Prince Albert is a small city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is the third-largest in the province after Saskatoon and Regina. It is situated near the geographic centre of the province on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. Often simply referred to as P. A., the city is also known as the "Gateway to the North" since it is the northernmost major urban centre in the province and serves as somewhat of a hub between Saskatchewan's northern communities and larger communities in the south. Prince Albert National Park is located 51Â km (32Â mi) north of the city and contains a wealth of lakes, forest, and wildlife. The city itself is located in a transition zone between the aspen parkland and boreal forest biomes. Prince Albert is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Prince Albert No. 461, of which it is the seat, but is politically separate.