Why did riverboat transportation decline on the Canadian part of the Yukon River after World War I?

Riverboat transportation on the Canadian portion of the Yukon River declined following World War I primarily due to a decrease in gold-mining activity, which had been the primary driver of the region's economy and river traffic since the late 19th century.1

As the demand for water transport fell alongside mining production, the industry eventually became obsolete. By the 1950s, riverboats were entirely replaced by the development of more efficient road and air transport networks, which provided better connectivity to Dawson and other communities. The construction of infrastructure projects, such as the Alaska Highway during World War II, further accelerated this shift by opening the territory to modern land-based development.12