AlbertaAlberta has become an increasingly important destination for skilled immigrant workers as it boasts one of the most robust job creation economies in Canada due to the its main industry, oil and gas. The capital city of Alberta, Edmonton, has unique progams to promote skilled worker immigration. Calgary is a major Canadian immigration destination and is a distribution and transportation hub as well as being one of Canada's major commerce centres. According to recent population estimates, these two metropolitan areas have now both exceeded 1 million people. The province aims to attract at least 24,000 immigrants to Alberta each year, up from the nearly 16,500 immigrants who moved there in 2004. Agriculture has a significant position in the province's economy. Over three million cattle are residents of the province at one time or another, and Albertan beef has a healthy worldwide market. Nearly one half of all Canadian beef is produced in Alberta.
Alberta covers an area of 661,190 km˛ (255,287 mi˛).With the exception of the southeastern section, the province is has many lakes and rivers which has proved appealing to many. It boasts many outdoor activities that take advantage of the numerous watersheds, inluding: swimming, water skiing, fishing and a full range of other water sports. Alberta extends for 1,200 km from north to south, and about 600 km wide at its greatest east-west extent, it is natural that the climate should vary considerably between the 49th and 60th parallels. It is also further influenced by its elevation since the province is a high plateau which would appeal to those accustomed to living at high altitudes. Northern Alberta is mostly covered by boreal forest and has fewer frost-free days than southern Alberta, which has a semi-arid climate. The southeastern corner of Alberta experiences greater summer heat and lower rainfall than the rest of the province.
Alberta also has a large ethnic population with both the Chinese and East Indian communities being significant. According to Statistics Canada, Alberta is home to the second highest proportion (two percent) of Francophones in western Canada (after Manitoba). As reported in the 2001 census, the Chinese represented nearly four percent of Alberta's population and East Indians represented better than two percent. Aboriginal Albertans make up approximately three percent of the population. The major contributors to Alberta's ethnic diversity have been the European nations. Forty-four percent of Albertans are of British and Irish descent, and there are also large numbers of Germans, Ukrainians, and Scandinavians.
