Located just north of the 62nd parallel, at an elevation of 206 meters, Yellowknife boasts a population of over 18,000 people. It is situated of the shores of Great Slave Lake, the 10th largest freshwater lake in the world! The largest Caribou herd in the NWT migrate close to the city, and can often be seen on flight seeing tours to the east of the City. Declared the capital city in 1967, Yellowknife is Canada's most northerly city, located 966 km north of Edmonton, Alberta. It sits on some of the world's oldest known deposits of rocks and interesting geology.

The first explorer to visit the shores of Great Slave Lake was a European Hudson's Bay officer named Samuel Hearne in 1770-72. Hearne found Dene people living here, who traded and used copper implements. He coined the phrase “Yellowknives” to represent the people who lived in the area. Archeological evidence indicates the area has been occupied for over 2000 years.

Yellowknife is literally built on gold, with the tunnels of both gold mines burrowing deep beneath the street. Yellowknife is the center for transportation, communications, recreation, commerce, tourism, healthcare, mining, and government for the Northwest Territories. With the recent discovery of diamonds north of our city, Yellowknife faces a brilliant future as home to diamond manufacturing and retail activity. Ekati, North America's first diamond mine, officially opened on October 14, 1998. The mine has reached a milestone and produced its first million carats. Three “Cutting and Polishing” facilities in Yellowknife produce a finished diamond product that sparkles.

There are several attractions in the downtown area, including a museum and visitors center, which both have unique exhibits on Yellowknife and the North. Excellent shopping opportunities are found in the art galleries, boutiques, and shopping malls. A variety of restaurants offer wild game such as muskox, caribou, and arctic char. Most accommodations are located in the modern city center; close to its many services and attractions.

These resources, attractions and friendly people combined with the natural wonder of the Aurora Borealis makes Yellowknife a unique destination to visit. We look forward to being your hosts!