Total annual precipitation (mm) 352 Annual snowfall (cm) 101 Water deficit (mm) 524 Mean July temperature (C) +18.9 Mean January temperature (C) -12.6

The climate is dry to very dry and moderately cool to warm. The region is subject to occasional severe droughts. Grasslands National Park (shown left) contains a large section of undisturbed prairie.

Landscape:

The landscape is level to rolling plains. In hummocky terrain, potholes collect water and marshes are formed.

There are sand dunes in the Great Sand Hills area.

GPS: 50d 12.78m N, 108d 57.74m W, 2291 feet
01 August 96, 5:30 pm, Fuji Velvia 50, F16 1/100s

A typical "Great Plains" landscape, 90 kms north of Eastend.

GPS: 49d 24.62m N, 105d 52.27m W, 3125 feet
30 July 96, 9:30 am, Fuji Velvia 50, F16 1/15-180s

Petroglyph Park is a mysterious site with unique geological features
and human history. Find it 3 kms south of St. Victor.

GPS: 49d 23.08m N, 108d 29.84m W, 2919 feet
05 August 96, 2:10 pm, Fuji Velvia 50, F16 1/60s

For 65 million years this was the resting place of "Scotty",
the Tyrannosaurus Rex. This entire area is fascinating.

GPS: 49d 13.94m N, 104d 46.12m W, 2474 feet
18 July 96, 6:45 pm, Fuji Velvia 50, F8 1/125s

Big Muddy Buffalo Jump
at the Roan Mare Coulee Archaeological Site.

Soil:

The soil is of glacial origin, dark topsoils which are thinner in drier areas.

Vegetation:

Most of the native vegetation has been lost to agriculture and only remnants of native grassland remain. The vegetation is sparse and low. Native grass species include mid and short grasses. Salt tolerant grasses grow on saline soils. Sedges are also present. Temperate deciduous forest extends into the grassland along rivers. Willows, saskatoon, chokecherry, snowberry and wolf willow shrubs occur in valleys. Pasture sage is the most common herb and prairie sage is an abundant shrub.

There are numerous species of prairie wildflowers that give colour to the grasslands. On the driest sites, yellow cactus and prickly pear cactus are plentiful. Cottonwood groves can be found in the sand hills.

Wildlife:

Potholes and marshes are important breeding areas for North American waterfowl. The bobcat is rarely seen but frequents creeks and river valleys. Various species of sparrows, eagles, hawks and curlews nest in the grasslands. Ord's kangaroo rat, sage brush vole, sage grouse and prairie rattlesnake occur at the northern edge of their ranges in the southwest, along with prairie dogs, which are found no where else in Canada. White-tailed deer, mule deer, pronghorn antelope (shown Left), coyote, rabbits and Richardson's ground squirrels are common in certain areas of the region. Red fox, badger, long-tailed weasel, muskrat, raccoon, mink and striped skunk are common. Ringnecked pheasants are present along the Frenchman River.

Human Use:

Production of spring wheat and other cereal grains, free range livestock grazing and seasonal hunting are the major land uses. Flax seed and durum wheat are also grown. The grazing capacity of the range land in the sandhills is lower than that in the surrounding mixed grasslands.