Be sure to watch episode three of the BBC's latest documentary series Earth's Great Rivers II. Narrated by David Oyelowo this new three-part series is available now on iPlayer and further information can be found at: bbc.co.uk

“Remote and wild, the Yukon is a river of haunting beauty and dangerous extremes - a place where the 'call of the wild' is still strong. In summer, it is a relentless giant, carving its way 2,000 miles across Canada and Alaska. In winter, -50C temperatures transform it into a river of ice.

Home to grizzlies, moose and great runs of salmon, the Yukon lies at the heart of a vast northern wilderness. Bears delay their winter hibernation to fish for a final salmon feast, while the frozen river provides a lifeline for lynx and a race track for intrepid dog sledders. From indigenous hunters to gold-prospectors, musk ox to caribou, the Yukon's natural riches have long sustained people and animals and continue to do so despite its changing fortunes.”

Highlights and further clips include:

• Ice bears of the Yukon - In the Yukon's far north, grizzly bears fish for salmon in a tributary powered by unique thermal springs.
• Caribou on thin ice - For the porcupine caribou, the break-up of the frozen tributaries of the Yukon River can be treacherous.
• Dog sledding the Yukon - Kyla Boivin and her team of dogs take on Yukon's frozen highway.

The Territory is home to an unusually high number of Canadian Heritage Rivers and the Yukon is a river of wild extremes, home to bears, moose and huge salmon, the riches of North America's frozen river have sustained people for centuries.

At 3,185 km and the fifth longest river in North America, the mighty Yukon River flows from Tagish Lake on the British Columbia/Yukon border through Yukon and Alaska to finally drain into the Bering Sea. Rich in cultural history ranging from its first human use by First Nations people centuries ago, to the Klondike gold rush of 1898 – the biggest rush for gold the world has ever seen, Yukon provides modern day adventurers one of the ultimate river trips on the planet. 

Journeys on the Yukon's rivers are frequently included in “best of” lists around the world. This is a paddler's paradise offering world class canoeing, kayaking and whitewater rafting on pristine wilderness rivers that include a diversity of wildlife, landscapes, geology and history and nature at its most untouched and unspoiled.

The world's longest annual kayak and canoe race  26-29 June, 2024

A marathon-paddling race on the Yukon River, providing an opportunity for personal challenge and accomplishment, in a unique, Northern wilderness setting. Touted as “the race to the midnight sun,” the Yukon River Quest challenges canoeists and kayakers from around the world to test their endurance on a race from Whitehorse to Dawson City. Paddling the mighty Yukon River day and night for 715 km (444 mi), competitors range from larger groups in voyageur canoes to lone kayakers. The race start is an exciting spectacle that draws large crowds to the banks of the Yukon River in downtown Whitehorse. yukonriverquest.com

Background on Yukon

The Yukon is one of the wildest places in the world to see caribou, moose, bears, lynx, birds and hundreds of other northern species. Close to 80 percent remains pristine wilderness with just over 10 per cent of the territory fully protected. The Yukon has three national parks, six territorial parks and four Canadian Heritage Rivers. Roughly the size of Spain at just over 186,000 square miles, The Yukon is home to more than 160,000 caribou, 70,000 moose, 22,000 mountain sheep, 7,000 grizzly bears, 10,000 black bears and 250 species of birds… and only 41,000 humans!  travelyukon.com

Take me to the Yukon:

Frontier Canada offer a 20-day "Yukon River - The Classic Canoe Trip" package. For more information contact 020 8776 8709, canada@frontier-travel.co.uk or visit frontier-canada.co.uk