Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, lies in the central part of the province and at the northern edge of its more populated regions. In 2011, the city proper had a population of 812,000 and a metropolitan area registered 1.2 million. Edmonton is the most northerly city in the Americas with a million or more inhabitants in its locale. Its key position as a “jumping off point” to far northwest Canada along with east-west connections with British Columbia have favored the city for significant growth, and it is known as the “Gateway to the North.” However, the biggest factor of all in Edmonton’s population explosion is the discovery of large deposits of oil, oil sands, and natural gas in the immediate vicinity or just to the north.
Not only oil extraction in northern and central Alberta but also diamond mining in the Northwest Territories have made Edmonton a center of industry and commerce. In fact, Edmonton is sometimes called “the Oil Capital of Canada.” Only Saudi Arabia is said to possess a bigger oil field than does Alberta. It is also, however, a major center of technological research and education, much of this high-tech investigation going on at the in-town University of Alberta.
Edmonton is a key distribution point within Canada, handling a large bulk of trans-shipment freight. The Canadian National Railway has its headquarters in Edmonton along with major trans-shipment facilities that handle freight originating in Prince Rupert, British Columbia and traveling on to the east. Edmonton is also connected to Calgary to the south via the Canadian Pacific Railway system.
The city road system is mostly in a grid, though post-1950’s roads often depart from that pattern. Edmonton is well-connected by highways to the rest of Canada and the U.S., but two of its main linking roads are: Canada 16 which runs from the Pacific port of Prince Rupert through Edmonton to Saskatoon and Alberta Highway 2 (Queen Elizabeth II Highway) which joins it to Calgary.
Edmonton is also a main air gateway to the northwest, and its biggest airport (Edmonton International) also provides flights to the U.S., Europe, northern Latin America, and the Caribbean. A new container air freight hub (to be named “Port Alberta”) is presently being constructed and promises to augment Edmonton’s already substantial air transport industry.
If you are in need of shipping freight to or from Edmonton, whether by land or air, we have the experience to map out the logistics and make all the arrangements with the best companies. Feel free to contact us to discuss how to reduce shipping costs without sacrificing speed or safety.
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