Alberta Photos

Photos from the turquoise glacial lakes and rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains, to fields of rolling wheat under the prairie sky, Alberta is a photographer's dream as these pictures demonstrate.

Along Alberta's western border, the Rocky Mountains have some of the best scenery, wildlife viewing, photography opportunities and recreation in the country. Million of tourists visit Banff and Jasper National Parks each year, to experience Lake Louise, the Banff Hot Springs, the Columbia Icefields and many other attractions.

Waterton National Park, at province's southern border where the Rockies are narrowest, has stunning lakes, mountains, and a delicate Aspen Parkland ecosystem.

Heading east, the Rockies give way to the foothills. Historic Fort McLeod is a former outpost of the North West Mounted Police. Nearby is Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump, a Unesco World Heritage Site which honours the traditions of the native Blackfoot people, and their close relationship with buffalo and the land.

Calgary, in southern Alberta, is the province's largest urban centre. The Calgary Stampede celebrates ranching and the Wild West Canadian-style. Apart from ranching, agriculture is significant in Alberta, with major crops of wheat and canola.

In the arid badlands of south-eastern Alberta, The Royal Tyrell Museum of Palaeontology, near Drumheller, showcases the remains of many dinosaurs that have been discovered in the area.

At the center of Alberta is the capital city of Edmonton, famous for the gargantuan West Edmonton Mall. Elk Island National Park, close to Edmonton, is a haven for wildlife including bison, moose, elk, and many birds. Northern Alberta has vast expanses of boreal forest. It is also the site of the massive oil sands, which are the driving force behind Alberta's burgeoning economy.

Alberta is a destination for photographers, and its diverse geography, with abundant lakes, rivers, mountains, prairies and forests, coupled with the culture and history of its people, are captured in these photos.