The territory's historical major industry is mining, including lead, zinc, silver, gold, asbestos and copper. Indeed, the territory owes its existence to the famous Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s. Having acquired the land from the Hudson's Bay Company in 1870, the Canadian government divided the territory off of the Northwest Territories in 1898 to fill the need for local government created by the influx of prospectors at the time.

Get in

By plane
The only significant airport in the Yukon is at Whitehorse. Air Canada offers daily direct flights from Vancouver. Air North offers flights from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, as well as flights from Fairbanks and Juneau in Alaska. There are also seasonal and charter flights from Europe and Asia. Westjet (Canadian discount airline) has also offered seasonal flights from Edmonton in the past.

By car
Most people traveling through Yukon are driving on their way to Alaska. Two highways enter into the Yukon from Southern Canada. The Alaska Highway (or BC Highway 97) comes from Dawson Creek in the Northeast of British Columbia. The Cassiar Highway (BC Highway 37) connects with the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16) near Terrace between Prince George and Prince Rupert in Central British Columbia.

By ferry
The Alaska Marine Highway system operates a ferry from Bellingham, Washington, USA to Skagway in Alaska.

Get around

By plane
Flying around the territory is quite expensive. However, it is the only reasonable way to travel much of the Yukon. Air North is the major regional carrier in the Yukon. It flies to Dawson City, Old Crow and Inuvik in the Northwest Territories.

Attractions

Many of Yukon's winter visitors come to the North specifically to see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In the summer, most of the Yukon has 24 hours of daylight.

Activities

Because of its rugged terrain and breathtaking mountain views, adventure tours in Yukon are highly recommended. Hiking, fishing, kayaking and dogsledding are just among the many activities. Most offer trips to see the Northern Lights.

Dining

Food has to travel a long ways to get to the Yukon, so don't expect the same variety of fruits and vegetables as in the south. Plus, the prices are significantly higher.

Historically hunting is a way of life in the North and Yukoners still tend to eat a lot more meat, especially wild game, than Southerners.

Despite its small size, Whitehorse is a major supply centre where all you'll find most chain restaurants along with many very nice local restaurants featuring diverse menus.

Get out

You can get to Alaska from the Yukon at either the Beaver Creek border crossing west of Whitehorse or the Little Gold border crossing west of Dawson. The community of Atlin in the northwest corner of British Columbia is a very interesting little community that can only be accessed from the Yukon.

The most Northern Highway in the World goes North from near Dawson to Inuvik in the Northwest Territories.

Emerald Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada

Cities

• Whitehorse
• Dawson Creek
• Beaver Creek
• Watson Lake
• Old Crow

Climate

Dress warm and in layers. Yukon is located in Canada's far north, making winter coats, hats and gloves as essential as your toothbrush. Temperatures can dip so low it's almost impossible to go outside.

Drink

The legal drinking age in the Yukon is 19. The Yukon Liquor Corporation operates six liquor stores in the territory. They are located in Whitehorse, Watson Lake, Dawson, Haines Junction, Faro, and Mayo. Alcohol is also available from "off-sales" bars. There is a 30 percent premium for purchasing from off-sales.
Some communities in the North are officially "Dry" communities. In these communities alcohol will not be available and bringing in excess quantities of alcohol may be illegal.

Dempster Highway, Yukon

Quick facts

• The Dempster is North America's only public highway that crosses the artic circle
• Yukon is home to 14 different First Nations, who speak eight different languages.
• By area, Whitehorse is Canada's third largest city