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For thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans to Alberta, several distinct indigenous peoples had lived off the land’s abundant natural resources. With the coming of the Europeans, however, the native groups were overrun and reduced in numbers, today constituting only approximately 2.5 percent of Alberta’s population. The Europeans came in droves—first drawn by game and arable land, and later by the oil and gas boom. People of many diverse cultures moved west, forming a melting pot of traditions. A census as early as 1921 noted 30 different languages in the province, in addition to the many distinct languages of the natives. Today, Alberta’s population of three million is the fourth largest among the Canadian provinces and approximately 10 percent of the country’s total. Alberta is Canada’s fastest-growing province, with an annual population growth of 2 percent—double the national average.
© Andrew Hempstead, from Moon Western Canada, 3rd Edition
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.