
Urban Centres in the Prairies
Southern Alberta
The corridor from Edmonton to Calgary has
become one of the more densely populated areas
in Canada.
The land was mainly used for fur trading at the time.
IN 1810, Lord Selkirk from Scotland acquired land in
the red river valley from the HBC.
Scottish settlers arrived to form an agricultural
settlement.
The land in the north has been slowly rising since the
disappearance of the ice sheet 5000 years ago; this
results in a very slow river current because of the
decreasing elevation difference between the south
and north.
All of these factors contribute to consistent flooding
along the red river in north Dakota and Manitoba.
The Red River Floodway
After frequent flooding events,
Manitoba invested in constructing
the Red River Floodway in 1969.
IT is an artificial waterway 48 km
long designed to divert excess
water around the city.
It is estimated that the floodway
has saved billions of dollars in
economic losses since it opened.