Overview
Yellowknife, the capital city of the Northwest Territories, is a young, vibrant and growing city with a population of just over 20,000. Yellowknife is located on the North Arm of Great Slave Lake, 512 km south of the Arctic Circle, 965 kilometers by air and 1,500 kilometers by road from Edmonton, the main supply point for the area. The Mackenzie Highway is an all-weather road (mostly paved) that connects to major highway systems in Alberta and B.C. There are several major airlines offering daily flights in and out of Yellowknife. There are also many local airlines and charters.
People
The region north of Great Slave Lake, has for centuries, been home to the Dogrib Nation who are comprised of three Dene groups; the Chipewyan, the Slavey and the Yellowknives. They refer to themselves as Dene (Deh-neh), which means “the people”. There are eleven official languages, some with multiple dialects within the Northwest Territories.
Activity
Our capital city serves as the primary government and administrative centre, providing health, justice and education services to all residents of NWT. Major industries for the community and region include government, mining, transportation and communications, financial and commercial services, tourism, manufacturing and fishing.
Climate
Yellowknife usually enjoys a very dry climate. Annual precipitation averages about 21 cm rainfall and 56 cm snowfall. Temperatures average between -35 Celsius in January to +21 Celsius in July. In June/July there is an average of 22 hours of daylight per day. Daylight in the winter (late December) is reduced to about four hours per day.
Landscape
Yellowknife is still within the tree line. There is a great deal of coniferous trees, although they are smaller than you are used to seeing. Because we are located on the Pre-Cambrian Shield, there is a great deal of rock, which tends to give the land a rugged, harsh, craggy look. This, combined with the stillness of the air, makes for a very tranquil setting.
Communication
Yellowknife's communication services include; cable television, digital cable, satellite radio and television, paper media, internet from a host of providers.
Dining
Yellowknife hosts a myriad of good restaurants, ranging from coffee shops to full-service dining lounges. Several have gained prominence with visitors, namely the Wildcat Café, the Bullock’s Bistro and the Gold Range Cafe (giant egg rolls). Many ethnic foods are available within the City.
