The Yukon is the smallest of Canada’s three territories and takes its name from the eponymous river, The Yukon, which is one of its main watersheds. Located on the western most part of Canada, this province supplies its visitors and inhabitants not only with a taste of an Arctic climate in the winter, but multicolored fields of flowers during the brief summer months. And perhaps one of the most alluring aspects of this territory is the appearance of the Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights, during the long winter nights.
Territorial Flower
Perhaps rather paradoxical with its climate is the name of its territorial flower, the Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium, Lat.) which is, in fact, an herb that derives its name from the fact that it tends to flourish on recently burnt fields. It is predominantly found in open fields throughout the northern hemisphere in damp to wet soil ranging from calcareous to slightly acidic. These herbs are described as a pioneer species (due to their tendencies to grow on burnt sites) and will grow with the provision of enough sunlight and space. Their seeds (up to 80,000 per plant) can remain fertile for years in the harshest conditions which perhaps explain their ability to grow on recently burnt sites.
The Fireweed can grow up to 2.5m in height, flowering magenta petals along reddish smooth stems. One aspect of the Fireweed is its vein structure, which is circular rather than terminating at the edges of the leaves. This makes the plant highly recognisable during any of the stages of its growth.
Capital City
The capital of the Yukon (since 1953) is Whitehorse, the largest city within the territories with a population of almost 23,000 people which make up just over 75% of the entire Yukon population.
History
Perhaps due to central and northern Yukon escaping glaciations or perhaps for some other mysterious reason, Yukon has some of the oldest human remains been found in this territory. Carbon dating estimates them to be around 25,000 to 40,000 years old. Yet we may never know as it seems that the inhabitants of the area fled to the south western United States due to a volcanic eruption in 800 AD. Subsequent habitation of the area resumed as is evidenced in records of trading between the Tlingits and the first Nations people.
A common factor with most of Canada's provinces is that the fur trade attracted the attentions of European settlers in the area. In this case it only took place in the middle of the 19th century. Later in the same century rumors of gold in the area had spread and thusly saw the arrival of miners. In a relatively short time the population had increased so much that an official police force was established prior to the Klondike Gold Rush. It was this very gold rush which led to the separation of the Yukon from the district of Northwest Territories to become a territory in its own capacity.
Geography
The Yukon is a territory with a population of only 0.065 people per sq. km and boasts perennial snow-capped mountains and a vast number of beautiful pristine lakes. The climate is at best sub-Arctic and tending toward Arctic during the long cold winter months although summer provides enough sunlight and warmth for multitudes of flowers to blossom and vegetables to grow.
As the territory of Yukon's highest point and also Canada's highest point, Mount Logan towers at 5,959ft above sea level and is located within the Kluane National Park and Reserve which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To the south of the territory the landscape becomes dotted with glacier-fed alpine lakes that drain into the Yukon river, some of which include the Atlin Lake, Marsh Lake and Lake Laberge.
The Yukon territory occupies an area of 482,443 sq. km of which 474,391 sq. km is land area and the remaining 8,052 sq. km, water. It has a population of just over 31,500, making it one of the least populated areas by population density in Canada.