About Yukon

The Yukon was officially established as a Canadian Territory on June 13, 1898.
Total area of the Yukon: 483,450 sq.km.
Total population of the Yukon (Sept 2012): 36,304

The City of Whitehorse: 27,687
Whitehorse started off as a transportation hub during the Klondike Gold Rush in 1898 and became the Capital City on April 1st, 1953.

Interesting Facts About Yukon and Whitehorse

The population of Yukon was higher in 1898 than it is now. Dawson City, then the Capital City, alone reached a population of over 30,000 at the height of the Klondike Gold Rush.

While the density of our human population may be low, our wildlife populations are thriving. In the Yukon, people are outnumbered by moose alone 2 to 1.

At least twenty mountains in the St. Elias Range in southwest Yukon exceed 4,000 metres, and more than a handful exceed 5,000 metres. Towering over them all and surrounded by a vast icefields is Mount Logan, Canada's highest peak.

The Yukon is one of North America’s major wilderness attractions: close to 80 per cent remains pristine wilderness. About 10.3 per cent of the territory is fully protected areas. The Yukon has three national parks, six territorial parks and four Canadian Heritage Rivers.

The name “Yukon” originated from the Locheux native word "Yuk-un-ah," meaning "Great River," referring to the Yukon River that flows across the territory into Alaska. The second longest river in Canada, it flows 3,185 km from northern British Columbia to the Bering Sea.

Crisscrossed with extensive lake and rivers systems, the territory has several significant watersheds, though almost two-thirds of the territory is drained by the mighty Yukon River.

Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon, is named after the Whitehorse Rapids for the resemblance to the mane of a horse.

Whitehorse is home to one of the world’s largest weathervane’s a DC-3 that sits atop a swivel stand at the airport.

In the Guinness World Records, Whitehorse is named as the city with the least air pollution in the world.

Official emblems and symbols of the Yukon

Bird: Raven - The raven is seen everywhere in Yukon. It is a very intelligent bird and an opportunistic feeder, feasting on everything from carrion to groceries left in the back of pick-up trucks. The raven is called "Crow" by Yukon First Nations people and is the subject of many stories passed from generation to generation.

Flower: Fireweed - Fireweed is a hardy plant and grows along Yukon roadsides, river bars and clearings from mid-July to September. Its blooms are a bright magenta, making it one of the most attractive plants in the North. It’s also one of the first plants to appear after a forest fire.

Gemstone: Lazulite - Azure-blue lazulite is the only semi-precious gemstone found in any quantity in the territory. Lazulite is a rare and beautiful phosphorous-based mineral. As a cut stone it is relatively soft and can be scratched with a knife.