Explore The Land of Living Skies with these Saskatchewan Fun Facts

Uncover the secrets of the ‘Land of Living Skies.’ These Saskatchewan fun facts explore the province’s unique landscapes, rich history, and quirky claims to fame.

Saskatchewan, the ‘Land of Living Skies.’ This wild and underrated province is a bit of a mystery to many Canadians. Famous for its wide-open spaces, sprawling prairies, and grainfields, there’s a lot about Saskatchewan that most people just haven’t properly appreciated. And really, it doesn’t get the respect that it deserves.

However, Saskatchewan is a province with a distinct character. A unique charm and personality that goes far beyond its endless horizons and a culture shaped by its prairie landscapes. Saskatchewan is a place where you can witness breathtaking sunsets, explore vast fields of gold blowing in the wind, and discover unexpected hidden gems.

If you’ve ever been curious about Saskatchewan and wanted to uncover its secrets, these Saskatchewan fun facts will quench your thirsty curiosity like a local Saskatchewan craft beer. And, hopefully, they’ll inspire you to plan a journey to explore one of Canada’s most under-appreciated provinces.

Fun Saskatchewan Facts

• Saskatchewan is home to both the largest and smallest Tyrannosaurus Rex Skeletons ever found. “Scotty,” the skeleton of the largest Tyrannosaurus Rex, was found along the Frenchman River Valley, near Eastend, Saskatchewan, Canada. “Chomper,” the smallest T-Rex skeleton, is on display right next to Scotty at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina.
• Saskatchewan is the only Canadian province or territory whose borders are totally defined by parallels and meridians. It is located between the 49^th and 60^th parallels North, and the 101°21’41″ and 110^th meridians West.
• Saskatchewan is known for its never-ending prairies. But did you know that the northern half of the province is home to vast Boreal forests and some of the largest sand dunes in North America? The Athabasca Sand Dunes and Great Sand Dunes are part of a region known as the Great Sand Hills.
• The official flag of Saskatchewan represents the province’s diverse landscape with its green and gold colouring. These colours represent the forests in the north and fields of grain in the south, with a prairie lily and the province’s coat of arms.

• Saskatchewan and Alberta are the only two landlocked provinces in Canada.
• The entire province of Saskatchewan has only 1.2 million residents. This is a smaller population than major Canadian hubs such as Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, or Calgary.
• Even with its small population, nearly half of all of the residents of Saskatchewan live in its two largest cities, Saskatoon (population 288,000) and the provincial capital Regina (population 242,000).
• Over 5% of the population of Saskatchewan identifies as First Nations. 5% are Métis, which is a larger percentage than any other province, with the exception of Manitoba.
• While most people across Canada pronounce Saskatchewan as “Sas-ka-chew-ahn,” locals pronounce the name of the province as “Sas-ka-chew-en.”
• The province is named after the  The name of the province comes from the Cree word for the Saskatchewan River, “Kisiskatchewanisipi” or “swift-flowing river.” The North and South Saskatchewan converge south of Saskatoon to form the Saskatchewan River, which later drains into Lake Winnipeg.

Saskatchewan Geography Facts

• Nearly 10% of Saskatchewan is covered in water. Despite being landlocked, the province has over 100,000 lakes.
• Saskatchewan is the 7th largest province in Canada at over 651,036 km². It is roughly the size of the country of Afghanistan.
• Saskatchewan shares a city with its neighbouring province of Alberta. Although the city of Lloydminster sits on both sides of the Alberta and Saskatchewan border, the city uses the Alberta time zone.
• Saskatchewan does not take part in Daylight Savings Time. Despite being geographically located in the Mountain Time Zone (similar to Alberta and the Northwest Territories), Saskatchewan uses Central Time. Due to its unique timezone status, Saskatchewan has the same time as Alberta in the summer and the same as Manitoba in the winter.
• Saskatchewan sees more average sunshine than any other province in Canada.
• The hottest temperature ever recorded in Saskatchewan was 45.0°C (113°F), while the lowest was −56.7°C (−70°F). That’s a difference of over 100 degrees Celsius (or 183 degrees Fahrenheit).
• The Athabaska Sand Dunes in northern Saskatchewan are believed to be the world’s northernmost active sand dunes.
• The Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary, located between Saskatoon and Regina, is the oldest bird sanctuary in North America.
• Little Manitou Lake, southeast of Saskatoon, is nicknamed “Little Dead Sea.” The lake has such a high mineral concentration that it’s easy to float on its surface. Visitation is free, and there is a hotel with hot springs called Manitou Springs on its shores that’s a popular vacation spot.
• Many people consider Saskatchewan to be insufferabl

Fun Facts About Saskatchewan Culture

• Saskatchewanians (as they’re locally known) have their own unique slang. Some of the most unique words that you might come across in the province include:
  • Bunnyhug – The local name for a hooded sweatshirt or “hoodie.”
  • Buttcrack – Referring to remote rural areas of the province.
  • Dainties – Referring to sweet treats or small desserts, particularly ones that feature Saskatoon berries.
• Saskatchewan features a rich Indigenous heritage. The province includes territories covered by treaties 2, 4, 5, 6,8 & 10. First Nations and Indigenous communities in the province include Cree, Daokota, Naokota, Dene, and Saulteaux.
• The province’s official animal is the white-tailed deer.
• The official fruit of Saskatchewan is the Saskatoon berry. It’s often used to make jam or pie or “dainties.”
• More than 60% of Canada’s wheat is grown in Saskatchewan. The province is also the world’s leading producer of chickpeas and lentils.
• Saskatchewan has produced a plethora of world-famous celebrities, including:
  • Actor Leslie Nielsen from the Naked Gun movie franchise.
  • Sons of Anarchy star Kim Coates
  • Actress Tatiana Maslany, who plays She-Hulk
  • NHL legends Gordie Howe and Glenn Hall
  • Indigenous artist Alen Sapp
  • Joni Mitchell, while not from Saskatchewan, first rose to fame while playing in Saskatoon.
• Saskatchewan has produced more NHL hockey players per capita than any other province in Canada. Despite this, the province has never had an NHL team.
• Regina, Saskatchewan, is home to the only First Nations university in Canada.

Facts about Saskatchewan History

• The city of Moose Jaw, near the US border, is home to the Al Capone Tunnels. These tunnels, originally built by Chinese railway workers to escape persecution, are said to have been part of the famous gangster’s bootleg industry during the Prohibition in the 1930s.
• Saskatchewan’s main industry used to be agriculture. But now, that industry makes up less than 10% of the province’s GDP. Today, mining, oil, finance, and social services lead to Saskatchewan’s financial growth.
• There has never been a Canadian prime minister born in Saskatchewan. But John Diefenbaker was raised in the province.
• The first trading post in Saskatchewan was established in 1774. The Cumberland House was built on the Saskatchewan River in the province’s northeast.
• In 1885, the Métis, along with local First Nations, staged a rebellion, led by legendary Métis leader Louis Riel. Riel led the Red River Rebellion, which led to the formation of Manitoba. Riel was later tried and executed for treason in the city of Regina.
• In 1916, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba became the first provinces to allow women to vote.

Saskatchewan Travel Facts

• Saskatchewan is home to two national parks: Prince Albert National Park and Grasslands National Park.
• Grasslands National Park is touted as one of the darkest Dark Sky Preserves in Canada, making it a prime location for stargazing and northern lights viewing in Canada. 
• Grasslands National Park was established in 1981. It is one of the country’s last remaining undisturbed prairie grasslands and home to the country’s only black-tailed prairie dog colonies.
• Prince Albert National Park, north of Saskatoon, is one of the places in Saskatchewan where you can see purple beaches. This unique phenomenon is caused by large garnet deposits in the sand.
• Saskatchewan does not currently have a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the Indigenous-run Wanuskewin Heritage Park, a First Nations center in Saskatoon, is on the tentative list. It was a vital hunting ground for Indigenous Peoples and home to some of the newest petroglyphs discovered in Saskatchewan.
• Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, is home to Mac the Moose. This iconic statue has been part of a competition with Norway, who built a larger moose statue. Moose Jaw then added taller antlers to reclaim the crown.
• Some of Saskatchewan’s most famous roadside attractions include:
  • The world’s largest coffee pot in Davidson
  • The world’s largest paper clip in Kipling. This commemorates Canadian blogger Kyle MacDonald’s success in trading up one red paperclip for a house in Kipling.
  • The world’s largest lily in Kipling.
  • A replica of the Eiffel Tower in Montmartre.
• Saskatchewan is a road-trip province. It has 250,000 km of roads and highways, more than any other province in Canada. That’s enough asphalt to travel around the world 4 times.

These Saskatchewan Fun Facts Are Just A Small Taste Of What This Province Has To Offer

These Saskatchewan facts are just a glimpse into the wonders of the province. Whether you’ve explored Saskatchewan before or you’re planning your first visit, the vast skies, welcoming communities, and unique prairie charm will leave a lasting impression.

From its culturally rich cities to its serene landscapes, Saskatchewan holds a wealth of experiences waiting to be discovered. So, come and explore the ‘Land of Living Skies’ and uncover its hidden treasures.

Do you have a favorite spot or story from Saskatchewan? Share it with others and join the conversation!

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