Population: 1,041,700 people
Area: 661848 sq/ kilometres
Land of the living Skies - An anomaly province which doesn't follow any time zone changes for daylight savings time, Saskatchewan has rich indigenous human history and is well known for its agriculture.Saskatchewan lies far from any significant body of water. This fact, combined with its northerly latitude, gives it a warm summer version of humid continental climate (Köppen type Dfb) in the central and most of the eastern part as well as the Cypress Hills, drying off to a semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen type BSk) in the southern and southwestern part of the province. The northern parts of Saskatchewan — from about La Ronge northward — have a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc). Summers can be very hot, with temperatures sometimes above 32 °C (90 °F) during the day, and humidity decreasing from northeast to southwest. Warm southern winds blow from the United States during much of July and August, while winters can be bitterly cold, with high temperatures not breaking −17 °C (1.4 °F) for weeks at a time, warm chinook winds often blow from the west, bringing periods of mild weather. Annual precipitation averages 30 to 45 centimetres (12 to 18 inches) across the province, with the bulk of rain falling in June, July, and AugustPrior to European settlement, Saskatchewan was populated by various indigenous peoples of North America, including members of the Athabaskan, Algonquian, Atsina, Cree, Saulteaux and Sioux tribes. The first European to enter Saskatchewan was Henry Kelsey in 1690, who travelled up the Saskatchewan River in hopes of trading fur with the province's indigenous peoples. The first permanent European settlement was a Hudson's Bay Company post at Cumberland House, founded in 1774 by Samuel Hearne.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 the one most often associated with the province (there are sheafs of wheat depicted on the coat of arms of Saskatchewan), but other grains like canola, flax, rye, oats, peas, lentils, canary seed, and barley are also produced. Beef cattle production in the province is only exceeded by Alberta. Mining is also a major industry in the province, with Saskatchewan being the world's largest exporter of potash and uranium. In the northern part of the province, forestry is also a significant industry.Government of Saskatchewan WebsiteSaskatchewan TourismWikipedia Entry
I fell in love with the western prairie province of Saskatchewan, from the minute I crossed the line. The scenic landscapes with rolling undulations offered pleasant riding conditions, even though the weather was wild. Mostly important were the people that went out of their way to welcome me to their province, time and time after again.
I rated Saskatchewan as the best province out of the whole trip, to a lot of debate over readers and friends. Although I only traveled through a certain segment of the province, it carried a mystical feel that I can't properly explain in text.
Make sure you check out the Qu'Appelle valley.
| Distance Traveled: 695.65 km|
Distance Ascended: 2,261 m
Distance Descended: 2,307 m
Energy Consumed: 31,180 calories
| Overall Cost: $528.01|
|Longest Day: 2010-08-14 - 146.00 km|
Most Climbed: 2010-08-11 - 463.00 m
|Most Energy Burned: 2010-08-14 - 7894.00 calories|
Most Expensive Day: 2010-08-12 - $ 266.00
|2010-08-16||Fort Quappelle, CA||91.21||$62.00||Map|