Yukon

Main article: [Yukon]

Further information: [List of cities in Yukon by population]

Geography

Yukon is a territory in Canada. It borders British Columbia to the south, the Northwest Territories to the east, the Beaufort Sea to the north, and the U.S. state of Alaska to the west. It is the westernmost and smallest territory in Canada.

Whitehorse, the capital, is the largest city in northern Canada.

History

Yukon was split from the Northwest Territories in 1898. The Yukon Act was passed by the federal Parliament in 2002. This made Yukon the official name of the territory. Canada Post uses YT as the postal abbreviation for Yukon.

Languages

Yukon is officially bilingual, using English and French. The Yukon government also recognizes First Nations languages.

Climate

Most of Yukon has a subarctic climate. This means long, cold winters and short, warm summers. The area along the Arctic Ocean has a tundra climate.

Rivers

Important rivers in Yukon include the Yukon, Pelly, Stewart, Peel, White, Liard, and Tatshenshini.

Mountains

At 5,959 metres (19,551 feet), Yukon's Mount Logan, in Kluane National Park and Reserve, is the highest mountain in Canada. It is the second-highest mountain in North America, after Denali in the U.S. state of Alaska.

Etymology

The Yukon territory is named after the Yukon River, the longest river in the area. The name comes from a Gwich'in phrase meaning "white water river." This refers to the pale color of the water from melting glaciers.

In the past, people often called the area "The Yukon." In 2003, the government asked people to call it just "Yukon." But some people wanted to keep the old name. After an election in 2021, the government decided to go back to using "The Yukon."

Geography

Main article: Geography of Yukon

Yukon looks a bit like a right triangle. It touches the U.S. state of Alaska to the west, the Northwest Territories to the east, and British Columbia to the south. Its northern edge reaches the Beaufort Sea. Most of Yukon is part of the land where the Yukon River flows. The southern part has many long, narrow lakes, such as Teslin Lake, Atlin Lake, and Kluane Lake.

The highest point in Canada, Mount Logan, is in Yukon's southwest inside Kluane National Park and Reserve. Other parks are Ivvavik National Park and Vuntut National Park. The main trees in Yukon are black spruce and white spruce. These trees often grow smaller because the summers are short and the winters are very cold.

History

Main article: History of Yukon

Long before Europeans came, the central and southern Yukon was home to First Nations people. These areas were not covered by glaciers. Important archaeological sites there show some of the earliest evidence of humans living in North America. These sites help us learn about the first people and the earliest First Nations of the Yukon.

A big volcanic eruption from Mount Churchill around 800 AD in what is now the U.S. state of Alaska covered southern Yukon with ash. You can still see this ash along the Klondike Highway. First Nations people had big trading networks. In the 1800s, Europeans arrived for the fur trade and later as missionaries. By the 1870s and 1880s, gold miners came, which increased the population. This growth led to the creation of a police force just before the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897. Because of the rush, the Yukon became a separate territory from the Northwest Territories in 1898.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Yukon

The 2021 census said that Yukon has 40,232 people. It covers a huge area of 474,712.64 km², making it the most crowded of Canada's three territories. Recent numbers guess the population in 2024 is about 46,948, and it is growing.

Most people in Yukon have European roots, but there are also important First Nations communities. Many people were born in other countries, such as the Philippines, the United States, and the United Kingdom. English is the most common language, but French is also used in official places.

Economy

The Yukon’s biggest industry is mining. People mine metals like lead, zinc, silver, gold, asbestos, and copper. Many years ago, a gold rush brought many people to the Yukon. This helped create local government and brought new stories to the land. Today, tourism is also very important. People visit the Yukon to enjoy its beautiful nature. They can go hunting, fishing, canoeing, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing, and ride dog sleds. The Yukon has many parks, festivals, and special places to visit, such as the aurora borealis.

Other jobs in the Yukon include making things like furniture and clothes, and providing electricity through hydroelectricity. The government employs many people to help run the territory.

Culture

The Yukon has many fun events that bring together artists, locals, and visitors. Popular yearly celebrations include the Adäka Cultural Festival, Dawson City Music Festival, Yukon International Storytelling Festival, the Yukon Quest dog sled race, and the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous. The area also honors its history with Klondike Gold Rush memorials and the Northern Lights Centre.

The Yukon's Aboriginal culture has a big impact on its traditions, especially in winter sports like the Yukon Quest sled dog race. The territory values its First Nations and Inuit languages, such as Tlingit and Tahltan, along with several Athapaskan languages including Upper Tanana, Gwich'in, Hän, Northern Tutchone, Southern Tutchone, Kaska, and Tagish. Famous Yukon artists like Jim Robb and Ted Harrison are known for their paintings of life in the Yukon. The Klondike Gold Rush inspired many folk songs and still influences books, films, and games today.

Government

Executive power in the Yukon is held by the Territorial Commissioner, who works closely with the Premier of Yukon. The Premier leads the government and is chosen by the elected members of the Yukon Legislative Assembly. The Yukon has three main political parties: the Yukon Party, the Yukon New Democratic Party, and the Yukon Liberal Party.

Most of the Yukon's land does not have a local government, unlike other parts of Canada. However, eight municipalities, including the capital Whitehorse, provide local services for most people. These municipalities are organized under laws set by the Yukon Government.

The Yukon began to have its own local government in 1895. By 1898, it became a separate territory with its own leader and council. In 1979, the Yukon started using political parties and a system where the government is responsible to the people, which is still used today. The Yukon is also represented in Canada's Parliament of Canada by one member of Parliament and one senator.

Transportation

Before modern transportation, rivers and mountain passes were important for trade. The Tlingit people used these routes to trade with the Athabascans at the Chilkoot Pass and on the Dalton Trail.

Today, the main ways to travel in Yukon include air, rail, roads, and water. Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport is the main airport. It has flights to cities such as Calgary, Dawson City, Edmonton, Inuvik, Kelowna, Old Crow, Ottawa, Toronto–Pearson, Vancouver, Victoria, and Yellowknife.

Roads like the Alaska Highway and the Klondike Highway connect different parts of Yukon. In summer, a railway runs between Carcross and Skagway, Alaska, mostly for tourists. In the past, riverboats traveled the Yukon River between Whitehorse and Dawson City.