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Overview
The vast Northwest Territories of Canada cover more than 386,000
square miles (one million sq km) north of the 60th Parallel,
extending far above the Arctic Circle. Inside this icy space are
two out of the five largest lakes in North America: Great Bear Lake
and Great Slave Lake, as well as some incredible mountain ranges
and the ruggedly beautiful Nahanni National Park. Very few people
inhabit this immense territory, (the Territories' largest city is
the capital of Yellowknife, with a population of less than 20,000)
but there are thousands of wolves, bison, bears and caribou on the
stark Arctic plains and plenty of whales visible off the coast of
the numerous islands.
This is the land of the long summer days of the Midnight Sun,
and the winter phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights
in the night sky between late August and January. Adventurous
visitors are drawn to this forbidding land for canoeing, hiking,
snowmobiling, skiing and dog sledding, as well as for the unique
natural beauty and legendary wildlife.