Medicine Hat, known to locals as "the Hat," is a city of 56,048 (according to the 2005 municipal census) and is located in the southeastern part of the province of Alberta, Canada. It is situated on the Trans-Canada Highway, the eastern terminus of the Crowsnest Highway, and the South Saskatchewan River. Nearby towns considered part of the Medicine Hat area include Dunmore, Seven Persons, Redcliff, and Irvine. Its major claim to fame is Rudyard Kipling's famous line "all hell for a basement" referring to the vast reserves of natural gas beneath it.

The Medicine Hat landscape is dominated by the South Saskatchewan River valley. In addition, to this major river both the Seven Persons Creek and Ross Creek empty into the South Saskatchewan River within the City of Medicine Hat boundary. The presence of these water bodies provide for a dramatic valley landscape with numerous cliffs, and finger coulees throughout the City. Beyond the City and river valley the land is flat to slightly rolling and is characterized by short-grass vegetation. The Cypress Hills (including Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park) is a relatively short distance (by car) to the southeast of the city. Medicine Hat has a dry, continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers. However, the winter cold is occasionally ameliorated by mild and dry chinook winds blowing from the west, and hot summer daytime temperatures are made tolerable by low humidity and rapid cooling in the evening hours. Medicine Hat receives less precipitation annually than other cities on the Canadian prairies.

The city is served by the Medicine Hat Airport.

More on [ Medicine Hat, Alberta ]

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