Lethbridge is a city in the province of Alberta and is the fourth largest city by population and is the third largest by area in the province after the cities of Calgary and Edmonton. It is located near the Canadian Rockies and is 210 kilometres (130 miles) southeast of Calgary on the Oldman River. Lethbridge winters have the highest temperatures in the prairies. Its relatively mild winters are a result of several geographical factors including it’s close proximity to the Rocky Mountains which protects it from strong northwest and southwest winds, often associated with blizzard conditions. Lethbridge’s high elevation at 929 metres (3,048 feet) and frequent chinooks also contribute to the regionally unusually high winter temperatures.