Prairies | |
---|---|
Ecology | |
Borders | |
Geography | |
Area | 465,094 km2 (179,574 sq mi) |
Country | Canada |
Provinces | |
Climate type | Cold semi-arid and humid continental |
The Prairies Ecozone is a Canadian terrestrial ecozone which spans the southern areas of the Prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. It is a productive agricultural area, and is commonly referred to as "Canada's breadbasket".[1] Farmland covers about 94% of the land, and is the dominant domestic economic activity of the zone, as well as an important factor in Canadian foreign trade.[1] Natural gas and oil are abundant in the area. The corresponding Level II ecoregion of the US Environmental Protection Agency is the Great Plains Ecoregion.