The regional designations vary widely within the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. With a total land area of 651,036 square kilometres (251,366 sq mi), Saskatchewan is crossed by major rivers such as the Churchill and Saskatchewan and exists mostly within the Hudson Bay drainage area. Its borders were set at its entry into Confederation in 1905, and Saskatchewan is one of only two landlocked provinces (the other is Alberta) and the only province whose borders are not based on natural features.
As the fifth largest province by area (and sixth largest by population), Saskatchewan has been divided up into unofficial and official regions in many ways. As well, it is part of larger national regions.
Parts of Saskatchewan have been given formal and informal names, including
The province is regularly divided into three regions of Northern, Central, and Southern Saskatchewan, the latter two of which include the subregions of East-Central, Southeast, Southwestern, and West-Central Saskatchewan. [5] [6] [7] Along with these regions, the terms Northwestern and Northeastern Saskatchewan may be used to refer to the furthest north reaches of Central Saskatchewan; or, less often, they may be used to divide Northern Saskatchewan into two.
Until 2017, the province was divided into 13 health regions. [8] As of December 4, 2017, it is considered defunct, as all health regions in Saskatchewan have been replaced by the Saskatchewan Health Authority. [9]
Saskatchewan’s public library system includes three municipal library systems, seven regional library systems, one northern library federation, and a provincial library. [10]
The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities has divided the provinces rural municipalities into six regions, each of which is represented by a member on its board of directors. [11] Note that the northern half of the province is not part of any rural municipalities; instead, much of it is unorganized, thus being part of the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District. [7]
The province is divided into nine districts for sport, culture, and recreation purposes, each of which are headed by a volunteer, non-profit organization. [12] Two of the districts ( Regina and Saskatoon) represent the provinces main urban centres, while the other seven districts represent a mix of urban and rural areas. These districts are used, for example, as the teams for the Saskatchewan Games. [13]
Tourism Saskatchewan designates five regions in the province for travel promotion. [5] [6]
The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation divides its branches and work across the province into six regions. [14]
Statistics Canada has divided Saskatchewan into 18 census divisions for statistical purposes; although, they do not reflect the organization of local government nor any common regions in the province. [15]
Statistics Canada has divided Saskatchewan into 6 economic regions, meant to reflect the province’s hubs of economic activity and their surrounding areas. [16]
Saskatchewan is divided into 14 federal electoral districts and thus is represented by 14 of the 338 members of Canada's House of Commons. Following the 2012 Canadian federal electoral redistribution, Saskatchewan had five urban districts, one hybrid district, and eight mostly-rural districts. [17] The upcoming 2022 Canadian federal electoral redistribution is set to make changes to the current layout. [18]
The entirety of Saskatchewan is covered by the territory of Numbered Treaties. [19]
Most water in Saskatchewan drains to Hudson Bay through the Churchill and Nelson river basins, [20] although some drains to the Arctic Ocean in the far north and the Gulf of Mexico in the far southwest. [21]
Saskatchewan is home to four of Canada’s 15 ecozones, as defined by the 2017 Ecological Land Classification. [22] These ecozones are further divided into numerous ecoprovinces, ecoregions, and ecodistricts. [22]
Being in the centre of North America, Saskatchewan is far removed from the moderating effects of any large body of water and therefore has a temperate continental climate, Köppen climate classification types BSk, Dfb and Dfc. [23]
The regional designations vary widely within the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. With a total land area of 651,036 square kilometres (251,366 sq mi), Saskatchewan is crossed by major rivers such as the Churchill and Saskatchewan and exists mostly within the Hudson Bay drainage area. Its borders were set at its entry into Confederation in 1905, and Saskatchewan is one of only two landlocked provinces (the other is Alberta) and the only province whose borders are not based on natural features.
As the fifth largest province by area (and sixth largest by population), Saskatchewan has been divided up into unofficial and official regions in many ways. As well, it is part of larger national regions.
Parts of Saskatchewan have been given formal and informal names, including
The province is regularly divided into three regions of Northern, Central, and Southern Saskatchewan, the latter two of which include the subregions of East-Central, Southeast, Southwestern, and West-Central Saskatchewan. [5] [6] [7] Along with these regions, the terms Northwestern and Northeastern Saskatchewan may be used to refer to the furthest north reaches of Central Saskatchewan; or, less often, they may be used to divide Northern Saskatchewan into two.
Until 2017, the province was divided into 13 health regions. [8] As of December 4, 2017, it is considered defunct, as all health regions in Saskatchewan have been replaced by the Saskatchewan Health Authority. [9]
Saskatchewan’s public library system includes three municipal library systems, seven regional library systems, one northern library federation, and a provincial library. [10]
The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities has divided the provinces rural municipalities into six regions, each of which is represented by a member on its board of directors. [11] Note that the northern half of the province is not part of any rural municipalities; instead, much of it is unorganized, thus being part of the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District. [7]
The province is divided into nine districts for sport, culture, and recreation purposes, each of which are headed by a volunteer, non-profit organization. [12] Two of the districts ( Regina and Saskatoon) represent the provinces main urban centres, while the other seven districts represent a mix of urban and rural areas. These districts are used, for example, as the teams for the Saskatchewan Games. [13]
Tourism Saskatchewan designates five regions in the province for travel promotion. [5] [6]
The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation divides its branches and work across the province into six regions. [14]
Statistics Canada has divided Saskatchewan into 18 census divisions for statistical purposes; although, they do not reflect the organization of local government nor any common regions in the province. [15]
Statistics Canada has divided Saskatchewan into 6 economic regions, meant to reflect the province’s hubs of economic activity and their surrounding areas. [16]
Saskatchewan is divided into 14 federal electoral districts and thus is represented by 14 of the 338 members of Canada's House of Commons. Following the 2012 Canadian federal electoral redistribution, Saskatchewan had five urban districts, one hybrid district, and eight mostly-rural districts. [17] The upcoming 2022 Canadian federal electoral redistribution is set to make changes to the current layout. [18]
The entirety of Saskatchewan is covered by the territory of Numbered Treaties. [19]
Most water in Saskatchewan drains to Hudson Bay through the Churchill and Nelson river basins, [20] although some drains to the Arctic Ocean in the far north and the Gulf of Mexico in the far southwest. [21]
Saskatchewan is home to four of Canada’s 15 ecozones, as defined by the 2017 Ecological Land Classification. [22] These ecozones are further divided into numerous ecoprovinces, ecoregions, and ecodistricts. [22]
Being in the centre of North America, Saskatchewan is far removed from the moderating effects of any large body of water and therefore has a temperate continental climate, Köppen climate classification types BSk, Dfb and Dfc. [23]