Geography of The Northwest Territories - Communication and Travel

Communication and Travel

In the Northwest Territories, transportation and communication can be complex. Long winters tend to close the rivers navigation for nearly two months of the year. Contrary to the Great Slave Railway and Mackenzie highway system, that links to Alberta and to the Great Slave area, commerce, supply, and travel remain to be largely airborne. The region includes scores of airfields. An ongoing northern roads program, launched since 1966, helps opening up the area. Moreover, the Liard Highway, opened in 1984, connects Fort Simpson to the Alaska Highway. Other highways link Inuvik to the Yukon and Hay River then Yellowknife to the highways in Alberta. In winter, some frozen rivers and lakes are useful for road traffic. These are also vast telecommunication services.