Sirmilik National Park of Canada Spring 2005

Location Sirmilik Vegetation Sirmilik National Park lies adjacent to the National Park of Canada northeastern tip of Baffin Island, where Vegetation is sparse, dwarfed and adapted Lancaster Sound enters Baffin Bay. Pond to harsh climatic conditions. Well drained Pronounced “Seer-mee-leek” Inlet is the closest community to the park, sites support a discontinuous cover of low which is located 25 km to the south, across growing herbs and shrub-sedges, Eclipse Sound, and is accessible. The Arctic saxifrages, and willows. Dryas and Arctic Climate Circle lies 700 km to the south and poppy are typical. The arctic willow is the Greenland 600 km to the east, across Baffin tallest tundra plant. In July, the mean high temperature is 9ºC and the low Bay. Sirmilik means “The Place of Glaciers”. mean is 1ºC. The average annual rainfall is 6 cm in the Sirmilik National Park includes summer months, followed by an average annual approximately 22 200 km². Borden Peninsula Activities snowfall of 10.8 cm through the fall, winter and early is an extensive plateau dissected by broad Wildlife spring, giving a total annual precipitation of 17 cm. river valleys. The park features landforms Sirmilik National Park is accessible from Pond Over 50 species of birds, 30 of which are The January high mean is -28ºC and the low mean is - and superb wilderness, and a major seabird Inlet and Arctic Bay year-round except during confirmed breeders, have been recorded. In 35ºC. Due to the mountainous terrain around Pond colony in the vicinity of Baillarge Bay. ice-breakup in July and freeze up in October the Sirmilik National Park bird sanctuary, Inlet, high winds are not frequent. The sun is last seen Sirmilik is located in the Arctic Cordillera and November. You can travel to the park by there are 320 000 murres, 50 000 kittiwakes above the horizon on November 11th each year. By and the Northern Arctic Ecozones. dog sledding, snowmobiling or cross-country and 75 000 snow geese. There are 21 species the middle of January, the tops of Bylot Island skiing. Local outfitters from Pond Inlet or of marine and terrestrial mammals around mountains are touched with sunlight, and by the Arctic Bay can take you to the park. Sirmilik the park area. For the land mammals, there second of February, the sun peeks above the horizon. National Park has no facilities or equipment at are large numbers of caribou, wolf, arctic fox, By mid-April, the nights are no longer completely the moment. To arrange a trip to the park, collared lemming and arctic hare which are dark. From mid-May to the end of July the sun does contact a licensed tour operator or outfitter found in the fertile areas of the land. not drop behind the mountains of Bylot Island, and who has extensive knowledge and experience Lancaster Sound is a major migration route there are now truly 24-hour days. in this area. and summering area for marine mammals. Five species of seals and four species of whales, as well as walrus, are also found. Geology Bylot Island is a major summer retreat for polar bears, up to 150 may be present on the The park has a spectacular area of rugged island during the summer. For more information, contact: mountain, icefields and glaciers, coastal Chief Park Warden lowlands, and seabird colonies. Sirmilik has Sirmilik National Park P.O. Box 300 three separate areas: the mountain and Pond Inlet, Nunavut upland surrounding Oliver Sound, the X0A 0S0 rugged plateau of eastern Borden Telephone: (867) 899-8092 Peninsula, and the mountains and lowlands Fax: (867) 899-8104 of Bylot Island. Website: www.pc.gc.ca/sirmilik