What is Alberta?
Alberta is Canada’s fourth largest province with an area of 255,287 square miles (661,190 sq km), and the sixth largest division if the territories are included. It makes up about 6.5% of the land in Canada and is similar in size to the other Prairie Provinces, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The 2007 population of Alberta was 3,474,000, the fourth greatest of any region. Edmonton is the capital of the province, and other important cities include Calgary, Lethbridge, Red Deer, and Medicine Hat. Named for the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Alberta is known as the Princess Province, but also nicknamed Sunny Alberta. Its motto is Fortis et Liber, which means “Strong and free.” The provincial emblems are as follows: • Floral emblem: Wild Rose • Stone emblem: Petrified Wood • Arboreal emblem: Lodgepole Pine • Grass emblem: Rough Fescue • Avian emblem: Great Horned Owl • Mammal emblem: Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep • Fish emblem: Bull Trout • Shield of Arms: A
