November/December 2002 • Northern Exposure • Opal Miners Celebrate Native Deal • Golden Pearl Anxiety Fades, Questions Linger • News & Updates • In This Issue

Expanded Coverage on Northern Exposure: Emeralds in the Yukon
by Cara Woudenberg · Online Editor

Background on the Yukon | Helpful Links | Emerald Quiz | Back to Original Article

Background on the Yukon

The Yukon territory covers 483,450 square kilometres in the far northwestern part of mainland Canada. Its borders lie with British Columbia on the south, Northwest Territories on the east, and the U.S. state of Alaska on the west. In the north is the Beaufort Sea.

The Yukon is a territory within Canadian confederation with many, but not all, of the powers of a province. It has been a separate geographical and political entity within Canada since 1898.

Archaeologists theorize that the first people crossed a land bridge from Asia to northern Canada during the Pleistocene Ice Age between 10,000 to 25,000 years ago. The growth of glaciers lowered sea levels and exposed portions of continental shelves which created this broad land bridge.

Parts of northern Alaska and Yukon remained ice-free during the last ice age and provided a haven for many animals and humans fleeing from colder regions. The earliest evidence of human activity was found in caves on the Bluefish River near Old Crow in northern Yukon. Stone tools and animal bones found at this site were estimated to be 20,000 years old.

Today, all Yukon communities are south of the Arctic Circle and are accessible by road except for Old Crow which is a traditional native community 185 kilometers south of the Arctic coast. Whitehorse is the capital city and administrative, transportation, and communications centre of the Yukon. The entire territory has approximately 31,000 inhabitants (1999).
Information courtesy of the government of Yukon.

Helpful Links to the Yukon

The Government of Yukon
The official web site of the government of the Yukon territory. It includes an extensive list of government services, programs, departments, and reports. Also includes comprehensive information on Yukon history, government, culture, geography, industry, ane more.

Yukon: Canada's True North
Provides information on visiting, touring, and traveling through the Yukon. Includes true stories and tall tales about the Klondike Gold Rush, as well as photos, lists of contacts, and travel itineraries that assist visitors and serious adventure seekers.

YukonWeb: Gateway to the Yukon online featuring information on community, arts, business, and more.

Yukon Geology Program
The Yukon Geology Program is a joint venture between the geoscience staff of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources of the Yukon Government. The site features a page devoted to special-interest minerals, including Yukon emerald.

True North Gems: A Canadian gemstone exploration and production company with a special focus on Yukon emerald.

Alpine Gems: A company specializing in Canadian gems.