Jun 16, 2012
City of Yellowknife
Yellowknife is the capital and also the largest city of the Northwest Territories part of Canada. It can be found the northern shores of the Great Slave Lake.
The city was basically named after a local Dene tribe who were referred to as the “Yellowknife Indians”; a tribe known for trading tools made out of copper.
Northern Lights and Fire rainbow over Yellowknife
The city’s local populace is ethnically diverse and due to that, you will find that 5 different languages are spoken here: Dene Suline, Dogrib, North and South Slavey, English and finally French.
History of Yellowknife
According to historical and traditional records, First Nation people were the first occupants of the region where Yellowknife city currently stands.
However, it wasn’t officially settled until around 1935 after the discovery of gold around the area. Soon after, Yellowknife became the center for economic activity in the Northwestern Territories and was became its capital at around 1967.
Mace of the Northwest Territories at the Legislative Assembly
Unfortunately, by the 1980’s gold production waned and the city shifted its focus on providing government services rather than mining. However, as of 1991 diamonds were discovered in an area north of Yellowknife which has led to the reactivation of the mining industry.
Tourism in Yellowknife
Yellowknife can be considered as a very young city in comparison to other major cities in the area like Edmonton and Vancouver. However, in spite of that, it has still managed to attract tourists to come over to it.
One of the main points of attraction with the city is its other name which is “The Land of the Midnight Sun” where people can get to experience nights with the sun actually being out.
Aerial view of Yellowknife Bay
If you add the rich cultural history, beautiful natural locations around the city and the opportunity to witness the Northern Lights, you can easily understand why many tourists find Yellowknife a great place to visit.
The following list shows some of the great tourist locations one can find in Yellowknife City:
- Cameron Falls – A perfect destination for tourists who are interested in trekking through Canadian country. The falls can be found approximately 50 km east of Yellowknife with a 20 minute hike to the falls itself.
- Beck’s Kennels Dog Sledding – Dog sledding is one of the activities Yellowknife is noted for. Now, with this facility, tourists will be able to experience that with the help of the well-trained dogs and staff.
- Northern Arts and Cultural Centre – Tourists can get a better look at the incredible culture of Yellowknife through the different local groups and artists who frequently perform and showcase their art pieces.
- The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre – The Heritage Centre provides a window to Yellowknife’s past. Tourists will surely leave the place with a better understanding of what made Yellowknife the city that it is through the different exhibits.
North of Yellowknife
How to Get to Yellowknife
The most common way to get to Yellowknife is by air through the Yellowknife Airport. However, it is also possible to get to the city by land transportation although actually getting to the city will require a trip on a ferry. The following list shows the estimated travel time from any of the nearby major cities if using a car:
- Edmonton, AB, Canada – 21 hours and 40 minutes
- Calgary, AB, Canada – 1 day
- Vancouver, BC, Canada – 1 day and 8 hours
- Anchorage, AK, United States – 2 days 12 hours
