Map of Yukon and Northwest Territories

Description:
This map shows cities, towns, villages, rivers, lakes, major highways, secondary roads, and national parks in Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Yukon-Northwest Territories Boundary

Yukon and the Northwest Territories are adjacent territories in northern Canada, sharing a border approximately 1,230 kilometers long running from the Arctic Ocean southward to the borders with British Columbia and Alberta. Both territories occupy vast expanses of Canada's northern frontier, though they have developed distinct identities and governance structures.

Geographic Features

The border generally follows the 136th meridian west and the 127th meridian west through different sections, along with portions following watershed divides in the Mackenzie Mountains. The boundary passes through mountainous terrain in the south, transitioning to tundra and lowlands in the north where it reaches the Beaufort Sea. The Mackenzie River, Canada's longest river system, flows through the Northwest Territories parallel to the border in some areas. Permafrost underlies most of both territories.

Territorial Distinctions

Yukon was separated from the Northwest Territories in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush to provide more focused administration of the rapidly growing mining region. This made Yukon Canada's smallest territory by population at approximately 48,000 residents, compared to the Northwest Territories' 46,000. Despite similar populations, the Northwest Territories covers a much larger area at 1,346,106 square kilometers versus Yukon's 482,443 square kilometers. Yellowknife, capital of the Northwest Territories, has roughly 20,000 inhabitants, while Whitehorse, Yukon's capital, has approximately 28,000, making it significantly larger.

Demographic and Cultural Composition

The Northwest Territories is more ethnically diverse, with Indigenous peoples including Dene, Inuit, and Métis representing approximately 50% of the population. Eleven official languages are recognized. Yukon's population is roughly 23% Indigenous, primarily First Nations peoples including Gwich'in, Kaska, Tagish, and Tlingit. Both territories have negotiated modern treaties with Indigenous groups providing varying degrees of self-government and land claims settlements. These agreements give Indigenous communities significant control over traditional territories.

Economic Development

Mining dominates both territorial economies but with different focuses. The Northwest Territories is Canada's leading diamond producer, with major mines near Yellowknife. Gold and uranium are also extracted. Yukon's economy centers on gold, silver, lead, and zinc mining, with exploration for other minerals ongoing. The Klondike goldfields near Dawson City remain historically significant and continue limited production. Oil and gas exploration occurs in both territories, particularly in the Northwest Territories' Mackenzie Delta region and the Beaufort Sea area. Tourism related to wilderness experiences, Indigenous culture, and northern phenomena like the aurora borealis contributes to both economies.

Transportation Infrastructure

The Dempster Highway, completed in 1979, crosses the border connecting Dawson City, Yukon, with Inuvik in the Northwest Territories. This is the only public highway crossing the boundary between the territories. The road extends 736 kilometers through wilderness, providing the Northwest Territories' only road connection to the rest of Canada via Yukon. Most communities in both territories remain accessible only by air or winter ice roads. The territories cooperate on transportation infrastructure maintenance and development, though limited budgets constrain major projects.