Yukon © Judith Duk
The territory of the Yukon, Canada's 'True North', is wintry,
wild and wonderful: a spectacular wilderness consisting of
comprehensive national and territorial parks filled with stunning
landscapes and rare wildlife, like the 120,000-strong Porcupine
Caribou herd that is protected in the Vuntut and Ivvavik National
Parks. Black and grizzly bears, Dall sheep, moose, wolves and musk
oxen are some of the other creatures spotted regularly all over the
territory.
The Yukon also has its own natural magical light show in winter:
undulating ribbons of pale-green, pink and blue lights dance in the
night sky as the Aurora Borealis phenomenon delights watchers. The
province boasts Canada's highest mountain, the majestic Mount Logan
peak in Kluane Park, set in a sea of ice.
Although 80 percent of the Yukon is wild, there are people
living there too. Native Yukoners are spirited, uniquely connected
with their land, and have plenty of tales to tell travellers. Many
legends survive from the days of the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897,
when 30,000 aspirants arrived in Dawson City in hope of making
their fortunes. The First Nations culture is also well preserved
and fascinating to investigate in museums, historic sites and
interpretive centres throughout the province.
