North West Territories

The vast Northwest Territories of Canada cover more than 386,000 square miles (one million sq km) north of the 60th Parallel, extending far above the Arctic Circle. Inside this icy space are two out of the five largest lakes in North America, Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake, as well as some incredible mountain ranges and the ruggedly beautiful Nahanni National Park. Very few people inhabit this immense territory, but there are thousands of wolves, whales, bison, bears and caribou on the stark Arctic plains. This is the land of the long summer days of the Midnight Sun, and the winter phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights in the night sky between late August and January. Adventurous visitors are drawn to this forbidding land for canoeing, hiking, snowmobiling, skiing and dog sledding, as well as for the unique natural beauty and legendary wildlife.