Aulavik National Park of Canada Spring 2005
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Aulavik National Park of Canada Spring 2005 Aulavik Location National Park of Canada Aulavik National Park, at the north end of Banks Vegetation is sparse in much of the region. “Pronounced Ow-lah-veek” Island in the Northwest Territories, is an arctic In wet areas, however, there is a heavy cover wilderness, and a relatively recent addition to of sedge grasses, cottongrass, mosses, and the park system. Its potential was first identified purple saxifrage. Lichens encrust much of 2 in 1978, and 12 200 km of land, focusing on the the exposed rock. Summer brings on a Thomsen River area, were agreed upon in 1992. brief flourish of delicate wildflowers like The park, which is situated more than 600 km The most demanding aspect of Aulavik is the mountain avens, purple oxytrope, and pink north of the Arctic Circle, protects part of climate. Average July temperatures in Sachs lousewort. Shrub willows, like the arctic Canada's Western Arctic Lowlands Natural Harbour include lows of 2.8°C and highs of 9.6°C. willow, provide an important food source Region. Aulavik is an Inuvialuktun word that On occasion, summer temperatures can soar as for grazing muskoxen and caribou. means "the place where people travel", and the high as 25°C, although sub-freezing Activities area has indeed seen some significant voyages. temperatures and snow are just as likely. Due to In the mid-1800's, Robert McClure searched the the usual presence of sea ice in McClure Strait, Like most of Canada's arctic national parks, Arctic for the lost crew of Sir John Franklin. fog is a frequent companion. The wind is an Aulavik is accessible mainly by chartered Though he failed to find Franklin and his crew, almost constant factor and severe winds are aircraft. Visitors can enjoy canoeing and his search did prove fruitful in no small measure common. During the brief summer, biting kayaking on the Thomsen River, camping, hiking, with his discovery of the long-sought Northwest insects are normally not a severe problem due to The park appears almost barren of life in and wildlife viewing. Visitors should be Passage. Aulavik is located in the Northern the cool temperatures and wind, although the winter. Only muskoxen and caribou prepared for total self-sufficiency, and a no-trace Arctic Ecozone. visitors should still come prepared with insect remain to face the harsh climate. Among camping ethic is strongly recommended since repellent. the bird species, only ravens, ptarmigan, waste of any kind will remain visible for decades. and the occasional snowy owl opt to stay in Visitors must register with the park office. Since the cold and darkness. Lemmings scurry Aulavik is a new park without an extensive Geology through tunnels beneath the snow, but the resource inventory, visitors are encouraged to land is otherwise almost lifeless. In the record and report any wildlife sightings, summer, the land comes alive under the 24- Aulavik is an area of spectacular river including notes on species, numbers, location, hour sunshine. Animals fatten themselves canyons, rolling hills, lush valleys, and and any nesting or den areas. Care should be for the next winter, and bear their young. desert-like badlands. One can see signs taken, however, to maintain a discreet distance Cape Snow geese, red phalaropes, and other of the recent passage of the continental McClure McClure from these areas. Str waterfowl nest on the sedge meadows Cape ai ice sheets in the rounded hills adjacent Vesey t y Hamilton a along river valleys. Other birdlife includes B y a to the river. Deep limestone canyons y B c y y r c c r e r sandhill cranes, Sabine's gulls, terns, e e frame the Mercy River Valley in the M M M jaegers, and raptors like rough-legged For more information, contact: northeast of the park. Badland areas Beaufort B A N K S hawks and gyrfalcons. Banks Island Chief Park Warden T T dominate the western end of the park. Sea T r h h h Aulavik National Park e iv o o o R supports an estimated 65 000 muskoxen, B m Elsewhere there is patterned ground, a erna rd s ker e Par P.O. Box 29 n ti with some 16 000 concentrated in the a rt R t i i S v v group of geometric depressions in the v R a e e e sr iv t Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories r r r eS e l s Thomsen River Valley. The threatened r ale Wa earth. The Thomsen is the ff W oo ee X0E 0Z0 cc Peary caribou, the smallest of the caribou nin rri northernmost navigable river in PP Telephone: (867) 690-3904 N I S L A N D species, migrate through the park. Other Canada, and numerous tundra lakes are Fax: (867) 690-4808 0 50 000 m mammal species include Arctic fox, Arctic peppered across the surrounding land. © Parks Canada 0 50 000 m wolf, and ermine. The occasional polar Website: www.pc.gc.ca/aulavik bear also wanders through the park. Aulavik National Park of Canada Spring 2005 Aulavik Location National Park of Canada Aulavik National Park, at the north end of Banks Vegetation is sparse in much of the region. “Pronounced Ow-lah-veek” Island in the Northwest Territories, is an arctic In wet areas, however, there is a heavy cover wilderness, and a relatively recent addition to of sedge grasses, cottongrass, mosses, and the park system. Its potential was first identified purple saxifrage. Lichens encrust much of 2 in 1978, and 12 200 km of land, focusing on the the exposed rock. Summer brings on a Thomsen River area, were agreed upon in 1992. brief flourish of delicate wildflowers like The park, which is situated more than 600 km The most demanding aspect of Aulavik is the mountain avens, purple oxytrope, and pink north of the Arctic Circle, protects part of climate. Average July temperatures in Sachs lousewort. Shrub willows, like the arctic Canada's Western Arctic Lowlands Natural Harbour include lows of 2.8°C and highs of 9.6°C. willow, provide an important food source Region. Aulavik is an Inuvialuktun word that On occasion, summer temperatures can soar as for grazing muskoxen and caribou. means "the place where people travel", and the high as 25°C, although sub-freezing Activities area has indeed seen some significant voyages. temperatures and snow are just as likely. Due to In the mid-1800's, Robert McClure searched the the usual presence of sea ice in McClure Strait, Like most of Canada's arctic national parks, Arctic for the lost crew of Sir John Franklin. fog is a frequent companion. The wind is an Aulavik is accessible mainly by chartered Though he failed to find Franklin and his crew, almost constant factor and severe winds are aircraft. Visitors can enjoy canoeing and his search did prove fruitful in no small measure common. During the brief summer, biting kayaking on the Thomsen River, camping, hiking, with his discovery of the long-sought Northwest insects are normally not a severe problem due to The park appears almost barren of life in and wildlife viewing. Visitors should be Passage. Aulavik is located in the Northern the cool temperatures and wind, although the winter. Only muskoxen and caribou prepared for total self-sufficiency, and a no-trace Arctic Ecozone. visitors should still come prepared with insect remain to face the harsh climate. Among camping ethic is strongly recommended since repellent. the bird species, only ravens, ptarmigan, waste of any kind will remain visible for decades. and the occasional snowy owl opt to stay in Visitors must register with the park office. Since the cold and darkness. Lemmings scurry Aulavik is a new park without an extensive Geology through tunnels beneath the snow, but the resource inventory, visitors are encouraged to land is otherwise almost lifeless. In the record and report any wildlife sightings, summer, the land comes alive under the 24- Aulavik is an area of spectacular river including notes on species, numbers, location, hour sunshine. Animals fatten themselves canyons, rolling hills, lush valleys, and and any nesting or den areas. Care should be for the next winter, and bear their young. desert-like badlands. One can see signs taken, however, to maintain a discreet distance Cape Snow geese, red phalaropes, and other of the recent passage of the continental McClure McClure from these areas. Str waterfowl nest on the sedge meadows Cape ai ice sheets in the rounded hills adjacent Vesey t y Hamilton a along river valleys. Other birdlife includes B y a to the river. Deep limestone canyons y B c y y r c c r e r sandhill cranes, Sabine's gulls, terns, e e frame the Mercy River Valley in the M M M jaegers, and raptors like rough-legged For more information, contact: northeast of the park. Badland areas Beaufort B A N K S hawks and gyrfalcons. Banks Island Chief Park Warden T T dominate the western end of the park. Sea T r h h h Aulavik National Park e iv o o o R supports an estimated 65 000 muskoxen, B m Elsewhere there is patterned ground, a erna rd s ker e Par P.O. Box 29 n ti with some 16 000 concentrated in the a rt R t i i S v v group of geometric depressions in the v R a e e e sr iv t Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories r r r eS e l s Thomsen River Valley. The threatened r ale Wa earth.