![]() ![]() Yukon River at Schwatka Lake and the entry to Miles Canyon, near Whitehorse, Yukon ![]() Introduction to YukonThe Yukon (YT) was named after the Yukon River. Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich'in (Athapaskan). Its capital, Whitehorse, is also the largest city in the Yukon, home to about two-thirds of the population. The second largest city is Dawson. Mount Logan in Kluane National Park and Reserve is the highest mountain in Canada and the second-highest in North America. More than 80 percent of the Yukon is still wild, with rugged mountains, glaciers, rivers and wildlife, including caribou, mountain sheep, grizzly bears and birds. Historically, Yukon is known for the gold rush, but it also has mines for lead, zinc, silver, asbestos and copper. Other industries in the Yukon include manufacturing (furniture, clothing), handicrafts and hydroelectricity. Traditional activities such as trapping and fishing have declined over recent decades. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Cities, Towns & Communities![]() ParksNP: National Parks
![]() ![]() Yukon TriviaFlag Nickname Provincial slogan License plate slogans News Other resources ![]() Interests in YT: Accommodation | Arts & Culture | Eat & Drink | Products & Services | Things to Do ![]() Yukon FactsDate YT entered confederationJune 13, 1898 Area of YT482,443 sq km (186,272 sq miles) TopographyThe Yukon has two main geographical regions: taiga and tundra. Taiga is the boreal forest belt with pine, aspen, poplar, and birch trees. Tundra is the vast, rocky plain in the arctic regions, where the extreme climate stunts the growth of vegetation. Capital city of YTPopulation of YT40,232 (Statistics Canada, 2021 Census) Residents are known asYukoners Indigenous people of YTAbout a fifth of Yukoners are of Indigenous descent and belong to one of 14 Yukon First Nations (8 different languages).First Nations culture and history in the Yukon dates back as far as the last Ice Age (50,000 years ago). Cultural and linguistic traditions of the Athapaskans go back more than 1,000 years. Distinct Athapaskan groups are Gwitch'in, Han, Tutchone, Upper Tanana, Kaska, Tlingit and Tagish. Main YT industriesMining and tourism YT statutory holidays (in addition to national holidays)Discovery Day (third Monday in August) ![]() ![]() Source: Government of Canada Maps ClimateThe Yukon's climate is subarctic. High altitude and semi-arid climate make for relatively warm summers with temperatures around 25C (77F). Winter temperatures can range from -50C to 4C (-58F to 39F) in the south (colder in the north). Above the Arctic Circle (latitude 66N), the Yukon is known as “the land of the midnight sun” because three months of summer has continuous sunlight. In winter, the reverse is true. ![]() Time zonePacific Standard Time (PST) Rivers![]() Owned and operated by Canadian Only Inc. Copyright 2000-2025 |