Watson Lake

WATSON LAKE – cidade da famosa “floresta de sinais”...

Considerada o portão de entrada do Yukon Territory, Watson Lake foi fundada por Frank Watson, um explorador americano. A cidade e conhecida por sua mundialmente famosa “Sign Post Forest” – floresta de sinais... Sinais são acrescentados a cada ano e atualmente existem mais de 75.000 itens, e e’ considerada um local histórico do Yukon.

Em 1942, Carl Lindley, um soldado americano da cidade de Danville, no estado de Illinois, colocou uma placa da sua cidade natal com a respectiva distancia em milhas ate ela, durante a construção da Alaska Highway. Naquela época esta área era uma base aérea e aeroporto militar. Desde aquela época, turistas de todas as partes do mundo que passam pelo local colocam a sua própria “contribuição”, em forma de placa, placa de carro, placa de rua, chapéu, boné, utensílios de cozinha, calcados...usam a imaginação para acrescentar a sua própria “marca”.

Em Watson Lake também se encontra o Northern lights Space and Science Center que e um teatro multimídia, com 100 lugares, que apresenta um vídeo panorâmico e de ultima geração, e um sistema “surround-sound” com mostras interativas que explicam a ciência e o folclore das “Northern Lights”, ou, Aurora Boreal, bem como informações atualizadas sobre o programa espacial canadense.

Aqui também se encontra o único aeroporto remanescente da época da II Guerra Mundial na região do Yukon, e e’ considerado um local histórico onde se pode visitar o hangar, a torre e as mostras de fotos e artefatos históricos.

 

WATSON LAKE – home of the historic “Sign Post Forest” – a Yukon Historic site

The Gateway to the Yukon, Watson Lake was founded by Frank Watson, an American prospector. The community is known for its world famous Sign Post Forest. Signs are added every year and today there are more than 75.000 signs and counting!

In 1942, Carl Lindley, a U.S. soldier from Danville, Illinois, while working on signage for the army, and being homesick, added his hometown sign to an army mileage signpost, during the construction of the Alaska Highway. At that time the area was a military air base and airport on Watson Lake. Since then, visitors from around the globe have added more than 75.000 signs to the signpost forest. They add all kinds of things from car license plates, street and shop signs, hats, caps, footwear, kitchen utensils…you name it!!!

This is a great place to enjoy the outdoors and there are some campgrounds in town. One should also visit the Northern Lights Space and Science Center which is a 100 seat Spitz Electric Sky multimedia theater that boasts a state-of-the-art panoramic video and surround-sound system and incorporates interactive displays that explain the science and folklore of the Northern Lights, along with the latest information on the Canadian Space Program.

Aviation enthusiasts must check the BC Yukon Air Service hangar, tower and displays at Watson Lake Airport. This is the only Yukon hangar that still stands as a reminder of the days of the great Northwest Staging Route program in the 1940’s.

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