Yellowknife is the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories. It is located in the south-central part of the Territories, on the Great Slave Lake. The name comes from a small group of Athapaskan First Nations peoples who lived in the area before the arrival of Europeans. The group used yellow copper to make their knives and other tools.
Visitors to Yellowknife can learn about the people and history of the region at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. They also have many opportunities to enjoy such outdoor activities as hiking, camping, and fishing.
Yellowknife was founded in 1935 after gold was discovered in the area. The economy of the city was based on gold mining for many years after that. But Yellowknife’s two gold mines shut down in the early 2000s. Today many of the jobs in the city are related to government, education, and tourism. There are also a number of factories that polish and cut diamonds from new diamond mines in the Territories.