The Northwest Territories (NWT; French, les Territoires du Nord-Ouest, TNO) is one of three federal territories of Canada. The Northwest Territories entered the Canadian Confederation July 15, 1870, but the current borders were formed April 1, 1999, with the creation of Nunavut.
It had a population of 41,462 as of the 2011 census, showing little change from the 2006 census.
In 1967, as a result of recommendations by the Carrothers Commission, Yellowknife became the capital.
While neighbouring Nunavut is mostly Arctic tundra, the Northwest Territories has a slightly warmer climate and is mostly boreal forest (taiga), although about half of the territory is north of the tree line.
Read more about Northwest Territories: Etymology, Geography, History, Demography, Economy, Government, Culture
Famous quotes containing the words northwest and/or territories:
“I got my first clear view of Ktaadn, on this excursion, from a hill about two miles northwest of Bangor, whither I went for this purpose. After this I was ready to return to Massachusetts.”
—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)
“For my part, I feel that with regard to Nature I live a sort of border life, on the confines of a world into which I make occasional and transient forays only, and my patriotism and allegiance to the state into whose territories I seem to retreat are those of a moss-trooper.”
—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)