Klondike, Yukon

Hunker Creek Valley, Klondike

The Klondike is a region of Yukon in northwest Canada, east of the Alaskan border. It lies around the Klondike River, a small river that enters the Yukon River from the east at Dawson City.

The Klondike is famed because of the Klondike Gold Rush, which started in 1897 and lasted until 1899. Gold has been mined continuously in that area except for a hiatus in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The name "Klondike" evolved from the Hän word Tr'ondëk, which means "hammerstone water". Early gold seekers found it difficult to pronounce the First Nations word, so "Klondike" was the result of this poor pronunciation.

Climate

The climate is exceedingly severe — very hot and dry in the short summer, and extremely cold during the long winter.[1] For seven months of the year, intense cold prevails, varied by furious snow storms which begin in September and occur at intervals until May. By October 20, ice is formed over all the rivers. The ground for the better part of the year is frozen to the depth of 3 to 10 feet (1 to 3 meters).[2]

In popular culture

References

  1.  Gilman, D. C.; Thurston, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Klondike". New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
  2.  "Klondike, The". Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.
  3. Klondyke march and two step at amicus.collectionscanada.gc.ca

Coordinates: 64°3′45″N 139°25′50″W / 64.06250°N 139.43056°W / 64.06250; -139.43056


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