Wood Buffalo, regional municipality (2011 pop. 65,565), 24,571 sq mi (63,637 sq km), NE Alta., Canada, inc. 1995. Formed by Fort McMurray's amalgamation with Improvement District No. 143, Wood Buffalo is one of Canada's largest municipalities by area and one of its fastest growing industrial areas. Fort McMurray is the region's administrative and commercial center and largest community. Other communities include Fort MacKay and Fort Chipewyan, and there are indigenous and Métis reserves and traditional lands. The exploitation of the extensive Athabasca oil sands, c. 40,000 sq mi (104,000 sq km), dominates the local economy. Wood Buffalo National Park borders the municipality on the northwest.
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