Yukon Canada’s True North

At A Glance

Population: 29,900
Area: 482,443 km sq
Joined Confederation: 1898
Capital City: Whitehorse
Provincial Flower: Fireweed
Provincial Bird: Raven

Time Zone(s):

Provincial Flag: December 1, 1967
This flag is divided into three vertical panels. The green panel represents the Taiga forests, the white is for snow and the blue is for the sea. On the center panel is the provincial flower, the fireweed, and the Cross of St. George on the top with wavy blue and white lines for creeks and rivers. The red spires represent the Yukon mountains and the gold discs stand for the mineral wealth. The malamute dog on top symbolizes loyalty, stamina and strength.

Laguages Spoken: 90% English, 2.5% French, 7.5% other

Geographic Location: The Yukon territory covers 483,450 square kilometres in the far northwestern part of mainland Canada. Its borders lie with British Columbia on the south (latitude 60 N), Northwest Territories on the east, and the U.S. state of Alaska on the west (longitude 141 W). In the north is the Beaufort Sea.

Major Rivers: Klondike, Peel, Porcupine, Yukon

Major Lakes: none

Highest Point: Mt. Logan 5,591 meters (19,850 feet)

Export and Industry:
Principal Products: Lead, zinc, gold, lumber

Climate: The Yukon has a sub-arctic climate with average temperatures rising above 10 C for no more than four months a year. Winters are cold with long dark nights. Summers are mild with long sunny days. Above the Arctic Circle (66 30' N. latitude), the sun does not set on June 21st and does not rise on December 21st.

Interesting Facts:

• Site of North America's largest gold rush when gold was found near the Klondike River in 1898.
  
  
• Known for its extremely cold temperatures.
  
  
• Dogsledding, now a popular witner sport in Canada's far north, was developed by the Natives as an efficient form of transportation over the winter snows of this region.

Special Requirements for International Visitors:

Department of Business Tourism and Culture http://www.btc.gov.yk.ca/

Government of Yukon
Box 2703
Whitehorse, Yukon
Canada Y1A 2C6
Phone: (867) 667-5811
Toll free (In Yukon): 1-800-661-0408
email: information@gov.yk.ca