Norman Wells, Northwest Territories

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Norman Wells (Slavey language: Tåegõhtî "where there is oil") is a town in the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada.

Norman Wells is accessible by navigating the Mackenzie River or by air (Norman Wells Airport) or by driving on the winter ice road usually between December and March. The most common method of travel into Norman Wells is by air. Flights between Norman Wells and Yellowknife are provided by Canadian North.

Norman Wells is the regional centre for the Sahtu and the population is 666 according to the 2001 Census.^[1]

During the Second World War, Norman Wells was deemed important as a source of oil for military operations in Alaska and the Yukon. The Canol Road and pipeline project was undertaken to enable the piping of oil to Whitehorse, with the flow starting in 1944. Although Norman Wells crude was light and easily flowed at temperatures as low as -62 °C (-80 °F), the line did not work well and was shut down shortly after the war ended. The road, which began at Canol Camp across the river, was abandoned.