1. Saskatchewan

2. Saskatchewan is located in the heart of North America
Saskatchewan is located in the heart of North America. To the east and west are the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Alberta. To the south it borders the American states of Montana and North Dakota. To the north are Canada's Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

3. Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has a total area of 651,900 square kilometres (251,700 sq mi) and a land area of 592,534 square kilometres (228,800 sq mi), the remainder being water area (covered by lakes/ponds, reservoirs and rivers). The capital is Regina.

4. As of December 2013, the population of Saskatchewan was estimated at 1,114,170. Residents primarily live in the southern half of the province. Of the total population, 257,300 live in the province's largest city, Saskatoon, while 210,000 live in the capital. Other major cities include Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Yorkton, Swift Current and North Battleford.

5. Saskatchewan was first explored by Europeans in 1690 and settled in 1774, having also been inhabited for thousands of years by various indigenous groups. It became a province in 1905, its name derived from the Saskatchewan River. The river was known as kisiskāciwani-sīpiy ("swift flowing river") in the Cree language.

6. Saskatchewan's official flag was adopted in 1969
Saskatchewan's official flag was adopted in It features the provincial shield of arms along with the floral emblem, the western red lily. The flag's upper half is green, representing Saskatchewan's northern forests; the lower half is gold, symbolizing the southern grain areas.
Multis E Gentibus Vires, "From Many Peoples Strength" - The provincial Coat of Arms was granted through Royal Warrant from Queen Elizabeth II in A crest of a beaver and crown is placed above the shield. On either side of the shield are supporters: a lion and a deer. The shield itself displays the royal lion and three gold wheat sheaves, symbolizing Saskatchewan agriculture. The base is formed of western red lilies, Saskatchewan's floral emblem.

7. In 1941, the western red lily was chosen as the official flower of Saskatchewan. This lily grows in moist meadows and semi-wooded areas. With its flaming red blossoms, it stands out brilliantly against a natural green background. The western red lily is a protected species.
The sharp-tailed grouse is one of Saskatchewan's most popular game birds. It was selected as the provincial bird emblem in 1945.
In 1988, the white birch was adopted as the official tree of Saskatchewan. This hardwood tree is found across the northern three-quarters of the province.

8. Sylvite, also known as potash, is Saskatchewan's official mineral
Sylvite, also known as potash, is Saskatchewan's official mineral. They are the world's largest producer and exporter of potash. Over 95 percent of the potash produced in Saskatchewan is used for fertilizer purposes.
The Saskatchewan Provincial District Tartan has seven colours: gold, brown, green, red, yellow, white and black. It was registered with the Court of Lord Lyon King of Arms in Scotland in 1961.
Saskatchewan designated the white-tailed deer their official animal in Here in their more northern latitudes, the white-tailed deer tends to be larger than its southern brethren.

9. Economy
Saskatchewan's economy is associated with agriculture; however, increasing diversification has meant that now agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting together make up only 6.8% of the province's GDP.
Saskatchewan grows 45% of Canada's grain. Wheat is the most familiar crop, and perhaps the one stereotypically associated with the province, but other grains like canola, flax, rye, oats, peas, lentils, canary seed, and barley are also produced.

10. Beef cattle production in the province is only exceeded by Alberta
Beef cattle production in the province is only exceeded by Alberta. Mining is also a major industry in the province. In the northern part of the province, forestry is significant.
Oil and natural gas production is also a very important part of Saskatchewan's economy. Saskatchewan is also the world's largest supplier of uranium, and supplies much of the western world.

11. A list of the top 100 companies includes The Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, Federated Cooperatives Ltd. and Evraz.

12. Government and politics
Saskatchewan has the same form of government as the other Canadian provinces with a Lieutenant-Governor (who is the representative of the Crown in Right of Saskatchewan), premier, and a unicameral legislature.
The Crown in Saskatchewan:

13. Departmental Structure:
Committees and Boards Making Recommendations Directly to Cabinet:

14. Provincial politics in Saskatchewan is dominated by the centre-left New Democrats and the centre-right Saskatchewan Party.
Politically, the province is characterized by a dramatic urban-rural split — the federal and provincial NDP dominate in the cities, while the Saskatchewan Party and the federal Conservatives are stronger in the rural parts of the province. While both Saskatoon and Regina (Saskatchewan's largest cities) are roughly twice the population of an urban riding in Canada, both are split into multiple ridings that blend them with rural communities.
Saskatchewan Legislative Building

15. Geography
Saskatchewan has the distinction of being the only Canadian province for which no borders correspond to physical geographic features. It is also one of only two provinces that are land-locked, the other being Alberta.
The Athabasca River

16. Saskatchewan contains two major natural regions: the Canadian Shield in the north and the Interior Plains in the south. Northern Saskatchewan is mostly covered by boreal forest except for The Lake Athabasca Sand Dunes, the largest active sand dunes in the world north of 58°, adjacent to the southern shore of Lake Athabasca. Southern Saskatchewan contains another area with sand dunes known as the "Great Sand Hills" covering over 300 square kilometres. The Cypress Hills, located in the southwestern corner of Saskatchewan and Killdeer Badlands (Grasslands National Park) are areas of the province that remained unglaciated during the last glaciation period.
Athabasca Sand Dunes
Great Sand Hills

17. The province's highest point, 1,468m/m4,816ft is located in the Cypress Hills. The lowest point, 213m/700ft is the shore of Lake Athabasca in the far north. The province has nine distinct drainage basins made up of various rivers and watersheds draining into the Arctic Ocean, Hudson Bay, and Gulf of Mexico.
Cypress Hills' Unique Natural Attractions

18. Climate
Climate
Saskatchewan receives more hours of sunshine than any other Canadian province. The province lies far from any significant body of water. Drought can affect agricultural areas during long periods with little or no precipitation at all. The northern parts of Saskatchewan – from about La Ronge northward – have a subarctic climate with a shorter summer season. Summers can get very hot, sometimes above 38 °C (100 °F) during the day, and with humidity decreasing from northeast to southwest. Winters are usually bitterly cold, with frequent Arctic air descending from the north with high temperatures not breaking −17 °C (1 °F) for weeks at a time.

19. Saskatchewan is one of the most tornado-active parts of Canada, averaging roughly 12 to 18 tornadoes per year, some violent. In 2012, 33 tornadoes were reported in the province. The hottest temperature ever recorded anywhere in Canada happened in Saskatchewan. The temperature rose to 45 degrees Celsius in Midale and Yellow Grass. The coldest ever recorded in the province was −56.7 degrees Celsius in Prince Albert, which is north of Saskatoon.

20. Sport
Curling was named Saskatchewan's official sport in 2001, although many have considered it so for years. Once called the "roaring game" because of the thunderous noise made by corn brooms used to sweep rocks down the ice, curling has a rich history in the province.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Roughriders play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League. A

21. Healthcare
The Ministry of Health is responsible for policy direction, sets and monitors standards, and provides funding for regional health authorities and provincial health services.
Saskatchewan's medical health system is widely and inaccurately characterized as "socialized medicine": medical practitioners in Saskatchewan, as in other Canadian provinces, are not civil servants but remit their accounts to the publicly funded Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Plan rather than to patients (i.e. a single-payer system).
University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine

22. Over 250 museums in every corner of their province proudly describe their past, while university-led cutting edge research helps define their future. Art galleries display collections that bring their many cultures to life, from First Nations' traditions to modern experimental styles. The serene natural beauty of Saskatchewan is enhanced by conservatories and wildflower gardens.
Science centres, museums, art galleries, mineral spas, river cruises, or dinosaur digs.
Sights

23. Saskatchewan Legislative Building.
The Saskatchewan Legislative Building is located in Regina. Completed in 1912, this grand beaux-arts building was designed to reflect architecture of English Renaissance and Louis XVI of France. See the beautiful Grand Staircase, Rotunda and Prince of Wales entrance.

24. MacKenzie Art Gallery.
Located in Regina’s WASCANA CENTRE, the MacKenzie Art Gallery (formerly the Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery) is Saskatchewan’s largest public art gallery with a collection of more than 3,500 art works and over 2,000 m2 of exhibition space.

25. Sky Trail Bridge.
The Sky Trail Bridge is the longest pedestrian bridge in Canada–it crosses the South Saskatchewan River at the town of Outlook. It wasn’t, however, always for hikers, but was built as a train crossing and formally opened a century ago in 1912.

26. Ukrainian Museum of Canada.
Between 1891 and 1941 more than 170,000 Ukrainian migrants relocated to Canada. Discover the fascinating shared history of Ukrainian-Canadians at this dedicated historical museum. The Ukrainian Museum of Canada in Saskatoon was the first of its kind and now has four branches around the country. Visit the museum to see historical artifacts, arts and crafts and a large collection of photographs.

27. Hunting
Saskatchewan's southern prairie landscape and northern wooded regions create an incomparable and diverse wildlife habitat.
Millions of geese and the largest duck population in Canada and the US attract waterfowl hunters. Upland game bird hunting for pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge is also excellent. Visiting big game enthusiasts hunt white-tailed deer, moose and black bear. Limited hunting of antelope, mule deer and elk is restricted to Saskatchewan residents to help manage the populations.

28. Saskatchewan is also home to the wonderfully unique Cypress Hills Vineyard and Winery, the only winery in the province.

29. Saskatchewan is a unique mix of people, cultures and geography that has come together to create a rich past and a vibrant present, as well as a promising and exciting future. Take a closer look at where this place came from and what makes it tick.