2. What is the capital city of the Yukon territory?
3. What used to be a common form of transportation for people in the Yukon?
4. What natural phenomenon can visitors see in the Yukon during winter time?
The Yukon territory covers 483,450 square
kilometers in the far north-western part of mainland Canada. As
you can imagine, winters in the Yukon are long and cold. The
average temperature in January in Whitehorse, the capital city of the
Yukon, is around -20°C, but sometimes it can be as cold as -50°C!
It is difficult to travel over the snow and ice. People in the Yukon
used to travel by sled pulled by a team of dogs. This authentic
form of northern travel – dog sledding – has been used since time
immemorial in the True North. The sled carried people and supplies over
the snow.
Sled dogs, mostly huskies, are strong. They can pull heavy loads.
A team of six dogs can pull about 450 kilograms.
Today, not too many people in the Yukon travel by dogsled. Most people travel
by car or small plane. If there are are no roads, people use snowmobiles.
But dogsled races are still popular at winter festivals in northern Canada.
If you visit the Yukon in the winter, you may be able to see the stunning
displays of the Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis. They
light up the winter sky like magic ribbons of light dancing across the
horizon. The Aurora appears in different forms and intensities,
and radiating many colours from pale yellow to lime green and passionate
red.
Would you be interested in visiting Canada's True North in the winter?
B. Read the article again and check your comprehension:
1. What's the average temperature in January in Whitehorse?
2. What do you mean by "time immemorial"?
3. How much weight can a team of six sled dogs pull?
4. Nowadays how do people travel in the Yukon?
5. Does the Aurora appear in fixed form and colors?
It is difficult to travel over the snow and ice. People in the Yukon
used to travel by sled pulled by a team of dogs. This authentic
form of northern travel – dog sledding – has been used since time
immemorial in the True North. The sled carried people and supplies over
the snow.
If you visit the Yukon in the winter, you may be able to see the stunning
displays of the Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis. They
light up the winter sky like magic ribbons of light dancing across the
horizon. The Aurora appears in different forms and intensities,
and radiating many colours from pale yellow to lime green and passionate
red.