This book explores a relatively small, but interesting and anomalous,region of Alberta between the North Saskatchewan and the Battle Rivers.The Beaver Hills arose where mountain glaciers from the west metcontinental ice-sheets from the east. An overview of the hills'physiography helps us to grasp the complexity and diversity oflandscapes, soil types, and vegetation communities. Ecological themes,such as climatic cycles, ground water availability, vegetationsuccession and the response of wildlife, and the impact of fires, shapethe possibilities and provide the challenges to those who have calledthe region home or used its varied resources: Aboriginal peoples,Metis, and European immigrants.