The city of Yellowknife is the capital of the enormous Canadian state of Northwest Territories. It stands 25 miles south of the Arctic Circle on the northern shore of the vast Great Slave Lake. If you hire a car in Yellowknife you'll soon find that much of the surrounding landscape is rocky and dotted with lakes and rivers, many with beaches and old wooden fishing cabins. Yellowknife is a regional transport hub, its airport is just outside the city and the Yellowknife Highway is connected to the rest of Canada's road network via the Deh Cho Bridge over the Mackenzie River.
The former gold rush settlement of Yellowknife is now a tourist centre for adventures in the northern Canadian wilderness areas, from northern lights safaris to dog sledding trips. The city's highlights include the Old Town, the colourful houseboat community and the city's arts centre. There are museums and state buildings to visit, but some of the most memorable sights are a little more humble: the Wildcat Café, in a wooden shack in the Old Town, and the Gold Range Bar, a rugged bar that attracts interesting characters from the northern frontier.
