The Prairie Provinces

The Prairie Provinces, or Canadian Prairies, are a region of western Canada comprising Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, forming the Canadian portion of the North American Great Plains and covering approximately 1.96 million square kilometers. Southern areas hold grasslands, plains, and lowlands, while the less densely populated north gives way to forest and terrain including portions of the Canadian Shield and the Western Cordillera, with elevations reaching as high as 3,747 meters. The Prairie Provinces account for about 80 percent of Canada's agricultural production, historically centered on livestock and grain, and the region's economy has broadened since the mid-twentieth century to include substantial petroleum extraction alongside agriculture and services. As of 2021 the three provinces held a combined population of roughly 6.74 million people.