Fort Mcmurray

Soon after a steamboat terminus was established near Fort McMurray in 1884, the region's vast resources began to attract attention. Oil sands containing some 1.7 trillion barrels of oil were found around Lake Athabasca. The first commercially successful extractions, however, did not take place until the late 1960s. Since then Fort McMurray has boomed, serving oil recovery plants that now extract from the sands more than 600,000 barrels of synthetic crude oil per day.

The city is the southern terminus of the vast water transportation system that navigates Great Slave Lake and the Mackenzie River en route to the Arctic. Logging and tourism further bolster the economy. Fort McMurray is a service center for surrounding areas and the oil sands plants.

Note: In 2016, a devastating wildfire swept through Fort McMurray and the surrounding area prompting mass evacuations and destroying thousands of homes. Most attractions have returned to their normal schedules as of press time, but it’s a good idea to phone ahead to confirm hours of operation.

Visitor Centers

Things to Do

Heritage Shipyard

Oil Sands Discovery Centre