Which territory is the largest in Canada?

The largest Canadian territory by area is Nunavut. Discover Canada describes Nunavut's origins: Nunavut, meaning "our land" in Inuktitut, was established in 1999 from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories, including all of the former District of Keewatin. The carved-off region is so vast that it now exceeds the size of either of the other two territories — making Nunavut the largest of the country's territorial divisions.

Nunavut was created in 1999. Discover Canada commits to 1999 as the founding year — formed by carving off the eastern portion of the Northwest Territories and the former District of Keewatin. So Nunavut's massive size reflects the eastern Arctic territory it inherited from the older Northwest Territories.

The capital is Iqaluit. Discover Canada writes that "the capital is Iqaluit, formerly Frobisher Bay, named after the English explorer Martin Frobisher, who penetrated the uncharted Arctic for Queen Elizabeth I in 1576." So the capital city itself has a deep historical name connection — Frobisher's 16th-century Arctic explorations, with the bay later renamed Iqaluit when Nunavut was created.

Nunavut has a strong Inuit identity. Discover Canada writes that "the population is about 85% Inuit, and Inuktitut is an official language and the first language in schools." Governance is also distinctive: "the 19-member Legislative Assembly chooses a premier and ministers by consensus." So Nunavut's identity rests on Inuit population, the Inuktitut language, and a consensus-based system — all anchored in the largest territory in Canada by area, which together with the Northwest Territories and Yukon contains one-third of Canada's land mass.

The question is testing whether new citizens know which Canadian territory is largest by area. Of the three territories — Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut — Nunavut is the largest. The right test answer matches that.

The wrong answer choices each pick a different territory or option. Yukon is geographically vast but is the smallest of the three territories. The Northwest Territories was historically larger before Nunavut was carved off — but is now smaller than Nunavut. "All the same size" is wrong — the territories vary significantly in size, with Nunavut clearly the largest.