Yukon's Natural Resources: Minerals, Forests, Water, Wildlife & Renewable Potential

Yukon's Resource Wealth

1. Minerals & Metals

• Gold – Klondike (placer), Whitehorse (lode); historic & active.
• Copper – Peel Plateau, Vangorda Creek.
• Lead, Zinc, Silver – Selwyn Basin, MacMillan Pass, Mt. Skukum.
• Uranium – Pelly River area.

2. Forests & Timber

• White spruce – Primary commercial species.
• Lodgepole pine – Widespread.
• Alpine/balsam fir – Higher elevations.

3. Water Resources

• Yukon River – 3,190 km; transport, salmon, hydro potential.
• Major lakes: Kluane, Laberge, Tagish, Atlin – fisheries, tourism, hydro.
• Hydropower – Existing (Whitehorse, Aishihik, Mayo); expansion planned.

4. Wildlife & Fish

• Caribou – Porcupine Herd (160k+), migratory.
• Wood Bison – Reintroduced (Nisling/Liard Rivers).
• Salmon – Chinook, chum, coho, sockeye, pink (subsistence/commercial).
• Arctic Grayling – Prized sport fish.

5. Scenic Landscapes & Tourism

• Kluane National Park – UNESCO site; St. Elias Mts, glaciers, hiking, flightseeing.
• Tundra (north) & Boreal forest (south) – Distinct ecosystems.

6. Renewable Energy Potential

• Solar – Long summer days (midnight sun).
• Wind – Klondike Pass, ridge tops.
• Biomass – Forest residues for district heating.

Yukon's resources drive its economy—but climate change, land claims, and market cycles shape development.