If you are looking for a place to experience nature at its finest, you might want to consider visiting the Yukon Territory in Canada. Yukon is a vast and rugged land, covering an area of 482,443 square kilometers, larger than California and smaller than Alaska. It is home to about 42,000 people, most of whom live in the capital city of Whitehorse.
Yukon has a rich and diverse history, shaped by the First Nations, the Klondike Gold Rush, and the construction of the Alaska Highway. It is also a land of incredible natural beauty, with stunning landscapes, abundant wildlife, and spectacular phenomena. Here are some of the reasons why you should visit Yukon and discover its beauty for yourself.
The Northern Lights
Yukon is one of the best places in the world to witness the aurora borealis, or the northern lights. These are colorful curtains of light that dance across the night sky, caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with the earth’s magnetic field. The best time to see the northern lights in Yukon is from September to April, when the nights are long and dark. You can enjoy this magical show from various locations, such as the Takhini Hot Springs, the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, or the Kluane National Park and Reserve.
The Midnight Sun
Yukon is also a place where you can experience the midnight sun, or the phenomenon of continuous daylight during the summer months. This happens because Yukon is located close to the Arctic Circle, and the sun never sets below the horizon for several weeks. The longest day of the year is June 21, when the sun shines for almost 24 hours in Whitehorse, and even longer in the northern communities. The midnight sun allows you to enjoy outdoor activities at any time of the day, such as hiking, fishing, canoeing, or camping.
The Wildlife
Yukon is a paradise for wildlife lovers, as it hosts more than 250 species of birds and 70 species of mammals. Some of the iconic animals that you can see in Yukon are the moose, the caribou, the grizzly bear, the wolf, the lynx, the wolverine, and the bald eagle. You can also spot some rare and endangered species, such as the peregrine falcon, the wood bison, and the collared pika. You can observe these animals in their natural habitats, or visit the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, a 700-acre sanctuary that highlights thirteen species of northern Canadian mammals.
The Landscapes
Yukon is a land of diverse and breathtaking landscapes, ranging from mountains and glaciers to lakes and rivers, to forests and tundra. You can explore these landscapes by driving along the scenic highways, such as the Alaska Highway, the Dempster Highway, or the Klondike Highway. You can also hike, bike, or ski on the many trails that crisscross the territory, such as the Chilkoot Trail, the Tombstone Territorial Park, or the Kluane National Park and Reserve. You can also enjoy the waterways by canoeing, kayaking, or rafting on the Yukon River, the Teslin Lake, or the Alsek River.
Yukon is a place that will inspire you with its wild and wonderful beauty. It is a place that will challenge you with its adventure and culture. It is a place that will welcome you with its warmth and hospitality. It is a place that you will never forget. Yukon is a place that you should visit at least once in your lifetime.