Yukon

Yukon is a territory in the far northwest corner of Canada. It borders Alaska to the west. Yukon is famous for the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, when thousands of people rushed there to find gold. The territory has huge mountains, wild rivers, and some of the most untouched wilderness in North America.

Land and People

Only about 43,000 people live in Yukon. The capital is Whitehorse. Mount Logan in Yukon is the tallest mountain in Canada at 19,551 feet. The territory has long, cold winters and short summers when the sun barely sets.

Culture and Fun Facts

The Klondike Gold Rush brought about 100,000 people to the Yukon hoping to strike it rich. Dawson City was the center of the Gold Rush and still has a frontier town feel. The Northern Lights are spectacular in Yukon. First Nations peoples, including the Kluane and Tutchone, have lived in the region for thousands of years.

Fun Facts

• Mount Logan in Yukon is the tallest mountain in Canada at 19,551 feet.
• During the Klondike Gold Rush, about 100,000 people headed to Yukon, but only about 30,000 made it.
• In summer, Yukon gets up to 24 hours of daylight during the midnight sun.

Did You Know?

During the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, about 100,000 people set out for the Yukon to find gold. The journey was so difficult that only about 30,000 actually made it there.