Capital: Regina Population(2002): 1,010,007 Flower: Red Lily Bird: Sharp-tailed Grouse Geography Saskatchewan is bounded by the Northwest Territories (N), Manitoba (E), North Dakota and Montana (S), and Alberta (W). One of the Prairie Provinces, its northern third is part of the Canadian Shield . The principal rivers are the Churchill, North and South Saskatchewan, and Qu'Appelle. Between the Saskatchewan and Churchill rivers lies a mixed forest belt that provides much timber; a section is preserved as Prince Albert National Park.  Only in Southern Saskatchewan has there been substantial settlement and development. Regina is the capital and second largest city; Saskatoon is the largest city, and Prince Albert and Moose Jaw are other important centers. Economy and Higher Education Except for a semiarid section in the southwest used for grazing and an area in the east and central portion given over to mixed farming and Ranching , the land is devoted to the raising of a wide variety of crops traditional crops of wheat, oats and barley as well.Saskatchewan  has become a world leader in oilseeds. In fact Canola(rapeseed) was developed at the University of Saskatchewan located in Sasktoon.Saskatchewan farmers grow a large amount of lentals, peas,and a wide variety of pulse crops .Saskatchewan normally produces two thirds of Canada's wheat. Saskatchewan has become a world leader in crop development and is home to a number of  crop development companies Saskatchewan is rich in minerals. Oil and natural gas, found under the prairie, are by far the province's most important minerals. The region north of Lake Athabaska has been exploited for ores yielding uranium. The area around Flin Flon, in the northeast, is mined for copper, zinc, and gold. Coal is mined in the southwest. Potash mining began in the 1950s near Saskatoon and Esterhazy, and the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan head office in Saskatoon is now the worlds largest producer of the mineral. Saskatchewan is the worlds largest producer of uranium and the deposits in northern Saskatchewan is touted as the Saudi Arabia of Uranium .Saskatchewan is also becoming Renouned for Diamond deposits and this is a newly emerging industry  Most of the province's industries process raw materials however this is changing and more processing is occouring as well as a number of ethenol plants and malt plants and  Canola crushing plants Institutions of higher education include Univ. of Saskatchewan, at Saskatoon which is a world class institution and the home of the Syncrotron as well as a number of colleges. The University of Regina and a number of technical institutes and community colleges.     *Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Copyright (c) 2003.