Editing Northwest Territories (section)

==Geography==
{{main|Geography of the Northwest Territories}}

[[File:Northwest Territories topographic location map.png|thumb|right|Northwest Territories topographic location map]]
Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, [[Yukon]] to the west and Nunavut to the east, as well as four provinces: [[British Columbia]] to the southwest, [[Alberta]] and [[Saskatchewan]] to the south, and Manitoba (through a [[Four corners (Canada)|quadripoint]]) to the extreme southeast. It has a land area of {{cvt|1183085|km2}}.<ref name="area"/>

Geographical features include [[Great Bear Lake]], the largest lake entirely within Canada,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arctic.uoguelph.ca/cpe/environments/inland_water/lakes/greatbear.htm |title=Top 10 Lakes – Great Bear Lake |access-date=January 11, 2009 |archive-date=May 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530065308/http://www.arctic.uoguelph.ca/cpe/environments/inland_water/lakes/greatbear.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Great Slave Lake]], the deepest body of water in North America at {{cvt|614|m}}, as well as the [[Mackenzie River]] and the canyons of the [[Nahanni National Park Reserve]], a [[National parks of Canada|national park]] and UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]]. Territorial islands in the [[Canadian Arctic Archipelago]] include [[Banks Island]], [[Borden Island]], [[Prince Patrick Island]], and parts of [[Victoria Island (Canada)|Victoria Island]] and [[Melville Island (Northwest Territories and Nunavut)|Melville Island]]. Its highest point is [[Mount Nirvana]] near the border with Yukon at an elevation of {{cvt|2773|m}}.

===Climate===
{{See also|Climate change in the Arctic}}
[[File:Northwest Territories Köppen.svg|thumb|Köppen climate types in the Northwest Territories]]
The Northwest Territories extends for more than {{cvt|1300000|km2}} and has a large climate variance from south to north. The southern part of the territory (most of the mainland portion) has a [[subarctic climate]], while the islands and northern coast have a [[polar climate]].{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Summers in the north are short and cool, featuring daytime highs of {{cvt|14|–|17|C}} and lows of {{cvt|1|–|5|C}}. Winters are long and harsh, with daytime highs of {{cvt|−20|to|−25|C}} and lows of {{cvt|−30|to|−35|C}}. The coldest nights typically reach {{cvt|−40|to|−45|C}} each year.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Extremes are common, with summer highs in the south reaching {{cvt|36|C}} and lows reaching below {{cvt|0|C}}. In winter in the south, it is not uncommon for the temperatures to reach {{cvt|−40|C}}, but they can also reach the low teens during the day. In the north, temperatures can reach highs of {{cvt|30|C}}, and lows into the low negatives. In winter in the north, it is not uncommon for the temperatures to reach {{cvt|−50|C}} but they can also reach single digits during the day.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

[[Thunderstorm]]s are not rare in the south. In the north, they are very rare but do occur.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Maybank |first=J. |title=Thunderstorm |encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia |publisher=The Historica-Dominion Institute |year=2012 |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/thunderstorm |access-date=September 19, 2013 |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061243/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/thunderstorm |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Tornado]]es are extremely rare but have happened with the most notable one happening{{when|date=May 2024}} just outside Yellowknife that destroyed a communications tower.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} The Territory has a fairly dry climate due to the mountains in the west.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

About half of the territory is above the [[tree line]]. There are not many trees in most of the eastern areas of the territory, or in the north islands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalforestwatch.org/english/us/maps.htm |title=Publications & Maps |publisher=Globalforestwatch.org |access-date=February 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612073126/http://www.globalforestwatch.org/english/us/maps.htm |archive-date=June 12, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for selected cities in Northwest Territories
|-
!City
!July (°C)
!July (°F)
!January (°C)
!January (°F)
|-
| [[Fort Simpson]]<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Environment Canada]] |url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?searchType=stnName&txtStationName=Fort+Simpson&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=1656&dispBack=1 |id=Climate ID: 2202101 |title=Fort Simpson A |work=Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 |date=September 25, 2013 |access-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-date=November 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130083731/https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?searchType=stnName&txtStationName=Fort+Simpson&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=1656&dispBack=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> || 24/11 || 75/52 || −20/−29 || −4/−19
|-
| [[Yellowknife]]<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Environment Canada]] |url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?searchType=stnName&txtStationName=Yellowknife&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=1706&dispBack=1 |id=Climate ID: 2204100 |title=Yellowknife A |work=Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 |date=September 25, 2013 |access-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-date=April 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417070908/https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?searchType=stnName&txtStationName=Yellowknife&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=1706&dispBack=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> || 21/13 || 70/55 || −22/−30 || −7/−21
|-
| [[Inuvik]]<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Environment Canada]] |url=http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?stnID=1669&lang=e&StationName=Inuvik&SearchType=Contains&stnNameSubmit=go&dCode=5&dispBack=1 |id=Climate ID: 2202570 |title=Inuvik A |work=Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 |date=September 25, 2013 |access-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-date=November 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103001636/https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?stnID=1669&lang=e&StationName=Inuvik&SearchType=Contains&stnNameSubmit=go&dCode=5&dispBack=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> || 20/9 || 67/48 || −23/−31 || −9/−24
|-
| [[Sachs Harbour]]<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Environment Canada]] |url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?searchType=stnName&txtStationName=Sachs+Harbour&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=1794&dispBack=1 |id=Climate ID: 2503650 |title=Sachs Harbour A |work=Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 |date=September 25, 2013 |access-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-date=November 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130085848/https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?searchType=stnName&txtStationName=Sachs+Harbour&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=1794&dispBack=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> || 10/3 || 50/38 || −24/−32 || −12/−25
|}