Northern Alberta

Northern Alberta is a region that covers the entire northern half of Alberta, Canada. Even more than the rest of Alberta, the North is relatively remote and sparsely populated. Most of Northern Alberta is part of the sparsely-populated boreal forest and is the focus of Canada's oil sands industry, especially near the Athabasca River. But there are some isolated patches of farmland in the Peace River valley separated from the main population centres of Alberta by the Swan Hills. This is the northernmost agricultural region of any size in North America, and is home to most of Canada's farmed bison (buffalo) and honeybees. The entire region, both farmed and forested, is dominated by its river systems. The Peace and the Athabasca both empty into the world's largest inland delta in Wood Buffalo National Park, part of the world's largest patch of protected boreal forest. Many visitors (especially Americans) pass through this region on their way to the Alaska Highway. While here, you can blast through as fast as possible, or if you know where to look, you can find natural gems like Alberta's largest road-accessible lake (Lesser Slave Lake) or indoor actives like a huge new dinosaur museum (Philip J. Currie Museum in Wembley).