With a population of approximately 26,418, Whitehorse is the biggest municipality in Yukon. It is situated on the Alaska Highway within the southern portion of Yukon. It is likewise the territories capital city. By area, Whitehorse is ranked as the 79th biggest city within the country. The Yukon River is bounded by downtown Whitehorse on one side and Riverdale on the other. The cities name is derived from the White Horse Rapids which used to be near Miles Canyon before the river was dammed. The rapids resembled the mane of a white horse. The weather condition in the city of Whitehorse is a lot milder compared to other northern communities due to its location in the valley. In the summer, there is roughly 20 hours of daytime.
The city of Whitehorse is surrounded by mountains on three sides: Golden Horn Mountain to the south, Grey Mountain towards the east, and Haeckel Hill to the northwest. The construction of a hydroelectric dam during 1958 caused the White Horse Rapids to disappear under Schwatka Lake.
During the year 1896, gold was discovered within the Klondike by Tagish Carlie, George Washington Carmack and Skookum Jim. The first gold seekers arrived through the Chilkoot Pass but by 1897 people were arriving via steamship. Unfortunately, there were some incidents where boats were lost to the rapids. Five individuals likewise fell victim to the rapids.
The Whitehorse Copper Belt is located just west of Whitehorse and extends for more than 30 km. Prospectors discovered copper during the initial year of the gold rush. Jack McIntyre declared the first claim on July 6, 1898, with Sam McGee claiming the second claim on July 16, 1899. Thus, two tram lines were built. One went from the river's east bank towards the White Horse Rapids. The other tram ran on the west bank of the river.
The economy in Whitehorse largely depends on the mining business, with some of the companies headquartered downtown. Thus, when mining business is not prospering, the city of Whitehorse finds itself showing signs of malaise. Unemployment increases and some residents relocate to areas where the work is more reliable.