Mariana Lake is an unincorporated community in northern Alberta

Northern Alberta

Northern Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta.Its primary industry is oil and gas, with large heavy oil reserves being exploited at the Athabasca Oil Sands and Wabasca Area in the east of the region...

 within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

Wood Buffalo, Alberta

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is a specialized municipality located in northeastern Alberta. Formed as a result of the amalgamation of the City of Fort McMurray and Improvement District No. 143 on April 1, 1995, it is the second largest municipality in Alberta by area...

, located on Highway 63, 101 kilometres (62.8 mi) southwest of Fort McMurray

Fort McMurray, Alberta

Fort McMurray is an urban service area in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo in Alberta, Canada. It was previously incorporated as a city on September 1, 1980. It became an urban service area when it amalgamated with Improvement District No. 143 on April 1, 1995 to create the Municipality...

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A gas station, gift shop, and a convenience store (known as Mariana Lakes Country Store) used to exist in Mariana Lake. This business provided the only fuel, food, and washrooms between Wandering River and Fort McMurray along Highway 63. In September 2008, it was announced that the government of Alberta would be purchasing the land that the store was on to make way for the twinning of Highway 63. The store closed for the last time on September 30.

Economy

Farming, some oil production

Petroleum production in Canada

Petroleum production in Canada is a major industry which is important to the economy of North America. Canada is the sixth largest oil producing country in the world. In 2008 it produced an average of of crude oil, crude bitumen and natural gas condensate. Of that amount, 45% was conventional...

 employing the use of oil rigs.