The Games > Contingents > Northwest Territories
The
NWT is a founding and permanent member of the Arctic Winter Games. Yellowknife,
capital of the Northwest Territories will host the 2008 Games from March
9 – 15th. The Northwest Territories boarders Yukon to the west, the
Arctic Ocean and Nunavut to the north and east, and British Columbia,
Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the south. The Mackenzie River
region of the Northwest Territories includes Canada’s longest river
and surrounding mountain ranges, as well as Great Bear Lake and Great
Slave Lake. East of the Mackenzie River Valley, and north and east of
the treeline, lies what is known as the Barrenlands. The Northwest Territories
also includes portions of several islands in the Arctic Archipelago.
The Northwest Territories was the name first given to the vast territory
Canada acquired from the Hudson’s Bay Company and Great Britian in 1870.
Since that time, the size of the territory has decreased at a steady
pace as new Canadian provinces and territories have been created, with
the most recent being Nunavut in 1999.
Natural resources remain the strength to the Northwest Territories economy, although the focus has shifted from base and precious metals to new opportunities related to diamonds, oil and natural gas. Just like it’s neighbor Yukon, tourism and government services also account for considerable economic activity. Aboriginal people account for approximately half of the Northwest Territories’ population.
Northwest Territories Facts
| Area | 1,171,918 sq. km. |
| Population | 42,180 |
| Capital | Yellowknife |
| More Information | Travel Northwest Territories |
| Number of participants at the 2006 Arctic Winter Games | 334 |
| Team Website | Team NWT |
