What Yukon is known for

Yukon is a territory of Canada, one of the three territories and ten provinces. It is located in the northwest region of the country and has an estimated population of about 42,986 as of 2021.[5] Yukon was named after the longest river in the territory, the Yukon River. The Yukon Act in 2002 established Yukon as the territory’s official name, though many still call the province Yukon Territory.[4] 

One of Yukon’s most notable tourist attractions and natural landmarks is Kluane National Park and Reserve. The park contains extensive ice fields with mountain wilderness. The St. Elias mountains, in the southwestern corner of the park, reach an elevation of 19,551 feet, making it the highest point in Canada and the second-highest peak in North America.[6] Many visitors travel to Yukon or visit Kluane National Park to view the Northern Lights—a natural light phenomenon caused by electrically charged particles from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere.[7]

The capital of Yukon, Whitehorse, has a population of about 25,085 residents. The city occupies approximately 416.54 square kilometers, making it the largest city in northern Canada. The origins of the name, Whitehorse, come from the White Horse Rapids on Yukon River which are said to resemble the mane of a white horse. Some popular attractions in Whitehorse include the Porter Creek’s Guildhall and the Wood Street Centre, both of which showcase plays and local productions.[7] Miles Canyon, located in Whitehorse, draws in visitors who enjoy being outdoors and exploring nature. Guided hikes, themed nature walks, and special events are available for visitors who wish to see more of the area or learn more about the history within the canyon.[8] 

Additionally, one of Yukon’s most visited natural attractions is Emerald Lake. A fair amount of visitors come to admire the photogenic lake for the unique coloration effect created by sunlight reflecting off a white layer of calcium carbonate clay known as marl.[9]

Geography

Yukon lies in the northwestern corner of Canada. It borders the U.S. state of Alaska to the west and northwest, the Northwest Territories to the east, and British Columbia to the south. The territory’s topography consists of several mountains and plateaus, all of which extend westward into Alaska. More than 57 percent of the Yukon is made up of Boreal forests. The vegetation is classified as sub-arctic and alpine, with over 200 species of wildflowers. The area inhabits some of North America’s largest populations of grizzly bears and Dall sheep. Some other large mammals in the territory include mountain sheep, caribou, and moose. Additionally, various migratory birds can be found throughout Yukon, such as trumpeter swans and birds of prey.[2] 

A large number of glacier-fed alpine lakes are scattered throughout Yukon, some of which flow into the Yukon River system. Some of the larger lakes are Teslin Lake, Atlin Lake, Marsh Lake, Kusawa Lake, Lake Laberge, Tagish Lake, and Kluane Lake. On the Klondike Gold Rush trail, Bennett Lake flows into Nares Lake, with the majority of Bennett Lake located in Yukon.[4]

No other place in North America gets experiences cold temperatures as extreme as Yukon does. The coldest temperatures occurred in February 1947 when the abandoned town of Snag dropped to -63 degrees Celsius. The temperature has reached -60 degrees Celsius on a few other occasions in later years of the 1950s and 1960s. the territory also sees extreme heatwaves which occur in June and even as early as May, unlike the rest of Canada where they normally occur in July through September.[4] The winter season from November to February has an average high temperature below 57 degrees Fahrenheit and an average low of 29 degrees Fahrenheit. The average high during the summer months typically reach around 84 degrees Fahrenheit.[3]

History

Yukon is the oldest continuously inhabited part of North America, and the youngest area of Canada in terms of European settlement. Before Europeans arrived in Yukon the aboriginal people in the area already felt the influence of Europeans. Their traditional networks were altered as different groups moved to acquire a better position among the developing trade with Europeans.[2]

By the late 19th century, many gold prospectors headed northwards near the British Columbia mountains. Because of Yukon’s small size, individual claims of gold became very valuable, in contrast to California that consisted of much larger numbers of gold discoveries. Prospectors grew in numbers and journeyed towards Cassier and Omineca mountains, working along the various rivers of Yukon. For a while, the economy depended on the gold that was retrieved from around the region but in 1913 the economy shifted towards other minerals such as silver and lead.[2]

One of Yukon’s most historically significant moments was the Klondike Gold Rush. In the 1870s, prospectors from around the area were drawn near the Yukon River, where gold had been discovered. Before August 17, 1896, only small amounts of gold had been mined until three prospectors—George Washington Carmack and his two partners, one of which was his nephew—discovered rich deposits in Bonanza Creek. This, in turn, led to the great gold rush of the late 1890s.[1]

Eventually, the Canadian Parliament divided the rapidly growing area and gave it separate territorial status from the Northwest Territories, due to the large number of people who came to Yukon for gold. The Gold Rush only lasted a few years and concluded when many miners gave up and left Yukon. Due to the dwindling gold production, the population, which was up to 27,219 in 1901, dropped to 8,512 in 1911, and finally a low of 4,157 in 1921. Currently, Klondike and Fort Selkirk are tourist destinations where visitors can go to learn more about the Gold Rush and its historical significance.[1]