Thompson, Manitoba Information

·       Latitude:         55° 45' North

·       Longitude:      97° 45' West

·       Population: Approximately 13,446 people

·       Population Density:   3.9 /km²

·       Landforms: Located in the Canadian Shield, an area known for its rugged natural beauty and abundance of natural resources. The landscape consists of many lakes, deep river valleys, boreal forest and plains which are located in the southern part of the area.. The vegetation of the area consists mainly of Boreal forest where hardy coniferous trees such as the black spruce and some broadleaf trees like the white birch are able to survive.

·       Climate: Thompson, Manitoba experiences a Continental climate, that is characterized by warm temperatures in the summer and the winters are fairly cold, with quite low precipitation in both winter and summer.  The temperature range is about 40°C, while the annual rain fall is around 600 millimeters, which is low, and occurs mostly in the summer months.

·       Ecozone: Boreal Plains

·       Closes National Park:  Paint Lake Provincial Park is characterized by the waters and shores of Paint Lake, a portion of the Grass River system. Classified as a Natural Park, its purpose is to preserve areas that are representative of the Hayes River Upland portion of the Precambrian Boreal Forest Natural Region, and to accommodate a diversity of recreational opportunities and resource uses

·       Industries: The primary industries are Mining and Forestry, hydro-generation, and fisheries are all important contributors to the Thompson economy, Extensive logging also occurs

·       Tourism: The Northern Canadian boreal forest the city of Thompson is surrounded by wildness, creating a unique outdoor experience for locals and visitors; to the south is the Paint Lake Provincial Recreational Park which envelopes Manitoba's largest marina. Even further south are the majestic Pisew Falls, Manitoba’s highest waterfalls accessible by road. There is a golf course in town and also a river air-base where planes can be chartered to reach some of the more remote parts of the province. Mystery Mountain Winter Park hosts the town's downhill skiing, snowboarding, and cross country skiing facilities. Snowmobiling is another popular activity around Thompson, boasting more than 200 groomed trails. Another attraction is Thompson Zoo and Lights in the Wild teaches traditional ways and a chance to experience the mysterious and beautiful Northern Lights.