Laying Down The Lines

Between the Fourth Meridian and the Continental Divide is a vast land with some of the most varied landscapes, difficult terrain, and treacherous climates in Canada. The challenge of exploring, surveying and mapping the territory now known as Alberta holds some of the most fascinating stories in the 100-year-old province's history. From the first excursions of David Thompson and John Palliser to the ongoing work of surveying for industry and development, from the first hand-drawn maps and sextants to modern satellite imaging and computer modelling, historian Judy Larmour captures the grand arcs and the fascinating details of the dramatic centuries-long struggle to find and mark place.