The Territory of Nunavut is Canada’s largest administrative unit by area., it occupies 1/5 of the country’s territory. It includes the northeastern part of the mainland, most of the islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and all the islands of Hudson Bay. The territory was created on April 1, 1999 at the initiative of the indigenous peoples of northern Canada – the Innuit Eskimos. Nunavut can be referred to as Innuit autonomy in Canada. They make up about 40% of Nunavut’s residents. Nunavut means “our land” in Eskimo. The official language here, along with English and French, is the Innuit language – Inuktitut. Nunavut can only be reached by air or sea.
In the eastern part of the territory is Canada ‘s largest island – Baffin Island., its area is 507.5 thousand square meters. km. On the southeast coast of the island in Frobisher Bay is the capital of the territory – the city of Iqaluit . From Iqaluit you can go on a trip around the island: visit coastal areas abounding with fjords, which are inhabited by whales, walruses and seals, visit the island’s nature reserves, which offer hiking, skiing, snowmobile or dog sledding trips, visit cultural centers, where the life and culture of the Innuit are presented, as well as to study archaeological sites with the remains of settlements of ancient cultures. In addition to Baffin Island, Ellesmere Island is very popular among tourists traveling in the Territory of Nunavut., which is called the “end of the world.” This is the tenth largest island in the world, its northeastern shores are only 25 km from Greenland. The island has the highest point of the Territory of Nunavut – Mount Barbo (2616 m). Much of Ellesmere Island is covered in ice fields. In its northern part is the Kuttinirpaak National Park.. This is the second largest national park in the country. Extensive glaciers stretch here, and off the coast there are fjords and ice shelves. The park is home to musk oxen, polar bears, Pirie caribou deer, arctic wolves, stoats and lemmings. Walruses, beluga whales and narwhals live in the coastal waters of the park. Nearly 30 bird species have been recorded off the coast, including Long-tailed Skua, Tern, Goose, Snowy Owl, Loons and Ducks. The park offers hiking, skiing, dog sledding and snowmobile trips, recreation at the largest lake beyond the Arctic Circle – Lake Khazen, icebreaker cruises, as well as expeditions to the North Pole, which start in March and April from a nearby island Ward Hunt.
According to healthinclude, the mainland of Nunavut Territory is full of rivers and lakes with numerous bird colonies. Here you can see wolves, grizzly bears, musk oxen, caribou and foxes. Birdwatching is best at the Queen Maud Bay Bird Sanctuary. This is the largest nature reserve in North America, its area is 63 thousand square meters. km. It is home to 90% of the world’s Ross geese. On the northern coast of the mainland, the settlement of Joa Hoiven is interesting, where you can get acquainted with the main types of fishing of local residents.
In the settlement of Kugarukon the Simpson Peninsula, on the northeastern mainland coast, sea kayaking is offered, and the kayaks are made by local residents. At the westernmost tip of the north coast lies the town of Kaglaktak. It is an important cultural center for the Innuit. On the Melville Peninsula, right on the Arctic Circle, is the city of Repulse Bay. It is surrounded by cliffs with colonies of coastal birds and the coast, which is home to one of the largest populations of walruses in the world. Excursions depart from Repulse Bay to Ukkusiksalik National Park, one of Canada ‘s youngest national parks.. The park stretches along Vaner Bay over an area of 20,500 square meters. km. The best time to visit these places is from May to August. On the territory of the park you can see rocks, hills, tundra and coastal lowlands – watts. It offers trekking through the tundra and coastal hills of Vaner Bay, bird and marine animal watching, and excursions to more than 500 archaeological sites. In the center of the mainland of the Territory of Nunavut, the city of Baker Lake is interesting, surrounded by tundra and lakes. From here you can go to the Telon Nature Reserve with an area of 52 thousand square meters. km, where caribou deer, musk oxen, grizzly bears and various birds are protected.
Coast of Hudson’s Bayand its islands, which are part of the Territory of Nunavut, are one of the best places in the country to observe beluga whales, narwhals, walruses and seals. Entire marine animal watching cruises are arranged here.
