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Status Report

Parc des Pingualuit

Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec Acknowledgements

I am grateful to everyone who contributed to this report in any way. I would especially like to thank the following people:

Parc des Pingualuit Working Group Vicky Gordon Willie Adams Michael Barrett Michel Damphousse Charlie Ulaku

Community of Kangiqsujuaq Ulaayu Pilurtuut Arngak Charlie Arngak Betsy Etidloe Papikatuk Sakiagak

Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec Marthe Laflamme Serge Alain Jean Boisclair Stéphane Cossette Jean Gagnon Gilles Harvey André Lafrenière Louis Lefebvre André Rancourt Jacques Talbot Denis Vandal

Raymonde Pomerleau Project Coordinator, Parc des Pingualuit

Acknowledgements I

Table of contents

List of maps, tables, and figures V

List of maps V

List of tables V

List of figures VI

Introduction VII

Regional Context 1

Northern Québec 1 Demography 1 Territorial access and transportation 5 Local administration 6 Economic activity 8 Tourism development 9

Northern Village of Kangiqsujuaq 10 Population and services 10 Economic activity 10 Access 10 Land regime 15

Study Area 17

Climatic conditions 17 Temperature 18 Frost–free season 18 Precipitation 18 Day length 33 Ice formation and break-up on lakes and rivers 33

Biophysical resources 33 Relief and slopes 33 Geology 34 Origin of the crater 41 Geomorphology 42 The Pleistocence 42 The Holocene 51 Deposits 59 Hydrography 63 Vegetation 68 Fauna 75 Special features 89

Table of contents III Archaeological and historical resources 89 Archaeology 89 History 93

Land regime and use 94

Conclusion 103

Appendix 1 Flora 105

Vascular plants 107

Non-Vascular Plants 109 Lichens 109 Bryophytes 111

Appendix 2 Newly identified regional flora and rare vascular plants 113

Appendix 3 Birds of Parc des Pingualuit area 117

Appendix 4 Mammals of Parc des Pingualuit area 121

Literature cited 125

Endnotes 131

IV Parc des Pingualuit List of maps, tables, and figures

List of maps

Map 1: Location map: Kangiqsujuaq 11

Map 2: Ungava Plateau natural region (B-39) 17

Map 3: Changes in the limits of the study area 19

Map 4: Relief map 33

Map 5: Geology 37

Map 6: Geomorphology 47

Map 7: Surface deposits 59

Map 8: Drainage pattern 63

Map 9: Areas of floral significance 75

Map 10: Archaeologically and historically significant sites 87

Map 11: Land regime 93

Map 12: Land use 97

List of tables

Table 1: Population of Nunavik communities 5

Table 2: Impact craters in Québec 39

Table 3: Geological time scale and main geological events in the region of the Nouveau-Québec Crater 41

Table 4: Surface area of large lakes – Parc des Pingualuit 61

Table 5: Characteristics of the Nouveau-Québec Crater and Pingualuk Lake 66

Table 6: Predominant vegetation by environmental conditions 68

Table 7: Site of rare plant species inventoried in summer 1998 72

List of maps, tables, and figures V List of figures

Figure 1: Nunavik 3

Figure 2: Mean annual temperature 21

Figure 3: Length of frost-free season 21

Figure 4: Total mean annual precipitation 23

Figure 5: Annual snow fraction 23

Figure 6: Wind rose 27

Figure 7: Mean annual hourly wind speed 29

Figure 8: Maximum mean hourly wind speed 29

Figure 9: Glacial phases in northern Nunavik 45

Figure 10: Areas flooded by postglacial seas and proglacial lakes 51

Figure 11: Deglaciation of the Nouveau-Québec Crater 55

Figure 12: Movement patterns in the calving ground of the Rivière aux Feuilles caribou herd 81

Figure 13: Annual distribution of the Rivière aux Feuilles and George River caribou herds 83

VI Parc des Pingualuit Introduction

At the northern tip of Québec, on the highest part of the Ungava Peninsula, lies a fascinating lake created by a meteorite’s collision with Earth. Almost perfectly circular with virtually the clearest water in the world, the lake sits in a bed of crystalline shield rocks. The impact that created the Nouveau-Québec Crater, called Pingualuit by the Inuit, occurred over a million years ago. Little by little, its walls, floor and flooded depression reveal the secrets of the crater’s origin. No wonder its relatively recent “discovery” has raised so much interest within the scientific community!

Like a gemstone, the Nouveau-Québec Crater is set in a rocky plateau sculpted by countless elongated lakes with jagged shorelines. Save for this meteorite impact structure, the relief is subdued and the vegetation so sparse that it is unfairly qualified as inexistent. Wind and cold reign over this rocky universe, which comes to life during a very short summer characterized by near-endless daylight.

This report presents the current state of knowledge of the area set aside for the establishment of Parc des Pingualuit, the new provincial park dedicated to preserving the exceptional character of the Nouveau-Québec Crater as well as a representative portion of the vast Ungava Plateau.

In addition to describing the biophysical environment and the history of the study area, this report discusses the regional context underlying the development of the park. The Status Report is a companion document to the Provisional Master Plan, which further discusses the dominant features of the study area and proposes limits, a zoning plan and a development scenario for the future park.

Introduction VII

Regional Context

Northern Québec

Northern Québec is divided into two distinct regions separated by the 55th parallel: James Bay to the south and Nunavik, formerly known as Kativik, to the north. The vast territory of Nunavik is 500,164 km2 in area and distinguished by its pristine wilderness, countless lakes and large rivers, and the world’s largest caribou herd. The region is bounded, from west to east, by Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay, totalling 2,500 km of coastline carved out by fjords, dotted with islands and marked by deep estuaries with a high tidal range. At its easternmost point, Nunavik borders Labrador (Figure 1).

Demography

In 1996, the population of Nunavik stood at 8,715, representing a density of less than .02 inhabitants per square kilometre. Predominantly Inuit (89%), the population is spread over 14 villages established near the coast. The communities of Kuujjuaq (pop. 1,726), Inukjuaq (pop. 1,184), Puvirnituq (pop. 1,169) and Salluit (pop. 929) account for nearly 60% of the region’s inhabitants (Table 1). Kuujjuaq, the largest service centre in Northern Québec, houses the corporate seat of the Kativik Regional Government (KRG).

The population is young, with almost 60% of inhabit- ants under 25 years of age and 40%, under the age of 15. It is also growing rapidly, at a rate of approximately 2.7% per year (Makivik Corporation 2000). The KRG’s 1996 master development plan predicted that the population would continue to grow for another ten years, stressing the impact on public infrastructures and services, especially housing, which is already limited. The attendant need for employment opportunities is another factor that is frequently cited.

Regional Context 1

Montage.qxd 9/10/01 7:32 AM Page 1 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 Table 1 Population of Nunavik communities

JUNE JUNE JUNE CHANGE (1) (1) (2) 1986 1991 1996 SINCE 1991 (%) Akulivik 337 375 411 9.6 Aupaluk 110 131 159 21.4 Inukjuak 778 1,044 1,184 13.4 Ivujivik 208 263 274 4.2 Kangiqsualujjuaq 383 529 648 22.5 Kangiqsujuaq 337 404 479 18.6 Kangirsuk 308 351 394 12.3 Kuujjuaq 1,066 1,405 1,726 22.8 Kuujjuarapik (3) 616 605 579 -4.3 Puvirnituq 868 1,091 1,169 7.1 Quaqtaq 185 236 257 8.9 Salluit 663 823 929 12.9 Tasiujaq 135 152 191 25.7 Umiujaq 59 284 315 10.9

Total for Nunavik 6,053 7,693 8,715 13.3

Source: 1: Census of Population (Cat. no. 93-304), Statistics Canada 2: Census of Population (Cat. no. 93-357), Statistics Canada 3: Displacement of population due to the creation of Umiujaq

The average number of persons per household is 4.3, with 40% of Nunavik families comprising 5 or more Kuujjuaq (1,500 km) take around 2 hours. From Kuu- persons. The language most often spoken in the jjuaq, weekday flights carry passengers to the differ- home is Inuktitut, although many Inuit can also speak ent villages dotting the coasts of Ungava Bay and either English or French, especially young people, Hudson Strait as far as Salluit. The villages along who are given the choice of French or English as the Hudson Bay are served by flights leaving Montréal language of instruction beginning in Grade 4. Monday through Friday. Both the Ungava and Hudson However, Inuit language continues to be taught Bay lines offer connecting flights to Salluit. throughout primary and secondary school. School enrolment in the regular sector currently stands at The regional airports in Kuujjuaq and Kuujjuarapik over 3,000 students, or nearly 35% of the total have flight systems station (FSS); the others are population. equipped for instrument landing. With no 24-hour weather stations, access to the villages is limited Territorial access and transportation during bad weather.

Whether for leisure or business purposes, Northern In addition to these regular flights, small planes and Québec is only accessible by plane. Every village has helicopters can be chartered from private companies its own airport, and daily flights between Montréal and

Regional Context 5 established in Kuujjuaq. Cargo airplanes carry land, which dictate their respective use and supplies to the villages once a week. administration.

Marine transport is used primarily to supply the Category I lands are those that have been allocated villages with durable goods and fuel. The coastal to the Native peoples for their exclusive use. They are villages are serviced in late summer, when there is no the lands in and around the communities where Inuit longer any ice in the bays. Only a few villages people normally reside and are owned by the Inuit currently have a deep-sea terminal, which requires community corporations. that supplies be unloaded onto barges. However, a new multi-year program is designed to fill this need. Category II lands are part of the public domain, but the Native peoples have exclusive hunting, fishing The Raglan mine has its own air service for and trapping rights. Each community comprises transporting workers and food supplies: a landing strip Category II lands, the location of which is determined and control tower are located in Donaldson. The by the presence of resources harvested by the Inuit to company also charters ships to transport ore ensure continued subsistence opportunities. concentrates, which are loaded at Déception Bay and carried outside the region for refining. Category III lands are lands in the public domain where exclusive rights or privileges are not granted to The highway system is limited to a few kilometres of the Native peoples, although the latter may pursue road per village, including service roads leading to the their traditional activities on these lands year-round. airport, drinking water intakes and other municipal services. However, this does not mean that the Thus, regardless of the category of land, the JBNQA communities are isolated and confined to a limited grants beneficiaries the right to hunt, fish and trap area; on the contrary, the Inuit regularly travel long year-round anywhere in the territory. They do not distances to pursue their traditional activities. Snow- require a license and may harvest as many mobiles, all-terrain vehicles and motorboats not only individuals of any species as they wish, using any ensure communication and trade between equipment except that which is considered a risk to neighbouring villages, but, above all, allow access to public safety. The hunting, fishing and trapping inland and coastal wildlife resources. Traditional food regime is subject to the principle of wildlife sources account for a significant portion of the Inuit’s conservation and aims to protect threatened wildlife diet, with terrestrial, aquatic and marine resources species and ensure the continuance of traditional being harvested on a seasonal basis. Native pursuits. The JBNQA provides for numerous bodies and regulatory mechanisms in this respect, Local administration including the Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Coordinating Committee (HFTCC). Administration of this vast territory reflects the realities of Nunavik and its inhabitants. These special Administrative structures characteristics, highlighted below, will affect how the There are three levels of administration in Nunavik: park is managed. Makivik Corporation, the Kativik Regional Government and the northern municipalities. Land regime1

As established by the 1975 James Bay and Northern The respective responsibilities of these bodies range Québec Agreement (JBNQA), the land regime from general to specific. For example, Makivik applicable to Nunavik defines three categories of Corporation manages, for Nunavik as a whole, the compensation paid to the Inuit under the JBNQA and

6 Parc des Pingualuit the revenues therefrom. The Kativik Regional by the Act respecting Northern villages and the Kativik Government, in addition to playing much the same Regional Government. It has jurisdiction over all or role as a regional county municipality in all of the part of any territory not erected for municipal admin- territory of Nunavik, manages the territory not erected istration. All by-laws passed by the KRG must be for the purpose of municipal administration. The approved by the Minister of Municipal Affairs before northern municipalities govern local matters. coming into force.

Makivik Corporation In general, the KRG has, in the territory of Nunavik (including the Naskapi village of Kawawachikamach), Makivik Corporation is a non-profit association without competence in the following matters: share capital and without pecuniary gain for its members. It was established by the Act respecting the • local administration; Makivik Corporation and is governed, subject to the • provisions of that Act, by Part III of the Companies transport and communications; Act. • police; and

The purpose of the Corporation is to: • manpower training and utilization.

• receive, administer, use and invest the part, The Kativik Regional Government plays a dominating intended for the Inuit, of the compensation role in land use planning and management within the provided for in the JBNQA and the revenues territory, for which purpose it prepares a master therefrom, as well as all its other funds; development plan.

• relieve poverty and promote the welfare and the Northern municipalities advancement of education of the Inuit; Northern municipalities are erected on Category I • develop and improve the Inuit communities and lands and formed by the inhabitants, Inuit or improve their means of action; otherwise, in their respective territory.

• exercise the functions vested in it by other acts or Every municipality is empowered to: the JBNQA; • acquire all movable and immovable property • foster, promote, protect and assist in preserving required for municipal purposes and alienate such the Inuit way of life, values and traditions. property, where required;

Kativik Regional Government • purchase land for the use of the municipality;

The inhabitants of the territory and the municipalities • enter into contracts, bind and oblige itself, and having jurisdiction therein, whether erected under the bind and oblige others to itself, and transact within Act respecting Northern villages and the Kativik the limits of its powers; Regional Government or any general law or special act, form a public corporation under the name of • sue and be sued in any cause, before any court; Kativik Regional Government (KRG). • assist in the undertaking and furtherance of works The KRG is a corporation within the meaning of the of charity, education, scientific, artistic or literary Civil Code and has the general powers of such a culture, youth training, and generally of any social corporation and such special powers as are assigned welfare enterprise of the population;

Regional Context 7 • assist in the organization of recreational guidance Mining-related activities also take place in the back centres and public places for sports and country. Exploration is currently being carried out at recreation; some ten sites, mostly in the Labrador Trough south of Kuujjuaq, while one of the world’s largest nickel • found and maintain bodies for industrial, deposits is being mined in the northern part of the commercial or tourism promotion; territory, in the Cape Smith Belt. The deposit, known as the Raglan mine, lies between Salluit and • grant subsidies within its jurisdiction; Kangiqsujuaq, around 50 km north of the Nouveau- • entrust to non-profit institutions, societies or Québec Crater. The mining complex, which officially corporations, the organization and management, opened in summer 1998, has an estimated economic for the account of the municipality, of certain life of 20 years. activities and, for such purpose, make contracts The KRG study concluded that the lion’s share of with them; revenues from resource extraction (mining, military • exercise all the powers in general vested in it, or and energy-related projects) benefit the rest of the which are necessary for the accomplishment of province, in addition to the fact that certain projects the duties imposed upon it. adversely affect the environment and wildlife, which are crucial to the Inuit’s subsistence economy. Economic activity To counter the negative impacts of development, the According to a KRG study, Nunavik mirrors the other KRG defined certain principles that must be respected frontier regions of Québec in that its development is in carrying out development projects in the North. slow and its economic performance, poor. Accordingly, all decisions must be grounded on:

The service industry accounts for 70% of all economic • a deep respect for the environment, manifested activity in the region. The majority of jobs are in the through sound resource management; public and parapublic (health care and education) • the need to preserve the Inuit traditional way of sectors or related to trade in goods and services, life; wildlife harvesting and construction. The labour market is characterized by a high rate of casual and • the need to reap the benefits arising from part-time jobs, most of which are in the villages. The development projects. jobless rate is 13.7% for Nunavik as a whole and 17% for the Inuit population; unemployment is particularly Regional development issues thus concern the desire high among the 15-24 age group, at 24% (Makivik to ensure the sustainability of the Inuit’s subsistence Corporation 2000). economy, protect the environment and wildlife, enable resource use while preserving the ecological and Outside the villages, economic activity is centred on social integrity of the region, and acknowledge the wildlife harvesting for subsistence and tourism need to protect its historical, archaeological, cultural, purposes. In fact, subsistence harvesting has the spiritual, visual and other resources. Understanding same importance in Northern Québec as agriculture the interrelationship of these elements in the North does in southern Québec, representing 75% of the and the fact that they form a cultural whole is critical. Inuit’s dietary protein intake. It is therefore crucial to A zoning plan has therefore been prepared to ensure the local economy. the development objectives identified by the population are achieved.

8 Parc des Pingualuit In terms of protected spaces, there are as yet no • changing travel habits: increase in people seeking parks in Nunavik, although the master development a learning experience, inter-cultural exchanges plan for the region identifies several sites that should and adventure tourism; be protected for their outstanding scenic value. The • 15-20% annual growth in ecotourism and ethno- proposed Parc des Pingualuit, provided for in tourism; Complementary Agreement No. 6 of the JBNQA, is • one of those sites. Furthermore, the zoning plan decrease in market for hunting-related travel due to urbanization and social changes. The report specifies that traditional activities may be pursued on pointed out that although Nunavik has not yet lands used for park purposes and that tourism been affected by this short-term trend, it should activities may not adversely affect their ecological diversify its tourism product in the medium and integrity. The plan also promotes the development of long terms. scientific, cultural and educational activities in parks. A study of tourism opportunities in the northern Tourism development villages showed the emergence of several ecotourism and adventure tourism products, including Tourism is a mainstay of the regional economy dogsledding, kayak/snowmobile/boat trips, hiking, (KRG 1998). Currently, it relies solely on the region’s canoeing, cultural tours and wildlife observation. The numerous outfitting operations, whose star product is report indicated the advantages for Nunavik of caribou hunting, along with Artic char and Atlantic developing park proposals, stressing that parks are salmon fishing. According to the Société de la faune currently among the most popular tourist attractions in et des parcs du Québec registers, there are 67 Alaska, the Northwest Territories and now Nunavut. It outfitting operations in Nunavik, concentrated is hoped that, over the medium and long terms, parks between the 55th parallel and Ungava Bay. These will become the centrepiece of broader tourism operations bring between 2,500 and 3,000 visitors to packages that respond to the market for outdoor and the region each year, 80% of whom are Americans. adventure travel. The lack of parks is considered a Stays are based on one-week packages, including air drawback for tourism and a need that must be filled: transportation, accommodation in permanent or seasonal camps, guide services, etc. This type of “Far “there is a serious need in the region for North experience” costs between $3,500 and $5,000 the establishment of natural parks for (Gestion conseil J.P. Corbeil inc. 1998), attracts a protection, quality and image” mainly male clientele, and is offered mostly in the fall. The proposed Parc des Pingualuit meets this Since 1977, the industry has been supported by the expectation. Moreover, the report targets the Nunavik Tourism Association (NTA), whose Kangiqsujuaq sector for the development of accreditation testifies to the will to establish a ecotourism activities based on the immediate area’s development strategy for improving the economic historical, cultural and natural resources. These performance of regional tourism businesses. The activities could be incorporated into park planning so report prepared by Gestion conseil J.-P. Corbeil inc. as to diversify the tourism experience. identifies the main orientations tourist activities should take and the current trends marking the tourism It is crucial, however, that tourism development take market, i.e.: the distinctive features at the local level into account, i.e. harsh climate, remoteness, high transportation • sharp increase in global tourism; costs, and inadequate accommodation and restaurant facilities. Activities must be structured so as to ensure the market meets visitor expectations.

Regional Context 9 Northern Village of Kangiqsujuaq The nascent tourism industry has only just begun to tap into the region’s enormous potential as a travel Kangiqsujuaq lies approximately 1,800 km northeast destination. Marine mammals and polar bears in close of Montréal and 430 km northwest of Kuujjuaq. proximity to the village, magnificent coastlines marked Nestled on the shores of Wakeham Bay, which opens by archipelagos, capes and spectacular fjords, and onto Hudson Strait, the village, being the closest the presence of one of the most important locality, will serve as the entrance to the park. Prior to archaeological sites in the Arctic make for a diversity adopting a sedentary lifestyle in the early 1960s, the of attractions that add to the outstanding geological original ancestral families were scattered over the feature of the Nouveau-Québec Crater. Nunanturlik coast and offshore islands, mainly southeast of the Corporation, an outfitting operation managed by the current village (Map 1). Kangiqsujuaq Landholding Corporation, is currently examining local tourism development opportunities. Population and services

Kangiqsujuaq has a current population of Access approximately 515 people, 93% of whom are Inuit. The rugged terrain on the outskirts of the village limits Like Nunavik as a whole, the population is also very inland travel in summer. There are no real roads, only young, with over 60% of inhabitants under 25 years of an old trail that used to link the asbestos mine to age. The average annual salary is just over $18,000, Wakeham Bay and Donaldson. This trail is still used compared with the regional average of nearly by all-terrain vehicles. The byroad linking Donaldson $21,000. According to Makivik Corporation (2000), to Douglas Harbour is in better condition, but is 70% of working-age community members do not have subject to the regular formation of taluses near the a high-school diploma. river mouth. The village, which forms a half-circle, is sheltered by The stretch of road running between Donaldson and Wakeham Bay and dominated by a suite of rocky hills Katinniq was upgraded with the opening of the Raglan that mark the sharp separation between the Ungava mine, and a new section was subsequently built Plateau and Hudson Strait. Airport facilities sit atop between Katinniq and Déception Bay, where ore one of these hills and are linked to the village by a concentrate is loaded and carried outside the region 2.3-km road (Entraco 1986). Regular public services for refining. for the northern villages as a whole are all situated in Kangiqsujuaq: municipal offices and garage, police Travel by land is easier in winter, when the rivers and station, health clinic, primary and secondary school, lakes are frozen. As soon as there is sufficient snow residential school, day-care centre, sports arena, cover, the snowmobiles come out, enabling people to commercial buildings (grocery and hardware stores), travel longer distances. Depending on the weather, telecommunications bureau, post office, 14-room engine power and driver skills, it takes between 4 and hotel and three churches representing as many 6 hours to get to the crater. The return trip can be denominations. There are currently no restaurants in made by way of Hudson Strait—when it is frozen, of the village. course—offering spectacular scenery. However, the going can be rough in January and February due to Economic activity the harsh climatic conditions.

The majority of employment is in the service industry. Kangiqsujuaq residents travel from the village to the Twenty-five residents of Kangiqsujuaq work at the coast and surrounding bays to hunt birds and marine Raglan mine, whose hiring plan expressly provides for mammals, fish for Arctic char, and harvest blue the participation of Inuit people.

10 Parc des Pingualuit mussels under the ice pack, all according to season. They travel inland to hunt caribou, go ice fishing, and trap fur-bearing animals. The intensity of land use decreases as you move farther from the village.

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Land regime

Like all other northern villages, Kangiqsujuaq is subject to the land regime established by the JBNQA. Category I lands are lands in and around the village that are heavily used for traditional pursuits, including Wakeham Bay and Akulivik Point.

Four tracts of Category II lands located around the village abut the coast. A single tract extends inland as far south as Nantais and Nallusarquituq lakes, the latter of which is adjacent to the proposed park.

Regional Context 15

Study Area

The Nouveau-Québec Crater, located in the area When the project reached the field-check stage, it destined to become Parc des Pingualuit, is one of was discovered that the Puvirnituq River Canyon Québec's exceptional landscape features. However, contained a number of uncommon resources and no study of this sector would be complete if it focused attractions, which had thus far been underestimated solely on this feature and failed to take all of the other both in terms of their conservation as well as the elements of the area into account. Therefore, this recreational and tourism opportunities they afforded. chapter not only describes the distinctive After learning of this situation, the community of characteristics of the crater itself, but also strives to Kangiqsujuaq requested that the Puvirnituq River characterize the study area as a whole in relation to Corridor be covered by subsequent assessments to the natural region in which it is located, namely, the ensure that it receive adequate protection. In the Ungava Plateau (B-39), shown on Map 2. wake of this request, the most interesting section of the Puvirnituq River Valley was included in the study The study area is situated in the northern part of the area, up to Lamarche Lake, where the valley widens plateau, at the northern tip of Québec. It stretches and the relief becomes more subdued. The between latitudes 61°06’ and 61°28’ N and between community of Kangiqsujuaq also requested that longitudes 73°13’ and 74°18’ W. Covering roughly consideration be given to protecting a new 2 1,100 km , this area is larger than that originally archaeological site discovered in summer 1998 south provided for in the James Bay and Northern Quebec of Vergons Lake. Map 3 shows the changes in the Agreement (JBNQA): the decision to extend the limits limits of the study area over the past few years. of the park was aimed at including more regional points of interest. Climatic conditions

The process that led to the selection of the study area According to Köppen's climate classification system, is somewhat unusual and warrants some explanation. the Nouveau-Québec Crater region has a polar tundra Unlike most park proposals, the Parc des Pingualuit climate (Hufty 1976, in Daigneault 1997) project included pre-established boundaries, which characterized by short summers and long, very cold had been laid down in the JBNQA. These boundaries winters. In fact, the winters are among the harshest in 2 set the area of the park at 741.6 km and aimed to Québec. preserve the Nouveau-Québec Crater as well as a large buffer zone surrounding it. However, it later It is impossible, however, to provide a detailed became apparent that the prescribed limits would description of the region's climate owing to the lack of generate park management problems, as they a weather station in the area of the crater itself. The crossed large bodies of water in many places. It was Déception Bay station, located less than 100 km from therefore suggested that assessment of project- the study area, operated only from 1963 to 1973, and related opportunities be based on the protection of the data it gathered for certain parts of the year are entire drainage sub-basins, an ecological criterion incomplete and thus of limited use for reliable often applied in land use planning. The reflection statistical analyses. In this study, therefore, we have process initiated in this regard led to an agreement used the data provided by this station as trend with the Ministère des Ressources naturelles (order- indicators, bearing in mind that conditions on the in-council #91-192), signed in 1991, prohibiting mining coast may be different from those in the part of the exploration and mining activities in a 1,109-km2 area plateau affected by the park. to be studied for the purpose of establishing the limits of the proposed park.

Study Area 17 The question of insufficient data also arose when In Déception Bay, as elsewhere in Québec, July is the Roche (1992) conducted an impact study of the hottest month of the year, with a mean temperature of Raglan mine project, situated some 30 km north of 8.9°C; August is the second hottest month, with a the future park. The report of this study presents a mean temperature of 7.3°C. If these data are applied local climatic profile established on the basis of com- to the crater area, it can be assumed that the monthly parative analysis of information from several weather means for these months are around 5.6°C and 4.0°C stations in Nunavik and Nunavut, including the respectively. Kuujjuaq and Iqualuit stations, which have been in operation for several years. The significant results of In Déception Bay, the mean monthly temperature this analysis were combined with those of regional does not rise above 0°C until June and falls below studies prepared by the Office de planification et de freezing in October. Logically, it can be assumed that développement du Québec (OPDQ) (1983) in order to the period when temperatures are above the freezing obtain an approximate picture of the situation. point is somewhat shorter near the crater, resulting in a very short summer. On the whole, the region is In general, people who are familiar with this part of subject to "wintry" conditions beginning in early fall Ungava agree that the crater area has a harsher and continuing through the spring. These conditions climate than the neighbouring villages of may even be qualified as very harsh during the three Kangiqsujuaq and Salluit. winter months, i.e. January, February and March, when the mean monthly temperature is never higher Temperature than -20°C.

According to the regional profile for Northern Québec Frost–free season produced by the OPDQ (1983), mean annual temperatures in the crater region range between According to the OPDQ report, the frost-free season -7.5°C and -10°C (Figure 2). Roche (1992) in the crater area lasts 20 days (Figure 3). However, established that a correction factor of -3.3°C should as mentioned by Roche (1992), such general data be applied to temperatures recorded at the Déception should be used with caution, since the isoline was Bay weather station to take into account the drawn up using data from a limited number of weather continentality and altitude of the plateau on which the stations and does not take local microclimates or the Raglan mining complex is located. Accordingly, the influence of the ocean into account. mean annual temperature in the area of the mine has been established at -10.3°C, which should apply to Precipitation the park as well. In general, there is minimal precipitation in the Nouveau–Québec Crater region owing to the low According to the weather stations consulted, the moisture content of cold air. Total precipitation at the lowest mean monthly temperatures are recorded in tip of the Ungava Peninsula averages between 300 January or February. However, since these tempera- and 400 mm, making it the region with the least tures vary by only fractions of degrees, the thermal precipitation in Québec (OPDQ 1983). The snow behaviour of both months can be considered to be fraction accounts for approximately 50% of the annual very similar. The mean monthly temperature at that precipitation budget (Figures 4 and 5). time of year is around -25°C in Déception Bay and -23°C in Quaqtaq. If the correction factor is applied, it can be estimated that in January and February the mean monthly temperature in the vicinity of the crater is roughly -28°C.

18 Parc des Pingualuit carte ang.qxd 9/10/01 7:28 AM Page 2 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 carte ang.qxd 9/10/01 7:28 AM Page 3 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 Montage.qxd 9/10/01 7:32 AM Page 2 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 Montage.qxd 9/10/01 7:32 AM Page 3 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 Since the data gathered at Déception Bay are On the plateau, snowmelt begins in mid-June and incomplete, it is difficult to obtain an accurate picture continues until August. Patches of snow persist in of the situation. The problem is compounded by the summer, in spots sheltered by small topographic fact that there should be a difference between the obstacles, and their distribution varies from one year type and amount of precipitation observed along the to the next (Lauriol, in Roche 1992). Accumulations of coast and that recorded on the plateau. This perennial snow can also be observed. difference stems from the drop in temperature associated with the rise in terrain, which not only Wind causes rain to turn into snow, but also increases The Ungava Plateau is considered to be a windy humidity, which in turn promotes precipitation. For region. Roche (1992) used Kuujjuaq as a reference technical reasons, Roche (1992) used the Iqualuit station for the climatic factor of wind. On an annual weather station as a precipitation trends indicator, basis, prevailing winds are from the west (18.9%) and even though it is located a considerable distance from southwest (18.2%). From June to September, they the study area. Annual precipitation at this station are from the west and north, while from October to reaches 430 mm. May, they are from the southwest and west (Figure 6). Verifications using data from the Quaqtaq station in The average annual wind speed in the study area is Nunavik revealed the same precipitation regime 20 km/hour (Figure 7), while the average maxima trends as those established using the Iqualuit data, recorded range from 88 to 96 km/hour (Figure 8) except that the amount of precipitation is lower. (OPDQ 1983). Monthly rainfall is negligible from November to In winter, storm winds can cause blizzards that last for April—less than 1 mm—while snowfall is spread over several days, reducing visibility and limiting much of the year, with July and August being the only communication with other regions, be it by telephone months with hardly any snow. July and August also or various means of transport. Depending on the have the most rainfall, while October and November month, drifting snow may be recorded for an average have the most snow. of 5 to 10 days.

Snow cover Strong winds can also occur in summer, especially

In the tundra, snow usually falls as blowing snow and near and inside the crater wall, one of the few forms compact snow dunes or drifts, which, in the topographic features in the park. During a scientific absence of trees, are shifted by wind. Snow is more expedition in summer 1988, the wind was so fierce likely to accumulate in sheltered spots than in that it destroyed one of the researchers' temporary exposed areas where it is blown around camps (Bouchard 1989). (Roche 1992). Generally, however, only a limited amount of snow actually accumulates on the ground. According to the residents of Kangiqsujuaq, they sometimes have to wait until January for there to be sufficient snow cover to reach the crater easily by snowmobile. Data from the Quaqtaq weather station show the depth of snow cover to be 25 cm in November, 36 cm in December and 46 cm in January. Based on maximum readings of 72.9 cm in April, it never exceeds 1 m.

Study Area 27

Montage.qxd 9/10/01 7:32 AM Page 4 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 Montage.qxd 9/10/01 7:32 AM Page 5 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 Day length gresses, it becomes increasing difficult to bore holes in the ice in order to fish. Wide variations in day length are another distinctive feature of the North. During the winter solstice, day In short, despite the lack of precise data for the study length is 5 h 16 min at Déception Bay, increasing to area—a situation attributable to the absence of 20 h 00 min during the summer solstice. In other weather stations in this region—it can readily be words, days are roughly four times longer in summer noted that the climate is very harsh. Low than in winter. In fact, in June one has the impression temperatures, strong winds and thin, not very that it is always daytime, since it is light almost protective snow cover have a definite impact on the 24 hours a day even though the sun sets (Roche development of living organisms, as well as on human 1992). Thus, there is considerably more solar energy occupation in the region. Serious consideration must in summer than in winter; however, insolation is be given to these factors in developing the future reduced by cloud cover and fog. In fact, the coast of park, since they will affect user access, comfort and Hudson Strait is considered to have the least safety. sunshine in all of Québec. According to Roche (1992), cloudy conditions are observed over 60% of the time from May to November. Biophysical resources

Cloud cover and visibility are not very well Relief and slopes documented in the crater area. However, based on observations made near the mining complex, monthly The natural region of the Ungava Plateau (B-39) is fog frequency ranges from 10 to 12 days in summer. expansive. With a surface area of roughly 2 Fog often lifts during the middle of the day due to 240,000 km , it covers over half of Nunavik and is the solar and wind action. second largest natural region in Québec (MLCP 1986). It has a general altitude of 300 m, Ice formation and break-up spread over a gradient ranging from 0 m on the coast on lakes and rivers of Hudson Bay to 661 m to the northeast, in the Povungnituk Hills (Baron-Lafrenière 1988). The According to the OPDQ report, lakes in the crater Ungava Plateau has very little relief; at the very most, region freeze over around the first of November; rivers it is characterized by an undulating surface that pri- do not become ice-covered until the end of the month. marily reflects the contours of the underlying bedrock. Rivers start to thaw after June 20 and lakes, after July Slopes in the region descend gradually toward 1. Bouchard (1989) reported that the lake inside the Hudson and Ungava bays. They become steeper, crater remained frozen until August 5 in 1988 and still however, to the north, in the zone of contact with the had several patches of ice on August 8. However, marine environment, where fjords cut deeply into the when we visited the study area on August 3, 1998, all coast of Hudson Strait. Owing to the distinctive char- lakes were ice-free. acter of the landscape along this coast, the MLCP decided to designate it as a separate natural region Owing to the long periods of low temperatures and for the purposes of planning its parks system. Called relatively thin snow cover, the cold penetrates to a the Hudson Strait Fjord Coast (B-41), the region is considerable depth, affecting both water and soil. shown on Map 2. According to members of the community of Kangiqsujuaq, the ice cover on lakes is very thick in mid-winter, often exceeding 1 m. As the winter pro-

Study Area 33 Another natural region has been created in the the walls are almost vertical. The fluvial erosion pro- Povungnituk Hills, which, because of their east-west cesses involved in the creation of the canyon have orientation, divide the Ungava Plateau into two also caused the river to form numerous secondary separate physiographic units, commonly called the branches, the largest of which acts as an outlet for Larch Plateau and the Salluit Plateau (Daigneault Lamarche Lake. Beyond this branch, the valley wid- 1997). The folded relief associated with the dens and the relief gradually becomes smoother. Povungnituk Hills is clearly visible to the west—so much so that a separate natural region (B-40, In general, slopes in the study area are very gentle, Povungnituk Mountains) has been delimited in this except in the Puvirnituq River Canyon, the Lamarche area. To the east, however, the folding is more River Canyon and inside the crater. The inclination of subdued and virtually merges into the general the latter's inner wall ranges from 25° to 36°, for an topography of the Larch Plateau. This natural region average of 30.5°, or 68%. The presence of such steep is also shown on Map 2. inner slopes, which are often strewn with unstable boulders, makes Pingualuk Lake, which occupies the The proposed park is situated in the highest part of interior of the crater, practically inaccessible. Only one the Ungava Plateau, for the most part in the Larch passageway to the east, which measures 500 m wide Plateau sub-section. The influence of the Povungnituk and has a more gentle gradient of about 25° (56%), Hills is felt on the northern margin of this region can provide safe, although difficult, access to the lake. through the presence and orientation of a series of The outer slopes of the crater are intermediate, with rocky ridges, which are very different from the low, average values of 10o (22%) (Bouchard 1989). rounded hills typical of the Larch Plateau. Altitudes in the study area range from 450 to 550 m, except in the The sides of the Puvirnituq River Canyon have a crater, whose rim rises to a maximum of 657 m, and maximum slope of 83%, but more often range in an area to the northeast occupied by small hills, the between 25 and 45%. Owing to the presence of small highest of which reaches 580 m (Map 4). watercourses, it is possible to reach the bottom of the valley in certain spots. Located in the heart of the study area, the crater is the only topographic feature that really stands out, the Geology2 region otherwise appearing flat from the air. Almost The natural region of the Ungava Plateau is located perfectly circular (degree of roundness: 0.88), it has a on the Canadian Shield, which occupies over half of rocky rim, the top of which is situated at an altitude of Canada's land area. The ancient bedrock that forms between 550 m (west) and 657 m (east), or roughly the shield is composed of a group of microcontinents 100 m above the surrounding landscape. The rim has that coalesced between 1.8 and 2.1 billion years ago the same width throughout (500 m), except in its (Ga BP). In this vast geological complex, the Ungava western part, where it becomes thinner (200 m). It is Plateau natural region is associated with the Minto incised in 10 spots by narrow notches, the deepest of block of the tectonic Superior Province and is which measures 70 m (Bouchard 1989). characterized mainly by the presence of plutonic The Puvirnituq River, located in the northern part of rocks, granodiorite and granite. These rocks were the study area, has carved out a canyon over a dis- formed by slow crystallization of acid magma well tance of 45 km. The difference in elevation between below the ground surface. Rich in silica, this magma the top of the canyon and the river is roughly 100 m, also produced quartz, a kind of light-coloured rock and the altitude of the terrain at the canyon's edge is that generally trends northwest in the study area. less than 450 m. In the narrowest section of this fea- ture, where the river forms a double 90-degree elbow,

34 Parc des Pingualuit carte ang.qxd 9/10/01 7:28 AM Page 4 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 One of the distinctive features of the northern part of trends northeast. The entire fracture network was the natural province is the Ungava Orogen, a sector apparently produced by tectonic constraints marked by a large zone of folding and overlapping, generated during the formation of the Cape Smith which geologists call the Cape Smith Belt. The rugged Belt. It must be noted, however, that the force of the relief in this area is the product of collisions that oc- meteorite's impact modified the orientation of the curred during the welding of the tectonic provinces of fractures, which were deflected towards the centre of Superior and Ray (part of the ancient Churchill the crater, in the same direction as the gneissic Province). Recent studies suggest that the Ungava structures. As for the fracture planes, they are vertical Orogen may extend as far as Baffin Island. in the crater, but sub-horizontal in the region as a whole. The Cape Smith Belt o ccupie s a 50-km-wide ban d running east-west north of Nunavik. It corresponds South of the Puvirnituq River, the zone of contact more or less to the physiog raphic unit of the Povun gnituk between the Lake Superior and Cape Smith Belt Hills, mentioned earlier, and is composed of alkaline formations is marked by an overlap fault. Like the metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks. crater, this geological unit has undergone more detailed study than other features in the region Most of the study area is part of the tectonic Superior affected by the proposed park. Province. Light-coloured, pink or grey granodiorites are the dominant type of rocks in this sector. A large The northern part of the study area is characterized mass of granite-gneiss outcrops on the eastern edge by Povungnituk Group rocks. Metasedimentary rocks, of the region, not far from Cournoyer Lake. It consists consisting mainly of sandstone, phyllite and aleurite, of alternating light and dark-coloured beds, which are predominate in this sector. South of the Puvirnituq the product of metamorphism, but have retained River, these rocks occur only in a thin band that much the same composition as the granodiorites from widens slightly east of Saint-Germain Lake. which they were derived (Map 5). Ferruginous sediments, containing magnetite, are also found in this area, concentrated in a zone The study area also contains a band of amphibolite between two overlap faults. several kilometres long, trending north-south between Rouxel and Vergons lakes. Amphibolites, which result Intrusions of gabbro and peridotite are located here from metamorphism of volcanic ash, contain thin and there in the mass of metasedimentary rocks and laminations and can be distinguished by their dark in large quantities on the north shore of the Puvirnituq green colour. Small outcrops of tonalites and veins of River. These intrusions form bedded veins, which diabase have also been observed in various parts of have been interpreted as belonging to the magma the region. system that gave rise to the lava which produced the basalts found outside the study area. The rocks that The lithological studies conducted in the vicinity of the contain these intrusions slope northward, and crater are more detailed than those done elsewhere in differential erosion has exposed their veins of gabbro. the study area. Granodiorites continue to be well Being more resistant than the surrounding rock, these represented in the crater sector, but are intersected veins form an alignment of parallel hills with very by granite-gneiss, agmatite and granite. Southwest of steep southern slopes. Excellent examples of such this structure, a mafic dyke runs along a major fault hills occur on the north shore of the Puvirnituq River, that crosses the heart of the study area from north to not far from the outlet of Lamarche Lake. south between Laflamme and Vergons lakes, forming an extension of the band of amphibolite. However, the dominant fracture system noted by Currie (1966)

Study Area 37 carte ang.qxd 9/10/01 7:28 AM Page 5 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 Since the Cape Smith Belt is the area of greatest Origin of the crater economic interest in the Ungava Plateau natural The crater was formed by the impact of a meteorite. region, it has been the object of in-depth geological This event, which occurred nearly 1.4 million years studies, being characterized by an abundance of ago (Ma BP), is fairly recent on the geological time mineral indicators, such as nickel, copper, zinc and scale. The presence of the crater only became many other metals. However, the most significant known to the general public in the mid-1940s sites are located outside the study area. One such following reconnaissance work and the publication of site, which belongs to Falconbridge, was brought into reports by the United States and Canadian air forces. operation recently. Only two lenticular beds of nickel Various hypotheses circulated about the origin of this and copper are situated south of the Puvirnituq River, structure. Speculation ceased, however, when Currie on a hill composed of peridotite near the canyon. discovered the first sample of impactite (minerals Lastly, it should be noted that sites rich in asbestos melted or transformed by an impact shock) in 1962, fibre and soapstone have also been discovered in confirming that the crater had been formed by an the Cape Smith Belt. Outcrops of soapstone are astronomical phenomenon and not by volcanic sought by Inuit sculptors, who use this soft material activity. to make a unique art form that is internationally renowned.

Table 2 Impact craters in Québec (Classified by decreasing order of size)

NAME Lat. North Long. West Diameter (km) Age (Ma)

Manicouagan 51° 23’ 68° 42’ 100 210 ± 4 Charlevoix 47° 32’ 70° 18’ 46 360 ±25 Lac à l’Eau Claire Ouest 56° 13’ 74° 30’ 32 290 ±20 Lac à l’Eau Claire Est 56° 05’ 74° 07’ 22 290 ±20 Lac Couture 60° 08’ 75° 20’ 8 425 ±25 Lac de la Moinerie 57° 26’ 66° 36’ 8 400 ±50 Île Rouleau (Lac Mistassini) 50° 42’ 73° 53’ 4 <300 Nouveau-Québec 61° 17’ 73° 40’ 3.4 1.3+

From Bouchard, 1989.

Study Area 41 As more and more impactite samples became Geomorphology3 available over the years, it was established that the Geomorphology is the study of the landforms that projectile was a chondrite, probably from the asteroid shape the landscape. It explains their origin and belt between Jupiter and Mars. Michel Bouchard, a evolution. geologist at the Université de Montréal, recently took an interest in the crater and has helped to further our Very few studies have been conducted on the period understanding of the impact structure. Based on prior to the major glaciations. Scientists believe that research conducted by his team of scientists, it is the bedrock which forms the Superior Province is an estimated that the energy released when the ancient erosion surface on which very high mountains meteorite collided with Earth was 8,500 greater than once stood (Kenoran Orogeny, 2.48 Ga). These that produced by the atomic bomb dropped on mountains were eroded to their root and certain pro- Hiroshima. It is therefore easy to understand why no ducts of this erosion formed the metasedimentary traces of the meteorite itself have been found. It is rocks of the Cape Smith Belt (Ungava Orogen, estimated that the velocity of this projectile was about 2.04-1.83 Ga). These rocks were folded and pushed 25 km per second, that it must have had a diameter of when the continent came into contact with a group of 110 to 130 m and that it may have had a density of up volcanic islands, a process that entailed the to roughly 3 grams per cubic centimetre. disappearance of a large ocean (Table 3).

The Nouveau-Québec Crater is qualified as a simple A new mantle of rock was deposited during the crater. Craters of this type are distinguished from Palaeozoic (500 to 250 Ma), but very few traces of complex ones by their smaller size (less than 5 km in this mantle can be found today. In the region of diameter), lack of a central peak and greater depth-to- Ungava, the only remnants are located at the bottom diameter ratio. The Nouveau-Québec Crater has a of Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay. In diameter of 3.4 km and is occupied by a lake, which is any event, there seems to have been little change in circular like the crater and measures 2.8 km in the surface of the Precambrian basement after the diameter. The maximum depth recorded at the bottom elimination of the Palaeozoic rock cover, since of the lake is 267 m, making for a distance of 430 m subsequent glaciations changed its appearance only between the top of the crater rim and the lake floor. superficially.

Bouchard has compared this structure with craters in other countries. In comparison with the 122 impact The Pleistocence structures identified to date, the Nouveau-Québec The period from 1.65 Ma to 10,000 BP was Crater is small. Nevertheless, it is the 15th largest characterized by numerous climatic oscillations that simple crater and the 7th youngest crater in the world. led to the formation of glaciers south of mid-latitudes. Moreover, it is the only crater in Canada whose rim Given that each new glaciation erased most of the has largely escaped erosion. Eight meteorite impact evidence of the previous one, it is mainly traces of the structures, both simple and complex, have been most recent glaciation, namely, the Wisconsin identified in Québec. The Nouveau-Québec Crater is glaciation, that may be observed in Canada as a the smallest and the youngest. These rankings could whole. change, however, as new impact structures are discovered.

42 Parc des Pingualuit Table 3 corrige.qxd 9/10/01 7:33 AM Page 1

During the Wisconsin glaciation, the natural region of palaeoclimatic conditions using samples from the the Ungava Plateau was under the influence of a crater floor, but data interpretation was hampered by glacier complex known as the Laurentide Ice Sheet, technical problems. Since the drilling needed to which covered northern North America. This ice sheet pursue the analyses risked contaminating the lake’s was made up of three units of outward-flowing ice, exceptionally pure water, the research was moving in different directions. In the section of the abandoned. Québec–Labrador Peninsula targeted by this study, the orientation of glacial erosional landforms and the All evidence indicates that, in the study area, the ice dispersion patterns of certain distinctive rocks indicate flowed east-southeast from the Ungava Dome during that the ice advanced from the centre of the Ungava the glacial phase, but in a northeasterly direction Peninsula towards its periphery. At the peak of the during the subsequent Payne Ice Flow phase Wisconsin glaciation, the peninsula was covered by a (Figure 9). The latter phase lasted for a very long time sheet of ice 3,000 to 3,600 m thick. and is responsible for most of the glacial erosional and depositional landforms that may be observed In northern Nunavik, the centre of ice dispersion and today. the ice flow itself are named after Payne. However, there are indications that an ice dome (Ungava The glacial erosional landforms found in the study Dome) developed before the arrival of the Payne Ice area consist of striations, grooves, shaped rocks, Flow and that the latter coalesced with the dome. It is roches moutonnées and U-shaped valleys (Map 6). estimated that when the last glaciers crossed the Striations and grooves are more or less deep marks region, they removed a layer of rock 1.5 to 3 m thick. left on rocks, and their orientation indicates the direction of ice flow; such marks are generally The crater was formed prior to the appearance of the parallel. Grooves are much larger than striations and main continental glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere. can measure up to a few metres wide and several It is known that erosion has lowered its rim by 41 to metres long. The grooves and striations in the study 63 m over the years, or 40 mm per millennium. In area trend southwest-northeast and are thus addition, it is believed that all of the material thrown associated with the last glacial phase. However, older out of the crater when the meteorite exploded was grooves, formed by the Ungava Ice Flow, can be subsequently carried away by moving ice. However, observed on the crater rim. One boulder has both a Bouchard (1989) believes that the bottom of the crater groove dating from the latter ice flow and striations was not affected by glacial erosion. He suggests that, dating from the Payne Ice Flow. This phenomenon is on the contrary, the continental ice sheets protected unique to northern Nunavik and may be explained by this structure. Since the sediment trapped beneath the fact that the boulder was deposited by a glacier the ice settled on the bottom of the lake, researchers pre-dating the Ungava Dome. Buried under a sheet of believe that the thick layer (93 m) of soil that covers till, it probably remained in place as the Ungava Ice the crater floor might contain a relatively undisturbed Flow and then the Payne Ice Flow passed over it, sedimentary sequence. This sequence would leaving the marks of their passage. represent the continental stratigraphy for much of the Pleistocene and include deposits left by the successive glaciations, deposits which elsewhere have been redistributed and reworked. The sediments at the bottom of the crater are thus of undeniable scientific interest and might be used to calibrate samples from other sources. Analyses were undertaken with a view to reconstructing

Study Area 45

Montage.qxd 9/10/01 7:32 AM Page 6 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 carte ang.qxd 9/10/01 7:28 AM Page 6 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 Roches moutonnées and shaped rocks also occur in shape of elongated hills oriented in the direction of the study area. The former are humps of rock that glacial flow, it is said to form drumlins. In some cases, measure a few metres high, are not very elongated the latter have a core of rock at their base followed by and whose up-ice side has been smoothly rounded by a train of moraine that accumulated during the glacial action. Some nice, albeit small, examples of passage of a glacier. An excellent example of a roches moutonnées are located on the south side of drumlin field as well as several moraine trains behind Vergons and Saint-Germain lakes and on the south boulders may be observed to the south of Saint- face of the crater rim. Shaped rocks have also been Germain Lake. Drumlin fields, with less densely smoothly rounded by ice. They are distinguished from concentrated features, are also found along the roches moutonnées by their larger size (up to several stretch of the Vachon River located south of Saint- hundred metres long) and by the fact that their Germain Lake and to the west of Vergons and smooth side faces down ice. They are particularly well Nallusarquituq lakes. represented in the eastern part of the crater rim. Till sheets can also have a hummocky appearance U-shaped valleys are produced by overdeepening due to the presence of gently rounded, low mounds. and have a characteristic U-shaped profile. The This type of terrain results from the stagnation and Puvirnituq River Valley is a good example. The melting of a mass of ice. Two sectors in the vicinity of northeast face of the outer rim of the crater also has Laflamme and Saint-Germain lakes have hummocky this type of profile. It is believed that the formation of a moraines. Near Laflamme Lake, the mounds measure U-shaped valley on that side of the crater was made from 4 to 6 m high and have an average diameter of possible by the orientation of the fractures, which are 200 m. However, these features are not very visible at parallel to the direction of glacial flow. The best ground level. example of this type of valley on the crater rim measures 800 m long by 200 m wide and 40 m deep. Lastly, enormous rocks resting on smaller ones—a phenomenon called perched boulders—are found in Glacial depositional landforms consist mainly of till, various parts of the study area. There is a very nice moraines and perched boulders. Till is not a landform example of this type of boulder on top of the crater. strictly speaking, but a sheet of material left behind by a glacier. It is composed of a mixture of rock debris of The Holocene varying size, ranging from very small particles to The Holocene covers the last 10,000 years of the boulders measuring a few metres in diameter. It may Earth's history. Its first phase, which was marked by consist of local rocks mixed with stones and waste deglaciation, lasted from 10 to 7 ka. Subsequently transported from other regions, sometimes over long and up to the present day, landforms evolved under distances, and then abandoned as the ice retreated. the influence of periglacial processes. The till in the study area also contains a large quantity of pollen grains, which indicate that this region was Deglaciation of the Ungava Peninsula began along formerly occupied by vegetation similar to that Hudson Strait between Déception Bay and Cap de currently found in the southern part of the Ungava Nouvelle-France. Since the continent had subsided Peninsula (shrub and herbaceous tundra). The beneath the weight of the ice, ocean waters were able presence of these grains demonstrates that the to penetrate low coastal regions after the glaciers climate was once warmer than it is today, probably retreated. Near Kangiqsujuaq, they seem to have during the Sangamonian Interglacial Stage. penetrated to an altitude of 150 m. However, this flooding did not extend as far as the study area. When till is thick enough, it can be moulded into characteristic glacial landforms. When it takes the

Study Area 51 In northern Nunavik, the receding glacier margin prevented meltwater from draining towards Hudson Bay, thereby creating large proglacial lakes, especially in the area of the Puvirnituq River. These bodies of water, which existed between 8 and 7 ka, were ephemeral lakes whose level dropped as outlets at lower altitudes were freed of ice. As a result, a large expanse of fresh, free-flowing water formed at the margin of the ice sheet, gradually covering the study area as the glacier retreated southwest. It is estimated that roughly 80% of the region was flooded by this palaeolake at one time or another during the deglaciation; only the highest parts of the plateau, including the crater, were not affected (Figure 10). The former presence of this body of water is revealed by the mainly sandy, littoral sediments it has left behind. Sections of ancient beaches clinging to hillsides in the northeastern part of the study area between the Puvirnituq River and Cournoyer Lake indicate the maximum elevation reached by the palaeolake, i.e. 540 m. It attained this level during the initial phase of its existence, when its waters emptied into the Laflau River. Beaches near Saint-Germain Lake are associated with a later period, when the lake reached an altitude of 520 m. The palaeolake was most extensive and clearly defined when it attained 488 m. By that time, its shape had changed and it drained towards the southeast. A fairly extensive beach complex associated with this phase extends south of Rouxel Lake and west of Vergons Lake.

52 Parc des Pingualuit Montage.qxd 9/10/01 7:32 AM Page 7 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 The level of Pingualuk Lake also changed when the segments that follow more or less the same alignment ice sheet melted. As demonstrated by old strandlines over several kilometres between Vergons and on the inner wall of the crater, a proglacial lake Nallusarqituq lakes. Many channels once occupied by developed inside this structure at the beginning of the meltwater streams are also found in the eastern part deglaciation period. It reached an altitude of 600 m of the crater. and flowed out of the crater through two notches in the northern part of the rim (Figure 11). When the ice Kames consist of accumulations of sand and gravel retreated and uncovered additional notches at lower that have filled ice crevasses or cracks. Around a elevations, the level of the lake fell to 574 m. It is dozen of these features, which look like mounds, are probably then that a meltwater torrent carried clustered at the northern end of Vergons Lake. impactites out of the crater in the direction of The glaciolacustrine landforms in the study area Laflamme Lake. The bed of this ancient watercourse consist of beaches, raised beaches and deltas is still very visible. It is believed that when the lake clinging to rocky slopes. Made of sand and gravel, reached an altitude of 550 m, fish migrated from the these relatively small landforms indicate the different palaeolake to the crater and colonized the body of altitudes once reached by the palaeolake. Some water inside this structure. Today, the water level in interesting examples of littoral features may be the crater is 494 m and the lake no longer has an observed to the west of Vergons Lake and throughout outlet. It probably drains through the fault plane the Saint-Germain Lake area. In addition, a large extending to Laflamme Lake through or under the delta is found south of Laflamme Lake in the area of permafrost, and its fish populations are now confined. the impactite channel. Several other, much smaller

The deposits and erosional landforms produced by glaciolacustrine landforms are concentrated on either deglaciation in the study area are of fluvioglacial or side of the Vachon River between Quangattajjuuq and glaciolacustrine origin, depending on the environment Nallusarqituq lakes. where they were formed. The typical fluvioglacial Since the end of the glacial period, the Ungava landforms found in this region are eskers, kames and Plateau has evolved mainly under the influence of a glaciolacustrine channels. During the deglaciation, periglacial erosion system, where frost action plays meltwater streams flowed through subglacial tunnels. a major role. The mechanisms associated with such In sectors where their velocity made sedimentation action are related to the fact that the volume of water possible, long ridges of sand and gravel were formed increases when it changes into ice, that parallel to the direction of water flow. These ridges concentrations of ice form within rocks following are called eskers. The largest esker segments in the capillary migration of water (ice segregation) and that study area are located northwest of Rouxel Lake, ice shrinks in response to the cold. These properties where they trend southwest-northeast over a distance cause rock to fracture through congelifraction—a of 8 km aligned like train cars. The largest segment process that produces boulder fields—and lead to the measures 2 km long by 200 m wide and 10 m high. It formation of ice lenses, ice cracks, ostioles in till and should be noted that the top of these features is flat polygons in sandy sediments. Although such features and eroded and that the till sheet between them has are widespread in the study area, they are too small often been eroded by meltwater streams that no to be mapped. longer exist. The channels through which the streams flowed correspond to sections of subglacial tunnels where water flow was too rapid to allow sedimentation of the materials transported. A very nice example of a meltwater channel is located between esker

Study Area 55

Montage.qxd 9/10/01 7:32 AM Page 8 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 Cold conditions are also responsible for the formation descending series of long steps. The entire eastern of permafrost, which is a major feature of the natural side of Saint-Germain Lake is studded with rock region. The study area is located in the continuous outcrops, whose age varies according to their position permafrost zone, and in Purtuniq, which is not far in relation to the geological contact zone (Map 7). from the site of the proposed park, the permafrost layer measures up to about 500 m thick. The upper Another 45% of the study area is covered with a thick surface of these frozen deposits, called the active layer of till measuring over 1 m deep. These thick layer, sometimes melts during the summer. In the deposits are constantly found in association with thin study area, this layer attains a thickness of 3 m in rock till on bedrock, and together they forming interlocking and 1.5 m in till. Since it is subject to mass movement deposits that occur throughout the territory. It should under the influence of gravity (gelifluction), it causes be noted, however, that a large zone extending north slopes covered with thick till to develop a scalloped from Rouxel Lake to the Puvirnituq River is covered appearance. In the study area, the landforms with a continuous layer of thick till. This layer con- produced by this process are small and scattered tinues eastward to the shores of Laflamme Lake, but about the territory, often in association with steep does not extend much beyond Perron Lake to the slopes covered with thick till. The active layer is a west. Since this area does not contain any visible zone marked by major disturbances, linked to the landforms other than the largest esker of the frequency of freeze-thaw cycles. Generally speaking, proposed park, it is called a till plain. Fairly extensive the presence of permafrost on till poses engineering patches of thick till also occur around all the other problems due to its limited bearing capacity. large lakes in the study area. Regardless of their thickness, till deposits in the park consist of a large Northern landscapes have also evolved under the proportion of stones and boulders and make it influence of fluvial and wind processes. Fluvial pro- somewhat difficult to circulate in this sector, even on cesses lead to the formation of terraces in loose foot. Given the extent of these deposits, they will sediments and of alluvial deposits in watercourses. inevitably have repercussions on the park's Wind processes affect northern environments development. considerably because vegetation is sparse and sediments are not firmly attached to the underlying Finer deposits of sand and gravel cover only a very land surface. Sediments are thus easily carried by small part of the study area. They constitute the raw wind, causing them to accumulate in spots or to materials of the smallest landforms, such as eskers, abrade exposed features through corrasion. deltas and beaches, described above. Such deposits are scattered throughout the region.

44 Deposits Recent deposits are of an organic, colluvial or alluvial Till is widespread in the study area. Roughly 50% of nature. Organic deposits are prevalent, but very the region is covered by thin till less than 1 m thick fragmentary. They are associated with the many small lying directly on bedrock. These deposits follow the lakes and slow-moving watercourses found in various contours of the bedrock, which outcrops in places. parts of the study area. Organic sediments consist of Such outcrops are practically non-existent in the mosses and grasses that have accumulated in poorly northern and western parts of the proposed park, but drained zones; such deposits measure less than occur to the east of Rouxel Lake and become more 0.5 m thick. frequent in the vicinity of the crater. A fairly concentrated cluster of outcrops occupies the northeast quadrant of the crater and consists of polished Archaean rocks that form a gradually

Study Area 59 carte ang.qxd 9/10/01 7:28 AM Page 7 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 Essentially, the only alluvial deposits in the study area In the northern part of the study area, which is are the deltaic sand that has accumulated in the associated with the Cape Smith Belt, the drainage stretch of the Puvirnituq River east of the canyon, network is lattice-shaped. The rivers follow where water flow is calmer in places. Colluvial de- depressions and flow parallel to rocky ridges, branching off through fractures leading to lower posits in this region are composed of taluses and altitudes. The few lakes found in this region are solifluction lobes that have developed in zones of smaller than those situated on Archaean bedrock. thick till. Regardless of their form, such deposits do not occupy large areas. Nevertheless, as indicated The drainage network on Archaean bedrock, contrary further on in this chapter, solifluction lobes scattered to that mentioned above, has no specific pattern, but about on steeper slopes in the study area have follows the direction of fractures and folds that do not created conditions conducive to the development of a exhibit any real organization. The rivers and lakes in particular type of vegetation. this sector are not very deep (less than 10 m), although they are sometimes extensive. Five very Hydrography55 large lakes, with very jagged shorelines, occupy valley bottoms (Table 4). Strings of smaller lakes In the vast natural region of the Ungava Plateau, empty into them in many spots and are intersected by water drainage trends toward Hudson Bay, Ungava boggy areas, reflecting poor local drainage conditions. Bay or Hudson Strait. The study area is located on Rouxel Lake, which covers 29 km2, is the largest lake the drainage divide between the first two drainage in the proposed park. Its shoreline measures a total of basins in the region. Its northern section is part of the 84.5 km, and a maximum length of 20 km has been Puvirnituq drainage basin, which covers 28,490 km2 calculated along its northwest-southeast axis. and is the largest drainage basin in the Hudson Bay area. The Puvirnituq River flows westward for 257 km, Table 4 following the northern margin of the study area for Surface area of large lakes nearly 50 km. Saint-Germain, De l’Ours blanc, Perron, Parc des Pingualuit (1 km2 or more) Lamarche, Forcier and Carré lakes, as well as many other, much smaller lakes, empty into this river SURFACE AREA NAME (Map 8). (km2)

However, most of the proposed park is located in the Rouxel 29.1 Ungava Bay drainage basin. Seven sub-basins of the Vergons 20.8 Arnaud River are found in the study area. All of the Saint-Germain 20.5 major lakes, except Saint-Germain Lake, are drained Nallusarqituq 18.2 in a southeasterly direction by the Vachon River, Laflamme 16.9 which is a tributary of the Arnaud. The lakes in the Lamarche 10.2 southwest part of the study area, all of which are du Cratère 6.7 small, are drained by a watercourse that flows toward de l’Ours blanc 2.2 Nantais Lake. It should be noted that the crater itself forms a sub-basin with no visible outlet. It empties beneath or within the permafrost in the direction of Laflamme Lake along the major fault plane located west of the crater.

Study Area 63 carte ang.qxd 9/10/01 7:28 AM Page 8 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 Almost all of the large lakes in the study area contain The water of Pingualuk Lake is also very pure. Its small rocky islands, while several bodies of water, mineral content is roughly 50 times lower than the such as Qangattajjuuq and Nallusarqituq lakes, are average observed in lakes worldwide and 10 times merely wider stretches of the Vachon River, whose lower than that recorded in lakes in Northern Québec. limits are not clearly defined. As well, due to the near- In fact, its chemical composition is very similar to that flat relief, rivers overflow when water levels rise, of rainwater. These unusual properties stem from the leading to the formation of a multitude of intermittent fact that the lake is fed only by precipitation, that the streams that wind around rocky obstacles. Unable to minerals derived from the underlying bedrock are not penetrate the permafrost, they tend to spread horizontally without ever becoming very deep. very soluble and that there is no significant input of organic matter due to the low vegetation cover in the The thermal behaviour of lakes in polar drainage basin and the low density of living organisms environments is classified as cold monomictic, which in the lake. It takes an estimated 330 years for the means that their water is thoroughly mixed during the water in the lake to renew itself, which is why the lake short summer season when the lakes are ice-free. is extremely vulnerable to all forms of pollution. The This is one of the distinctive features of lakes in polar limnological properties of Pingualuk Lake are thus regions or at high altitudes. Pingualuk Lake exhibits one of the outstanding features of the study area. this type of behaviour. Although it is very deep, its water is completely mixed by wind action. Its surface The Kangiqsujuaq residents interviewed for this study temperature is cold throughout the year, never appeared to be very proud of the crater, readily exceeding 4oC, i.e. the temperature at which water discussing the special properties of its water reaches its maximum density. As a result, the water is (clearness, taste) and ice. mixed and oxygenated to a considerable depth.

Apart from its thermal regime, Pingualuk Lake's physical and chemical characteristics are very different from those of the other lakes in the region. This perfectly circular lake has a circumference of 9.5 km, a diameter of 2.7 km and a volume of 0.88 km3, and covers 6.7 km2. With an average depth of 145 m and a maximum recorded depth of 267 m, it is also very deep. The surface of the lake is located at an altitude of 494 m, or 163 m below the highest point on the rocky ridge that rises above it.

The water in certain isolated parts of the North is generally clear and of good quality, and that found in the crater is exceptional in this regard. Since the lake is fed only by atmospheric precipitation, its incoming water is virtually free of suspended organic and inorganic matter. It is thus very crystalline and has a low mineral content, properties that make it extremely clear. It has been calculated that 12% of surface light intensity persists at a depth of 33 m, and it is believed that 1% penetrates to a depth of 87 m. Such values make it one of the clearest lakes in the world and certainly the clearest in Québec.

Study Area 67 Vegetation A survey was conducted in August 1998 to describe the local vegetation and identify vascular and non- The study area is located approximately 350 km north vascular flora that had not yet been thoroughly of the treeline, in the continuous permafrost zone, studied. This section presents the main findings, while dominated by tundra. The area belongs to the Arctic a full report can be found in Gauthier and Dignard bioclimatic zone and ecoregion 1 CR of the Mid Arctic (2000). subzone (Gilbert et al 1981). Due to the harsh climate, vegetation is characterized by low-growing plants, predominantly lichens, herbs and bryophytes.

Table 5 Characteristics of the Nouveau-Québec Crater and Pingualuk Lake

Approximate age 1.3+ Ma Maximum diameter 3.5 km Minimum diameter 3.3 km Average diameter 3.4 km Maximum depth (top of rim to bottom of lake) 430 m Inner slopes 25°-36° Average inner slope 30° Average outer slope 10° Maximum altitude (top of rim) 657 m Minimum altitude (top of rim) 550 m Altitude of lake surface 494 m Maximum depth of lake 267 m Height of rim above lake surface (shoreline) 56 m-136 m Average height of inner wall 116 m Rim thickness 200 m-500 m Lake diameter 2.7 km Surface area of lake 6.68 km2 Lake circumference 9.5 km Lake volume 0.88 km3 Average depth of lake 145 m Water renewal time 330 years Conductivity of water 4.6 µs/cm Transparency 33 m pH 5.9 Total solids 2.07 mg/l

Source : Bouchard, 1989.

68 Parc des Pingualuit Contrary to appearances, virtually the entire study Lichen communities area, apart from water bodies, is blanketed with vegetation. While this vegetation chiefly consists of a On the whole, the terrestrial vegetation of the study thin mat of lichen that often merges into the rock so area is dominated by lichens. Lichen colonies cover as to go unnoticed, its composition, as in all other all rocky surfaces and almost all types of dry deposits, northern regions of the world, varies with the type of whether sand or gravel. Even small pebbles are rock and deposits as well as with moisture conditions covered in lichens. Lichen communities fall into two and site exposure. Significant differences in the categories, based on whether they are composed of 6 7 composition of several plant communities were epilithic or terrestrial lichens. observed between the Archaean and Proterozoic • Epilithic lichen assemblages sectors. Epilithic lichen assemblages occupy rock outcrops, Principal plant communities accumulations of gelifract and moraine boulder fields. Vegetation in the study area consists of three distinct They consist almost exclusively of crustaceous8 and physiognomic structures: lichen communities, foliose9 lichens, with crustose species being herbaceous vegetation communities and moss predominant and belonging for the most part to the communities. Upland lichen communities are genera Rhizocarpon, Lecanora and Lecidea. One of predominant and cover large surface areas, while the most frequent species is Rhizocarpon herbaceous and moss communities occupy and occur geographicum, a greenish-yellow lichen found together in the same wetland habitats. This habitat throughout most of the Northern Hemisphere. sharing, which essentially involves the same species with varying predominance, is often impeded by the Foliose lichens, which also lie close and are tightly fact that herbaceous vegetation and moss fixed to the rock, occupy a significantly smaller area communities establish themselves in complex mosaic than crustose species. Some 20 species were patterns. Table 6 presents the predominant vegeta- observed, the most frequent being Brodoa oroarctica, tion by environmental conditions. Arctoparmelia centrifuga, Melanelia hepatizon and Allantoparmelia alpicola. Seven species belonging to There is no true shrubland in the proposed park, since the genus Umbilicaria were also reported. there is minimal shrub cover. The only exception was observed on a hillside on an outcrop of Proterozoic Bryophytes occasionally occur with lichens, but rock, where shrub cover was an exceptional 30% and always with minimal cover. The most frequent species lichen cover, 55%. The shrubs were Cassiope observed was Andreaea rupestris var. papillosa, a tetragona and Dryas integrifolia, an association blackish moss growing in small colonies. exclusive to the ultrabasic rock of the Cape Smith Epilithic lichen assemblages are widespread in the Belt. Herbaceous plants and crustaceous lichens study area. They play a major role in till deposits with were abundant. an abundance of boulder fields, on the taluses

No trees, not even stunted, were observed. There marking the inside of the crater rim and on Archaean was almost no aquatic vegetation along lakes and or Proterozoic rock outcrops. Where other landforms rivers, except algae, which were not included in the are concerned, the expression of epilithic lichen survey. assemblages is directly dependent on the space occupied by exposed boulders.

Study Area 69 • Terrestrial lichen assemblages lichens are browsed by caribou. The five most frequent lichen species observed were Cladina mitis, Certain lichen assemblages are qualified as terrestrial Flavocetraria nivalis, Alectoria ochroleuca, because they largely consist of taxa that grow on the Bryocaulon divergens and Sphaerophorus globosus. ground. The term refers to species that establish The number and percent cover of vascular plants and themselves on fine sediment or organic matter, bryophytes in these assemblages were low. bryophytes or even on other lichens. Unlike epilithic lichen assemblages, terrestrial lichen assemblages consist mostly of fruticulescent10 taxa. Many fruticulescent Table 6 Predominant vegetation by environmental conditions Parc des Pingualuit

Environment Lichen communities Moss Herbaceous communities vegetation communities Epilithic Terrestrial Plateau around the crater Till !! ! Rock outcrops Archaean rock ! Proterozoic rock Ferruginous metasedimentary ! Peridotite ! Glaciolacustrine deltas ! Eskers !! Drumlins !! Taluses ! Gelifluction zones ! Coastal deposits Old deposits !! Recent deposits ! Wetlands and aquatic environments Peatlands !! Lakes and streams ! Puvirnituq River Canyon Escarpments !! Taluses !! Terraces !!

70 Parc des Pingualuit While Cladina rangiferina has a smaller distribution Herbaceous vegetation communities than the above species, it can be relatively abundant on till and dominates vegetation cover on recent Herbaceous vegetation communities grow solely on coastal deposits. In the most exposed habitats, i.e. sites with a high water table. Grass-like plants, or 11 eskers, glaciolacustrine deltas and drumlins, Bryoria graminoids , flourish under these conditions, forming nitidula plays a major role in and sometimes dense communities reaching 50-80% cover. They dominates the lichen cover. In fact, this species is share this habitat with bryophytes, which also prefer a virtually confined to these habitats. moist environment and can cover a considerable surface area. Terrestrial lichen assemblages include a layer of diffuse herbaceous plants often representing no more By comparison, the area is virtually devoid of shrubs. than 5% of the cover and never exceeding 15%. The Salix arctica, which was observed in a few sampling most frequent and most abundant species is usually areas, is the only species able to grow in wetland Hierochloe alpina. This species occurs with ground habitats. A few rare species of lichen will establish lichens particularly in crevices of Archaean rock and themselves in the presence of bryophyte mounds, as in depressions with small accumulations of sand or the elevated position prevents them from becoming gravel. Luzula confusa is often found with Hierochloe submerged when the water table rises. alpina, while Silene acaulis and Carex bigelowii are The spatial organization of herbaceous vegetation also occasionally present. communities is thus virtually limited to a bryophyte

The majority of terrestrial lichen assemblages also mat overtopped by a layer of herbaceous plants include a few shrubs, although their cover is generally largely belonging to two families, Graminae and smaller than that of herbaceous plants. Salix Cyperaceae. The latter is represented mainly by the herbacea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea and Cassiope genus Carex. tetragona were observed in over half of the sampling The most frequent herbaceous vegetation commu- areas. nities in the study area are dominated by Carex

The principal bryophytes present in terrestrial lichen membranacea, which forms sedge meadows of assemblages are Racomitrium lanuginosum, varying density. Carex membranacea rarely occurs Chandonanthus setiformis, Dicranum elongatum and alone and is often found together with Carex Polytrichum piliferum. rariflora—the second largest component of herbaceous vegetation communities—Dupontia Terrestrial lichen assemblages generally occur on fisheri, Arctagrostis latifolia and Carex bigelowii, well-drained deposits, such as the thin till on bedrock which locally can represent substantial cover. The found around the crater, fields of hummocky moraine, main species present in moss heaths belong to the glaciolacustrine deltas, eskers, drumlins and old family Amblystegiaceae, although sphagnums are raised beaches. These deposits consist of filtering also present. Mosses and sphagnums in these material and are characterized by a low water table. communities often form mounds of varying size. The dry surface favours the establishment of lichens over other plant groups. Lichens also benefit from the elevated position of these sites, whose exposure to the elements impedes the growth of other types of plant.

Study Area 71 These herbaceous-moss communities occupy A third type of herbaceous vegetation community depressions where groundwater stands at the grows on mineral soil alongside streams or in small surface. They colonize waterlogged peat sediments to depressions. As in the other communities, graminoids create peat bogs, which invade flat areas around are the most frequent. The most common Gramineae lakes and pools and alongside slow-flowing streams. are Pleuropogon sabinei and Arctagrostis latifolia, A large number of peat bogs also develop on low- which are found in abundance. As for Cyperaceae, grade lands due to the presence of continuous several Eriophorum species abound, along with permafrost just below the soil surface, which inhibits Carex. Mosses are often the same as those occurring vertical drainage and thereby results in surface runoff. in peat bogs. A multitude of gullies, particularly visible from the air, run parallel through the entire length of the bogs. Moss communities

Another type of herbaceous vegetation community, The wettest moss communities occur in peat bogs. also created by high water tables, colonizes ostiole Their structure and floristic composition resemble fields. Its structure differs considerably from that of the those of the herbaceous vegetation communities that communities found in peat bogs owing to the structure grow in the same habitat, as described above. In fact, of ostioles: a flat centre surrounded by ridges with what distinguishes them from herbaceous commu- water-filled depressions in between. The herbaceous nities is the smaller herbaceous cover, which is layer, dominated by Carex bigelowii and Carex perhaps not the best distinction. The main distinctions membranacea, boasts a much greater floristic are a very thin layer of organic matter on the soil diversity than the herbaceous vegetation communities surface and a thick mat of liverwort colonies in the occurring in peat bogs. Again, graminoids account for muscinal layer. These moss communities colonize the the largest cover, although Joncacae is found along depressions occurring between the old raised with Cyperaceae and Graminae. Several non-grass beaches, which today cling to the sides of cliffs. species also occur, including several The new raised beaches harbour totally different Caryophyllaceae. These ostiole fields, along with moss communities from those described above owing taluses, are the richest herbaceous plant habitat in to the lower water table. Polytrichaceae are prevalent, the entire Archaean sector. While they do not cover a in association with Pohlia nutans and Racomitrium large surface area, shrubs (willows only) are also lanuginosum. Numerous ground lichens are found present. together with bryophytes, the most abundant being

The most striking difference, however, between the Cladina mitis, Cladina rangiferina, Flavocetraria herbaceous vegetation communities in ostiole fields nivalis and Flavocetraria cucullata. The inner rim of and those occurring in peat bogs is in the muscinal the crater harbours a dry moss community, which has layer. First, it is much smaller. Second, there is a an exceptionally high percentage of Racomitrium marked decline in Amblystegiaceae, which are lanuginosum, covering over half the soil surface. confined to water-filled depressions and displaced by Unlike the other moss communities, this one occupies Racomitrium lanuginosum, which cover almost the a sharp gravel slope. It includes numerous ground entire surface of the drier ridges surrounding the flat lichens, dominated by Cladina rangiferina. centre of the ostioles. Several ground lichens Herbaceous plants are mainly represented by establish themselves in these herbaceous Hierochloe alpina, which prefers dry land. Other communities, although they are very dispersed. dense communities of R a comitrium lanuginosum Ostiole fields can occur over vast surfaces of deep till were observed on the horizontal pavements of broken up by boulder fields or peat bogs. Archaean rock outcrops.

72 Parc des Pingualuit The moss communities occurring in gelifluction zones In addition to the 54 taxa of vascular plants found on resemble those found in the old raised beaches in the Archaean plateau, another 68 taxa, including that flat ground is covered with liverworts and several calcicoles, are confined to Proterozoic bryophyte mounds. Bryophytes consist primarily of formations. The significance of this number becomes Racomitrium lanuginosum, Dicranum species and a apparent when you consider that Proterozoic few other mosses. formations cover just over 10% of the study area. The Puvirnituq River area is thus favourable to the growth Flora of a small but valuable flora compared with the rest of the park. Added to this species richness is the Few studies have been conducted on the flora of the presence of several rare taxa, mainly associated with study area. The first samples were brought back the rock faces bordering the Puvirnituq River, during a 1951 scientific expedition led by the National including Leucanthemum integrifolium, an arctic daisy Geographic Society and Royal Ontario Museum. The that has not been observed anywhere else in the same year, Jacques Rousseau of the Montréal Québec-Labrador Region, Braya glabella subsp. Botanical Garden spent a few hours in the study area. glabella, Deschampsia brevifolia and Festuca Pierre H. Richard, in a report of his visit to the area in hyperborea. All four species are on the list of plants 1988, set the number of vascular plant taxa in the likely to be designated threatened or vulnerable in crater area at 39 (in Bouchard 1989). Québec (Table 7) (Labrecque and Lavoie, in prep.).

With a view to the establishment of Parc des It is important to point out that the study area boasts a Pingualuit, Gauthier and Dignard (2000) conducted a truly arctic flora which differs significantly from that survey for the Société de la faune et des parcs du found in the coastal and southern regions of the Québec that extended beyond the crater. Although Ungava Peninsula, with a very small percentage of the survey did not cover the entire study area, which boreal taxa and fewer taxa overall. Apart from their would have been impossible due to its vast expanse, bioclimatic affinity, the majority of taxa are the sampling sites were selected so as to reflect as circumpolar (71.3%); North American taxa, including many environmental conditions as possible. The those whose range extends to Europe or Asia, survey focused on vascular plants, mosses and represent only 9%. Of note is the fact that all of the lichens. vascular flora present in the study area is indigenous,

Vascular plants reflecting minimum human perturbations. This is common in arctic regions, except for around villages, The work of Gauthier and Dignard (2000) brought the but unique within the current parks system and number of vascular plant taxa identified in the study therefore a valuable asset. area to 122 (Appendix 1). While the composition of vascular flora differs significantly between Archaean Dignard and Gauthier (2000) identified 15 new and Proterozoic formations, the physiognomy and vascular plant species in the vicinity of the crater on structure of vegetation is similar. The Archaean the Archaean plateau. The 68 species collected along basement, which covers approximately 85% of the the Puvirnituq River include 15 new species in relation study area, supports 54 taxa, which led the authors to to the Dion et al (1999) study of flora associated with qualify the region’s vascular flora as among the Proterozoic rock in the Cape Smith Belt, but outside poorest in Ungava. The poor floral representation at the proposed park. As a result of the survey, 28 this latitude is attributable to the acidic rock and harsh vascular plants are now considered rare within the climate. study area (Appendix 2).

Study Area 73 Lichens Like vascular flora, the lichen flora is truly arctic, although two-thirds of arctic species also occur on the The lichen flora associated with the proposed park is alpine peaks of more southern regions. Of the species considered relatively rich and most likely reported, three had never before been observed in representative of the inland portion of the Ungava Québec-Labrador: Collema ceraniscum, Gyalecta Peninsula where the park is situated. To date, a total foveolaris and Pilophorus robustus (Table 7). of 109 lichen taxa have been identified in the study area, representing 42 genera: there are 15 taxa of Cladonia alone. Given this, it is somewhat surprising to note that only three lichens are common in the area, namely Alectoria ochroleuca, Cladina mitis and Flavocetraria nivalis.

Table 7 Site of rare plant species observed in summer 1998

Geology Group/Species Site Archaean Proterozoic Vascular plants Braya glabella ssp. glabella 1 station Puvirnituq River Canyon, north side Deschampsia brevifolia 1 station Elbow of the Puvirnituq River, east side of the canyon Festuca hyperborea 1 station Elbow of the Puvirnituq River, east side of the canyon Leucanthemum 2 stations Puvirnituq River Canyon, one station on the north side integrifolium* and one on the south side Mosses Andreaea alpestris 1 station Puvirnituq River Canyon, north side Andreaea blytti 1 station North shore of Vergons Lake, western section Oligotrichum hercynicum 1 station Nouveau-Québec Crater, northeast of Pingualuk Lake Polytrichum swartzii 4 stations 1 station Southeast tip of Saint-Germain Lake, east of Saint-Germain Lake, north of Laflamme Lake, north of Rouxel Lake, west-southwest of Vergons Lake Psilopilum cavifolium 2 stations 3 stations East of Pingualuk Lake, east of Saint-Germain Lake, north of Pingualuk Lake, elbow of the Puvirnituq River, east slope of the canyon, south side of the canyon Sphagnum arcticum* 1 station Southeast end of Saint-Germain Lake Sphagnum orientale* 3 stations Southeast end of Saint-Germain Lake, north of Laflamme Lake, north of Rouxel Lake Lichens Collema ceraniscum* 1 station Approximately 3.5 km east of Saint-Germain Lake Gyalecta foveolaris* 1 station Approximately 3.5 km east of Saint-Germain Lake Pilophorus robustus* 1 station Approximately 1 km north of Laflamme Lake

*First time observed in Québec–Labrador

74 Parc des Pingualuit Bryophytes of the crater rim, on the northwest side of the highest peak, at an altitude of around 620 m. Currently, there are 68 known bryophyte taxa in the study area. This list is liable to grow, however, since To conclude, it can be said that the area destined to the identification of plants in this group had not yet become the Parc des Pingualuit boasts a special been completed when this report was being prepared. vegetation dominated by lichens. Despite the latitude, So far, 13 liverworts, 14 sphagnums and 41 mosses the area boasts a rich floristic diversity, for the most have been identified. This bryological fauna includes part with an arctic-alpine affinity, especially among fewer arctic-alpine plants than the groups previously vascular plants and lichens. The Puvirnituq River area discussed; in fact, several of the species observed contributes significantly to this diversity owing to the have a wide geographical spread, occurring in all nature of its geological foundations. Consequently, it regions of Québec. Nevertheless, it should be pointed is of considerable value in terms of park flora, and can out that 12 of the species reported had never before even be considered an outstanding site due to the been documented in northern Ungava and that the extreme rarity of some of these plants. Although the Puvirnituq River Canyon holds special interest due to survey only skimmed the surface, the findings have its unique bryological diversity. already led botanists to attribute a high floral rating to the entire Puvirnituq River Corridor, particularly the In general, the liverworts Ptilidium ciliare and taluses at the base of the canyon. As for the plateau, Chandonanthus setiformis are widespread. its floral significance is unquestionably related to the Spaghnums, on the other hand, are sparse, although solifluction lobes, which cover a small area (Map 9). the study area does harbour the only four sphagnums Finally, the survey conducted with a view to the confined to the arctic regions of North America, establishment of this park will have enabled six new namely, Sphagnum aongstroemii, Sphagnum species to be added to the list of flora of the Québec- arcticum, Sphagnum lenense and Sphagnum Labrador Region. orientale. Eight species reported are rare, two of which, Sphagnum arcticum and Sphagnum orientale Fauna (Table 7), were identified for the first time in Québec- Labrador. Few wildlife studies have been conducted for the study area, primarily because of its remoteness and Among the mosses identified, only Racomitrium the fact that very little sport hunting and fishing take lanuginosum is common in the area. Several others place there. Apart from the 1988 study of the were deemed frequent: Aulacomnium turgidum, Cal- Pingualuk Lake fish population, the only source of liergon stramineum, Sarmenthypnum sarmentosum, information was regional studies, which were used to Conostomum tetragonum, Polytrichastrum alpinum infer and compare data for the proposed park. Inuit var. alpinum, Polytrichum piliferum and Polytrichum traditional knowledge was instrumental in this regard. strictum. Five taxa that are rare to Québec-Labrador The information on wildlife species harvested by the were also observed: Andreaea alpestris, Polytrichum Inuit of Kangiqsujuaq was taken from the socio- swartzii and Psilopilum cavifolium, arctic mosses with economic impact study prepared by Makivik a circumpolar distribution, and Andreaea blyttii and Corporation (2000) and from village elders Oligotrichum hercynicum, arctic-alpine mosses with interviewed by an Inuit liaison officer (Betsy Etidloe, the same range. The moss Oligotrichum hercynicum personal communication). is so rare that the sample collected by Gauthier and Dignard was only the second in Québec-Labrador and . the first in Nunavik. It was taken from the eastern part

Study Area 75 carte ang.qxd 9/10/01 7:28 AM Page 9 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 It goes without saying that the park’s creation will which are one of the most fragile elements of arctic increase the number of observers who can help fill the environments. knowledge gaps. The regular passing of park wardens, guides and visitors will be used to collect In Québec, 45 species of mammal and 93 species of information and increase our knowledge of bird are associated with the tundra (MEF 1996), most vertebrates as well as confirm the presence of of which are not resident. The vast majority of birds, species currently presumed to frequent the proposed for example, stop over only to breed, and obtain a park. larger portion of their food from shorelines, the ocean and lakes and rivers than from the tundra itself.

The environment The tundra is virtually devoid of reptiles and amphib- The tundra is a circumpolar terrestrial biome that is ians: only the wood frog (Rana sylvatica) has been virtually exclusive to the Northern Hemisphere due to reported beyond the treeline, on both sides of Ungava the scarce land mass above lat. 45° S. Characterized Bay, level with Kuujjuaq (Bider and Matte 1994). by an inhospitable climate, a growing period of less Insects, on the other hand, infest the region, than three months and perennially frozen ground, the especially Diptera, the most notorious of which are tundra occurs beyond the treeline (Dajoz 1971), mosquitoes. primarily on lands north of the Old World polar circle, The northern part of the tundra, where the park would although it descends below lat. 60° N in Alaska and be sited, is not as rich in fauna as the area just Labrador (Ramade 1987). In Québec, the arctic described. tundra is considered to extend to lat. 58° N. Discontinuous fragments have even been reported as far down as lat. 54° N, the southernmost point of Fish observation in this hemisphere (Ordre des ingénieurs Arctic char is without question the most widespread forestiers du Québec 1996). fish species in Northern Québec, having a circumpolar range. Some populations are Due to the young ecosystems and extreme climatic anadromous, spending part of their life cycle in the conditions existing in the tundra, very few living sea and then ascending freshwater streams to spawn organisms have succeeded in adapting. in September and October. Other populations spend Consequently, tundra ecosystems are considered their entire lives in freshwater lakes (Scott and simple, characterized by a short food chain. This is Crossman 1974). believed to cause the marked fluctuations in certain animal populations, since a change in a single The Arctic char populations found in the proposed element in the food chain can upset the next level park belong to the second group. Being situated at (Odum 1971). The simple ecosystems coupled with the head of drainage basins, the area is too far from the low growth rate, which prevents rapid recovery of the sea for anadromous populations to reach; the organisms, have earned the tundra a reputation as an latter are known for travelling barely more than 75 km unstable environment that is highly vulnerable to and being unable to jump over barriers. Moreover, environmental stresses. However, Dunbar (1973) Roche (1992) confirmed the presence of Arctic char emphasizes that the vulnerability of northern populations that are confined to the head of the terrestrial ecosystems is partially offset by their Puvirnituq River. The fish generally lays its eggs at a expanse, which, given the tundra’s unique ecological depth of 1 to 4.5 m in the gravel or rocky bottoms of dynamics, ensures their long-term preservation. He lakes or in pools of stagnant water in rivers. It spawns adds, however, that this does not apply to lakes, during the day, at a temperature of 4oC. The buried

Study Area 79 eggs develop with the onset of winter. All of these conditions are characteristic of the study area.

80 Parc des Pingualuit While its growth rate varies from one population to the Establishment of the park would open up the territory next, the Arctic char is generally known for its slow even more to tourists and Inuit alike, necessitating a development. Females reproduce every two or three monitoring program for lakes where fishing is allowed years. so as to prevent overfishing. The resulting data would also provide greater knowledge of the park’s The maximum age of the 50 or so individuals ichthyological resources. harvested in the 1988 studies of Pingualuk Lake Arctic char was 27-30 years. Furthermore, this Birds population appeared to spawn earlier than other populations, as both male and female specimens had According to the Atlas des oiseaux nicheurs du reached sexual maturity by early August. The small Québec (Gauthier and Aubry 1995), some 50 bird size of the sample, however, prevents us from species nest on the Ungava Peninsula above the drawing any definitive conclusions with regard to the treeline. Representatives of the orders Anseriformes population’s reproduction rate. Finally, the analysis of (geese and ducks) and Charadriiformes (shoreline stomach contents showed that the population’s main and seabirds) clearly top the list. The studies source of food was cannibalism, with insects rounding conducted by Roche (1992) indicate that the northern out the fish’s diet (Bouchard 1989). part of the peninsula is frequented by roughly 40 species of nesting and migratory birds. Since the Among the array of fish species regularly occurring study area is located inland and there are obviously with Arctic char in the North, such as lake whitefish, no marine or coastal habitats, there is less habitat brook trout, round whitefish and lake trout, only the diversity, such that the diversity of bird fauna is lake trout ranges as far north as the study area (Scott estimated at some 25 species (Appendix 3). and Crossman 1974). Unlike its habits in the south, in Passeriformes dominate this hypothetical list, which the North the lake trout frequents shallow bodies of will be supported by on-the-ground observations water, which offer the cold-water conditions it prefers. within the next few years.

Roche (1992) reported lake trout at the head of the The common redpoll, Lapland longspur and snow Puvirnituq River. In this area of Québec, the spawning bunting are typical nesting birds of the North whose period is in September and is apparently triggered by occurrence is closely associated with the tundra. a combination of temperature and light factors. The These birds build their nests on the ground, using fish lays its eggs on rocky or stony bottoms and has a rocks or clumps of grass for cover. Another such highly varied diet. species is the rock ptarmigan, which is known for nesting on steep slopes in the tundra, dotted with rock Arctic char and lake trout are the chief species caught outcrops. The males use knolls for strutting during during water quality monitoring of the Puvirnituq River courtship (Gauthier and Aubry 1995). The snowy owl, and Laflamme Lake by the Raglan mine (Blandine the official bird of Québec, also frequents the tundra, Arsenault, personal communication 2000). perching on tall posts that provide it with a clear view of the surroundings. Snow buntings and snowy owls were also reported in the area of Katinniq, which is near the park and has a similar environment to that of the study area (Roche 1992).

Study Area 81 The northern pintail, which prefers open frontier According to our interviews with elders, the bird fauna areas, nests in low, dense vegetation in wetland of Kangiqsujuaq resembles that found by Roche areas along streams. The Canada goose also tends (1992) in the Déception Bay area (Appendix 3). The to nest near water: the interior race nests in the north common raven was observed during each of our trips and inland regions of Québec. The tundra of the to Kangiqsujuaq, both in winter and summer, between Ungava Peninsula is reputed for harbouring the 1997 and 2000, as was a rough-legged hawk in fall highest density of brants in Québec during breeding 1997. The latter appeared to be using a hydro pole as (Gauthier and Aubry 1995). Small groups of brants a lookout and seemed undisturbed by our presence, were frequently observed during ground surveys in letting us observe it at leisure. summer 1998, particularly in the northern part of the study area near the Puvirnituq River and around Birds show numerous tundra adaptations. For Saint-Germain Lake. A few snow geese were sighted example, some species have feathered legs, while at the same time in the same area. Although most of others have the ability to adapt their colouring to the the population is thought to nest farther north and to different environments they inhabit. Due to the short frequent the Ungava tundra only during migration, a nesting season, migrating birds begin building their few breeding pairs were observed at Cap de nests upon arrival. Certain species hide their nests Nouvelle-France (Makivik Corporation 2000). under rocks or in clumps of grass to protect them from wind and predators, whereas others like to build their The cliffs in the Puvirnituq River Canyon area provide nests where they will get the most sun. excellent nesting habitat for Falconiformes and the common raven. The rough-legged hawk, gyrfalcon Mammals and peregrine falcon frequently inhabit the same The distribution maps produced by Banfield (1977) sites, although they rely on different resources and Peterson (1966) show that the northern part of (Gauthier and Aubry 1995). The rough-legged hawk, the Ungava Peninsula harbours no more than a the most common bird of prey found in the arctic dozen species of terrestrial mammals. Eight species tundra, feeds mainly on small mammals, while the of marine mammals occur along the coasts. gyrfalcon’s diet consists primarily of small birds. As for Obviously, only terrestrial mammals occur in the study the peregrine falcon, it has a varied diet, consisting of area (Appendix 4). Historical data taken from Harper birds and small mammals. The tundrius variety of (1961) plus our own observations from summer 1998 peregrine falcon resides beyond the treeline and is on confirm the presence of five of these species: the river Canada’s vulnerable species list (Beaulieu 1992). otter, the Ungava lemming, the Arctic fox, wolf and Falconiformes use their nesting sites faithfully for caribou. Roche (1992) reported the presence of two several years, making these habitats of special other species, the Arctic hare and the red fox, in the interest. The raven, along with the snowy owl and border region, and these species undoubtedly ptarmigan, is one of the rare permanent residents of frequent the study area as well. Ungava. In fact, Roche (1992) considered it to be The Arctic hare, Ungava lemming and Arctic fox are common in Katinniq, which is located near the park. typically northern species whose occurrence is closely Oddly, we heard a loon inside the crater during our associated with the tundra. Their populations 1998 study. The sound seemed to be amplified by the experience regular cycles of abundance followed by a crater walls; it carried a long way and we could not decline. This is especially true of lemmings. The other see the bird so as to identify the species. species found in the North have wide ranges, but show sufficient geographical differences to be recognized as varieties. Northern varieties are often

82 Parc des Pingualuit lighter in colour to provide better camouflage, and la Faune (MEF) since 1975, the year a new calving bigger in size with smaller extremities to increase ground was identified in the area. resistance to the cold. In fact, this calving ground has gradually moved Most mammals are furtive, making their movements northward to where it seems to have remained since and ranges difficult to track other than through 1993 (Figure 12). Today, it covers a large inland area targeted studies. We were nevertheless able to on the northern tip of the Ungava Peninsula, bounded identify Arctic fox dens in the area southwest of by the villages of Kangiqsujuaq, Salluit, Akulivik and Vergons Lake. They were built in gravel deposits of Puvirnituq and encompassing the entire study area. former beaches that are now raised, and showed a Given that the calving location is the most stable wide and intricate network of entrance holes. We element of the caribou’s habitat, its presence in the were even able to corroborate the literature’s proposed park represents a major point of interest, reporting of improved plant growth through nitrogen although it could certainly change over the years. It is intake from feces (Banfield 1977). Arctic fox are interesting to note that the Rivière aux Feuilles herd known to use the same dens for several years. currently calves near an area of the plateau occupied Makivik Corporation’s study (2000) of Inuit land use by caribou during the historical period (around 1880); and ecological knowledge highlights the fact that the according to accounts, this area was between proposed park is in the middle of a large denning Déception and Wakeham bays. area, which extends from near Katinniq and Purtuniq to well below the park area, encompassing Nantais The females lead the herd to the calving location in and Klotz lakes. late April, where the animals remain until early July (Couturier and Doucet 1996). They then move to their Caribou summer range, which is more dispersed, especially to the south, but also to the north. Beginning in Caribou, the wildlife emblem of Northern Québec, September, the caribou form aggregations and the were observed on numerous occasions in summer majority move to their winter range, south of Ungava 1998, in all sectors of the study area. Most reports Bay; a certain number, however, overwinter north of were of lone males or small groups of females and the calving ground (Roche 1992). October is the calves. An overflight of the area showed a multitude rutting period, when the caribou migrate south from of trails created by the animal’s movements, giving the northernmost tip of Ungava to the limits of the the impression of more intensive use than had been boreal forest. From October to April, the Rivière aux observed on the ground. This impression was Feuilles caribou herd, which had an estimated confirmed by marked browsing. population of 260,000 in 1991, joins the George River herd, which numbered 800,000 individuals during the According to a Kangiqsujuaq resident, it is most recent surveys (MEF 1998). Figure 13 shows increasingly common to see caribou in the crater the respective ranges of these two famous herds of area, even in winter (Robert Fréchette, personal Northern Québec. communication). This sustained presence of caribou in the vicinity of the proposed park is apparently fairly recent. Roche (1992) reported regular observations in this area since 1991; prior to that, observations were considered occasional. This appears to be consistent with the data on movements of the Rivière aux Feuilles caribou herd, as reported in studies conducted by the Ministère de l’Environnement et de

Study Area 83

Montage.qxd 9/10/01 7:32 AM Page 9 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 Montage.qxd 9/10/01 7:32 AM Page 10 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 During migration, caribou feed primarily on ground corroborate this information, saying that they were lichens, although their diet can vary with the habitat not familiar with the species (Betsy Etidloe, and season. While very little research has been personal communication, 2000). The park staff will conducted into the diet of Northern Québec caribou nevertheless be informed of the situation and herds, comparative studies have shown that the encouraged to report all wolverine sightings and availability and quality of food is better in the calving captures in the region. locations of the Rivière aux Feuilles herd than in • those of the George River herd (Crête et al 1990). The muskox was successfully introduced between The increase in population of the George River herd 1973 and 1983 with 54 individuals from Ellesmere has slowed down—thought to be due to Island. Today, the Nunavik population of muskox overharvesting of food resources in the summer stands at just over 1,000 animals. It ranges in range—whereas the Rivière aux Feuilles herd Ungava, although the exact location of herds is appears to be growing. not known. Like the polar bear and wolverine, the chances of coming across muskox are minimal: Special features only a handful has been sighted in the vicinity of Kangiqsujuaq in recent years (Betsy Etidloe, Before ending this section on fauna, we feel a personal communication, 2000). cautionary note is necessary with regard to three species that are present in the study area but are less likely to be observed: Archaeological and historical resources • The polar bear is essentially present on ice floes and off the coast. In the region concerned, it is The region’s archaeological and historical features known to have its cubs on Wales Island and Cap are associated more with the coast and village than de Nouvelle-France, located between Douglas with the interior, where the proposed park is to be Harbour and Salluit. The polar bear can travel up established. However, since visitors to the park will to 100 km inland, and while a bear may also be in contact with the area’s cultural aspects, occasionally pass through the study area, it is which are grounded on archaeological and historical unusual. The Kangiqsujuaq residents who were values, we feel it is essential to discuss the resources interviewed gave no indication that the presence proper to the park in a broader context in order to fully of polar bears would create public safety problems grasp their significance. in the park. Nonetheless, visitors will be informed on how to avoid encounters with bears. Archaeology

• The chances of coming across a wolverine are Northern Québec has become the object of archaeo- minimal, since this animal has been designated an logical research only quite recently. Such work has endangered species in all of Eastern Canada. In focused mainly on coastal regions where, historically, Québec, it is considered extinct in the southern the majority of human activities were carried out portion of its range and to occur only in the (Vézinet 1980). Over the past few decades, no less territory north of 49°, and even then only ten or so than 200 sites have been found between Qaqtaq and sitings have been reported since 1992 (Beaulieu Salluit (Labrèche 1994). The presence of artifacts in 1992). Roche (1992) discussed the killing of the Kangiqsujuaq region was first reported by Bernard wolverines by the Inuit, but did not say where the Saladin d’Anglure of Université Laval in the early animals were taken or in what year. The elders 1960s. Subsequent surveys confirmed the consider- questioned on the matter were unable to able archaeological potential of the coastal area

Study Area 89 southeast of Kangiqsujuaq, starting at Ukilivik Point. were located near lakes, rivers and sources of drink- Systematic research initiated by the Avatak Cultural ing water. Old inland camps, unlike those situated on Institute in 1996 led to the discovery of 13 archaeo- the coast, contain few or no bone fragments, which logical sites associated with the period when human can be used to date their period of occupation. Only populations first began to occupy Northern Québec recent sites contain caribou and seal bones, which (4,000-2,500 BP). In general, these sites are located demonstrate that food reserves were brought from the at an altitude of 25 m above sea level. Some are coast during hunting expeditions. A number of sites associated with the Palaeo-Eskimo tradition, charac- probably dating from the historical period have been terized by very simple dwellings and technology, while identified in the study area and are shown on Map 10. others are said to be Dorset (3,000-1,000 BP). Sled They often contain circles of stones that indicate the runners and snow knives made from caribou tines location of tents. Additional stones inside these tent appeared during this initial occupation period. rings bear witness to the presence of hearths. When such features are buried deep in the lichen layer, they The most remarkable aspect of this research involves indicate that a site is fairly old. Two very interesting the study of some 170 petroglyphs (rock carvings), examples of historical period sites can be observed which researchers and the community want to ensure not far from the crater and to the east of the hill of are protected and included on UNESCO's list of World ferruginous material situated a few kilometres from Heritage Sites on account of their unique character. Saint-Germain Lake. According to a survey conducted Masks carved on the wall of a soapstone quarry have by Makivik Corporation (2000), inuksuit (groups of been identified as front views of faces with human inuksuk) can still be found to the southeast of this features; however, the age and significance of these lake. These piles of stones may have been used for carvings have not yet been fully established killing caribou during hunting expeditions or have (Arsenault et al 1998). served as markers.

Between 1985 and 1989, archaeological research It should be mentioned that we identified a new site in was conducted in the inland region affected by the summer 1998, while flying over the area south of park project, particularly in the vicinity of the Vergons Lake. It consists of a large, upright rock with Nouveau-Québec Crater, called Pingualuit by the a pile of dried bush (Cassiope tetragona) at its base; Inuit, and in the area around Nallusarqituq Lake placed in the shelter of the rock, the bush was to be (Labrèche 1994). In his research report, Labrèche used as fuel. This huge rock, which measures about pointed out the contrast between the human 12 ft. tall and is located in a boulder field, probably occupation of coastal and maritime regions, which served as both an inuksuk and a stopover point. We was very intensive, and that of zones further inland are unable to affirm, however, whether it is of ar- not far from Pingualuit, where hunters and families chaeological or historical interest. The elders of the stopped only for short periods on their way to the best village of Kangiqsujuaq who were asked about this caribou hunting grounds. All inland sites are site were not familiar with it. It should be noted, how- associated with a single occupation and contain only ever, that it is not very accessible. Despite the ques- a limited number of remains. In addition, they have tions surrounding the significance of this site, the local very few artifacts. authorities required that it be included within the limits of the park to ensure its protection. Labrèche noted that all areas used as campsites were well drained, quite flat and had an abundant supply of stones, gravel or peat, materials that were useful for erecting the various structures needed on such sites. Like the areas selected for present-day camps, they

90 Parc des Pingualuit carte ang.qxd 9/10/01 7:28 AM Page 10 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 History Bay. Sent by the Canadian Navy, its mission was to describe the local ice and climatic conditions with a Vézinet (1980) advanced that the Inuit, which she view to developing a safe navigable waterway in calls Nunamiut, may have been able to survive solely Hudson Strait. Over the course of several months, on inland resources, limiting their movements to cen- regular aerial surveys were conducted using two tral Ungava. Based on her ethnological research, Fokker aircraft (McLean 1928). Old photographs on which combined narrative accounts with studies, she public display in Kangiqsujuaq bear witness to this era believes that in the late 19th century Inuit groups and illustrate the former way of life. In fact, it would adopted a nomadic way of life, surviving mainly on seem that the technology of the day is still part of the caribou and rounding out their diet with lake fish and Inuit traditional lifeway: kayaks, umiaqs, dogsleds, bird fauna. No marine resources were harvested. handmade clothing. While the technologies specific to coastal Inuit (Sinamiut) were maintained, adaptations in housing, The Révillon frères trading post closed in 1936. The clothing, lighting, etc. were required. Vézinet’s study same year, the first Catholic mission was established shows that Nantais and Klotz lakes, which lie south of in Kangiqsujuaq, and today it is the oldest building in the proposed park, were recognized hunting grounds. the village. An Anglican church was later built and, In fact, there is every reason to believe that Payne more recently, a Pentecostal church. Lake provided enough resources to sustain a group The village as we know it today came into being in the for an entire year. The same study reports the pres- early 1960s. The Québec government housing ence of summer and winter camps in the vicinity of program and construction of a school and nursing Pingualuit, and a summer camp and caribou corridor station prompted the Inuit to settle in Wakeham Bay, in the area of Nallusarqituq Lake. These reports may although several people kept seasonal camps, be consistent with some of the surveys conducted by primarily along the coast around the village, for the Labrèche. purposes of wildlife harvesting. A few families also The Nunamiut apparently ended their nomadic own camps in the interior, which they use during lifestyle in the early 1920s, which concurs with the winter when it is possible to travel by snowmobile. natural decline in caribou populations. According to With many families owning motorboats, coastal oral tradition, several Inuit died from starvation. camps can be reached by either land or sea and, consequently, can be used year-round. Today, the Inuit are sedentary. The first structure to be built in Kangiqsujuaq was an ice observation and The village of Kangiqsujuaq used to be called weather station, erected in 1884 (Makivik Corporation Wakeham Bay and then, more recently, around 1960, 2000). After that, the first trading post was built in Maricourt, although this name failed to win the 1910 and operated only in the summer. It was owned community’s favour. The Inuit name Kangiqsujuaq by the famous French company Révillon frères, then refers to the large bay where the village is one of the world’s leading furriers. The Paris-based established. It was officially adopted in 1980. The company owned a number of trading posts in name Maricourt was in honour of Paul Lemoyne de Québec: in addition to Northern Québec, it had Maricourt, who accompanied his brother, Pierre businesses on the north shore of the St. Lawrence Lemoyne d’Iberville, on an army expedition to Hudson River (Beetz and Beetz 1977). Bay in 1686 (Commission de toponymie 1987). The village was named Wakeham Bay in 1897 by the A second trading post, this one permanent, was built explorer and geologist A.P. Low in honour of Captain by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1914. In summer William Wakeham, commander of a government 1927, an exploration team set up camp in Wakeham

Study Area 93 expedition aboard the Diana (Makivik Corporation the old drainage canals for the crater is even called 2000). “impactite channel.” The most recent scientific research conducted at the crater aimed to describe its No permanent structures were erected in the park many other features, especially from a limnological area during the historical period. However, no less perspective. Michel Bouchard, a geologist at the than 13 expeditions were made to the region between Université de Montréal, has done a great deal in 1950 and 1988 to explore the Nouveau-Québec recent years to popularize and demonstrate the Crater (Bouchard 1989). Discovered in 1943 during a scientific significance of the Nouveau-Québec Crater. United States Air Force reconnaissance flight, the crater was designated on maps for the first time in The area north of the Puvirnituq River has also been 1945 and was first photographed a year later, in 1946. the object of numerous geological studies in the past The same year, a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot is 50 years due to the mining opportunities afforded by reported to have landed on Pingualuk Lake. the Cape Smith Belt. Currently, the Asbestos Hill open-pit asbestos mine (1972-1983) and the Raglan The crater quickly attracted the attention of the nickel mine are at the operating stage (Daigneault scientific community and raised economic interest. 1997). As a result of these projects, permanent While some attributed its shape to a meteorite impact, mining infrastructures have been built in Katinniq, others believed it was the type of volcanic chimney Purtuniq and Donaldson. Unlike the rest of the often associated with economic deposits. Frederick territory, this area has a veritable road network. Chubb was one of the first prospectors to show an interest in the crater. He participated in the first The diversity of place names in the region reflects the expedition, which took place in 1950 and was the local history, with French, English and Inuit names subject of an article by the National Geographic following with each new lake and landform, both along Society. In fact, for a number of years, the crater was the coast and inland. Most sites within the study area actually known as the Chubb Crater. It was officially have either a French or Inuit name. In 1998, the named “Cratère du Nouveau-Québec” in 1954. Commission de toponymie du Québec officially adopted the Inuit name Pingualuit to designate the The crater’s discovery was followed by a series of park and Pingualuk to designate the lake formed geological surveys and, in 1951, the first vegetation inside the crater. The term Pingualuit refers to the studies, by Martin and Rousseau. The various site’s high elevation and means “eruption spot” expeditions affiliated with the Royal Ontario Museum, (Labrèche, in Bouchard 1989). the Geological Survey of Canada and the Dominion Observatory of Canada up until the mid-1960s bear eloquent witness to the site’s scientific interest and Land regime and use importance. The Université de Montréal began heading survey work in the early 1980s, conducting The entire study area consists of public lands under five expeditions between 1983 and 1988. the general administration of the Ministère des Ressources naturelles du Québec. In accordance with The discovery of impactite fragments in the 1960s put the land regime established by the James Bay and an end to the speculation regarding the crater’s Northern Québec Agreement (JBNQA), the area is origins by confirming that it had been created by a subdivided into Category II and III lands. Moreover, meteorite impact. Researchers later realized that this Schedule 6 of JBNQA Complementary Agreement valuable evidence that had eluded them for so long No. 6 defines the preliminary limits of the park. had been blown a considerable distance away from the crater, in the direction of Laflamme Lake. One of

94 Parc des Pingualuit Map 11 shows the preliminary park boundaries as Arctic char and lake trout are fished throughout the established in Schedule 6, as well as the study area, making this the largest subsistence activ- geographical distribution of land categories therein. ity. Fishing is done in a large, roughly circular area Note that the majority of the park area consists of measuring over 100 km in diameter and encompass- Category III lands. However, the east side of the park ing Nantais and Klotz lakes. Fishing is especially abuts a tract of Category II lands belonging to the good in Laflamme and Vergons lakes (Charlie community of Kangiqsujuaq, that is, from Vachon Arngak, personal communication). River to south of Vergons Lake. This is the farthest tract of Category II lands from the village. In fact, it In terms of terrestrial mammals, a fox trapline runs extends even farther south to encompass the eastern along the Puvirnituq River. part of Nantais Lake and most of the headwaters of Residents of Kangiqsujuaq use the study area pri- Vachon River and its tributaries. As previously marily in winter, when they can access it across the mentioned, Inuit people have the exclusive right to frozen lakes. Only one of the people interviewed said hunt, fish and trap on Category II lands and the right he used an all-terrain vehicle to get to his camp, but to pursue the same activities on Category III lands, that it took a long time (Papikatuk Sakiagak, personal without this right being exclusive. communication). In summer, access to the park area is impeded by the long distances, rough terrain and Traditional land use numerous boulder fields and rivers. However, since The current patterns of Inuit land use are detailed in the coast provides the community with all of the the report of the study conducted by Makivik resources it needs, there is less need to make the Corporation (2000), which was predicated on a 1997 effort to get to the plateau. study by the Kativik Regional Government. During the aerial survey, two canvas camps were These studies show that the proposed park area is spotted within the park boundaries, one west of Saint- essentially used by residents of Kangiqsujuaq, Germain Lake and the other, at the outlet of Vergons although members of other communities may also Lake. Both appeared to have been in use for several use it on occasion. The Makivik study further shows years, and this was confirmed by the owners. Two that the majority of the community’s subsistence other camps exist very near the proposed park, but activities occur outside the park area. Goose and outside the limits: one of them is just east of duck hunting, and the gathering of down and bird Nallusarqituq Lake, on Vachon River, while the other eggs are carried out along the coast and up to 50 km is north of the Puvirnituq River, near Vaillant Lake. inland, while hunting of marine mammals is obviously Finally, despite being named “Camp Nunaturlik”, this confined to the coastal region, including bays, fjords site on the banks of Lamarche Lake showed no signs and islands between Radisson Point and Bégon of camping during the overflight. Point. Moreover, the number of fish and beluga The Inuit told us about three other sites that are used caches show that land use is considerably more for camping during trips to the park area. Two of them intensive in this area. Even caribou hunting takes are connected to the Saint-Germain and Vergons lake place along the coast between Cap de Nouvelle- camps mentioned in the preceding paragraph. The France and Bégon Point, and up to 40 km inland. other is located south of Laflamme Lake. Camps and Since caribou migrate through the park area in spring camping sites are always established near drinking and fall, it is possible that some might be hunted. water sources. However, this is not a major hunting ground, as is the northern tip of the peninsula.

Study Area 95 carte ang.qxd 9/10/01 7:28 AM Page 11 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 Snowmobile/ATV trails and boat routes provide Kangiqsujuaq residents with access to traditional fishing and hunting grounds. Only snowmobile trails were observed within the study area, and they were unmarked. However, the more well-travelled section linking the village to Itiviluarjuk Lake is equipped with reflective markers, making travel easier and safer.

In light of this information, the final report of the socio- economic impact study conducted by Makivik Corporation (2000) concludes that land use in the park area is of medium and low (section west of Rouxel Lake) intensity. We got the same impression from interviews with local representatives during park planning. However, our exchanges with community representatives also indicate that the crater is of considerable importance to the community, even if very few young people have ever been there. The elders seemed particularly attached to the crater, stressing its scenic quality and the Inuit’s historical ties to this unique site. Map 12 illustrates all data related to Inuit land use.

Mining development

Mining-related activities represent the second largest land use. Mineral exploration is limited to the northern margin of the study area. A fraction of the territories covered by exploration permits 0001399 and 0001098 abut the north bank of the Puvirnituq River; lands on the south bank of the river have not been staked. Moreover, a significant area in the heart of the proposed park has been withdrawn from staking, map designation and mining since 1991 under order-in- council #91-192.

Study Area 99 carte ang.qxd 9/10/01 7:29 AM Page 12 Document1 9/10/01 8:04 AM Page 1 Conclusion

The current state of knowledge shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Nouveau-Québec Crater is a unique site in Québec owing to its exceptional landscape features. It also confirms the foresight of the Inuit people, who negotiated provision for the park in the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement back in 1975 and then were determined to see it established. Furthermore, the current state of knowledge shows that the proposed park comprises major features that ensure adequate representation of the Ungava Plateau natural region.

The Status Report rounds out the information contained in the Provisional Master Plan, which describes the main opportunities afforded by the study area and proposes limits, a zoning plan and a development scenario for the future Parc des Pingualuit. It also proposes management orientations to assist the Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec in the protection and development of the park, the first to be established in Northern Québec.

Conclusion 103

A p p e n d i x

Flora

Flora 105

Flora

NOTE : Taxa marked with an asterisk are considered calcicoles. Source: Gauthier and Dignard (2000)

Vascular plants Cyperaceae

Carex atrofusca Equisetaceae Carex bigelowii Equisetum arvense Carex capillaris ssp. capillaris

Lycopodiaceae *Carex glacialis

Huperzia appalachiana Carex lachenalii

Dryopteridaceae Carex membranacea

Cystopteris fragilis Carex misandra

Dryopteris fragrans *Carex nardina

*Woodsia glabella Carex norvegica Carex rariflora Poaceae Carex rotundata Agrostis mertensii ssp. borealis *Carex rupestris Alopecurus borealis *Carex scirpoidea Arctagrostis latifolia ssp. latifolia *Carex vaginata Calamagrostis canadensis ssp. canadensis *Carex williamsii Calamagrostis lapponica Eriophorum angustifolium Calamagrostis stricta ssp. stricta var. borealis *Eriophorum callitrix Deschampsia brevifolia Eriophorum scheuchzeri Deschampsia caespitosa Eriophorum vaginatum ssp. spissum Dupontia fisheri *Kobresia myosuroides Festuca brachyphylla

Festuca hyperborea Juncaceae

Hierochloe alpina ssp. alpina Juncus biglumis

Hierochloe pauciflora Juncus castaneus ssp. castaneus

Pleuropogon sabinei Juncus triglumis ssp. albescens

Poa alpina L. Luzula arctica ssp. arctica

Poa arctica Luzula confusa

ssp. arctica Luzula spicata

ssp. caespitans Luzula wahlenbergii

Poa glauca Liliaceae

Trisetum spicatum *Tofieldia pusilla

Flora 107 Salicaceae Draba alpina

Salix arctica *Draba glabella var. glabella

Salix herbacea Draba lactea

Salix lanata ssp. calcicola Draba nivalis

*Salix reticulata ssp. reticulata Eutrema edwardsii Salix uva-ursi Saxifragaceae

Polygonaceae Parnassia kotzebuei

Koenigia islandica *Saxifraga aizoides

Oxyria digyna Saxifraga caespitosa

Polygonum viviparum Saxifraga cernua

Caryophyllaceae Saxifraga foliolosa

Arenaria humifusa Saxifraga hirculus ssp. propinqua

Cerastium alpinum ssp. lanatum Saxifraga hyperborea

Minuartia biflora Saxifraga nivalis

Minuartia rubella *Saxifraga oppositifolia ssp. oppositifolia

Sagina caespitosa Saxifraga tenuis

Silene acaulis ssp. acaulis *Saxifraga tricuspidata

Silene involucrata ssp. involucrata Rosaceae

Silene uralensis ssp. uralensis var. mollis *Dryas integrifolia ssp. integrifolia

Stellaria longipes Potentilla nana

Ranunculaceae *Potentilla prostrata ssp. floccosa

Anemone richardsonii Fabaceae

Ranunculus nivalis Astragalus alpinus ssp. alpinus

Ranunculus pallasii *Astragalus eucosmus ssp. eucosmus

Ranunculus pedatifidus ssp. affinis *Oxytropis deflexa ssp. foliolosa Ranunculus pygmaeus Onagraceae

Papaveraceae Chaemerion latifolium Papaver lapponicum ssp. occidentale Pyrolaceae

Brassicaceae Pyrola grandiflora Arabis alpina Ericaceae *Braya glabella ssp. glabella Cassiope tetragona ssp. tetragona Cardamine bellidifolia Rhododendron lapponicum var. lapponicum Cochlearia officinalis Vaccinium uliginosum ssp. microphyllum

108 Parc des Pingualuit Vaccinium vitis-idaea ssp. minus Bryocaulon divergens

Diapensiaceae Bryoria chalybeiformis

Diapensis lapponica ssp. lapponica Bryoria nitidula Candelariella aurella Plumbaginaceae Candelariella placodizans Armeria maritima ssp. sibirica Candelariella vitellina Scrophulariaceae Cetraria aculeata Pedicularis flammea Cetraria islandica Pedicularis hirsuta Cetraria islandica ssp. crispiformis Pedicularis lapponica Cetraria islandica ssp. islandica

Campanulaceae Cetraria laevigata

Campanula rotundifolia Cetraria nigricans

*Campanula uniflora Cetrariella delisei

Asteraceae Cetrariella fastigiata

Antennaria friesiana ssp. friesiana Cladina arbuscula

Antennaria monocephala ssp. angustata Cladina mitis

Arnica angustifolia ssp. angustifolia Cladina rangiferina

Erigeron humilis Cladina stellaris

*Erigeron uniflorus ssp. eriocephalus Cladina stygia

*Leucanthemum integrifolium Cladonia amaurocraea

Taraxacum ceratophorum Cladonia bellidiflora

Taraxacum lacerum Cladonia coccifera Cladonia crispata

Non-Vascular Plants Cladonia ecmocyna

Cladonia gracilis Lichens Cladonia macrophylla

Alectoria nigricans Cladonia phyllophora

Alectoria ochroleuca Cladonia pleurota

Allantoparmelia almquistii Cladonia pocillum

Allantoparmelia alpicola Cladonia squamosa

Arctocetraria andrejevii Cladonia stricta

Arctoparmelia centrifuga Cladonia subfurcata

Arctoparmelia incurva Cladonia sulphurina

Brodoa oroarctica Cladonia uncialis

Flora 109 Collema cf. ceraniscum Phaeophyscia sciastra

Collema polycarpon Physcia caesia

Dactylina arctica Physcia dubia

Dactylina ramulosa Physconia muscigena

Ephebe lanata Pilophorus robustus

Flavocetraria cucullata Pseudephebe pubescens

Flavocetraria nivalis Rhizocarpon cf. eupetraeoides

Gyalecta foveolaris Rhizocarpon geographicum

Hypogymnia austerodes Rinodina turfacea

Hypogymnia subobscura Solorina crocea

Lecanora epibryon Solorina saccata

Melanelia fuliginosa Sphaerophorus fragilis

Melanelia hepatizon Sphaerophorus globosus

Melanelia panniformis Stereocaulon alpinum

Melanelia stygia Stereocaulon arenarium

Nephroma arcticum Stereocaulon glareosum

Nephroma expallidum Stereocaulon cf. grande

Ochrolechia androgyna Stereocaulon paschale

Ochrolechia frigida Stereocaulon cf. rivulorum

Omphalina hudsoniana Thamnolia subuliformis

Ophioparma lapponica Thamnolia vermicularis

Pannaria pezizoides Umbilicaria cylindrica

Parmelia omphalodes Umbilicaria deusta

Parmelia saxatilis Umbilicaria hyperborea

Parmelia sulcata Umbilicaria lyngei

Peltigera lepidophora Umbilicaria proboscidea

Peltigera malacea Umbilicaria torrefacta

Peltigera rufescens Umbilicaria vellea

Peltigera scabrosa Xanthoria candelaria

Pertusaria coriacea Xanthoria elegans

Pertusaria dactylina Xanthoria sorediata

Pertusaria cf. oculata

Pertusaria panyrga

Pertusaria subobducens

110 Parc des Pingualuit Bryophytes Sphagnum lenense Sphagnum lindbergii Hepaticae Sphagnum nitidum Warnst.

Pseudolepicoleaceae Sphagnum orientale

Blepharostoma trichophyllum Sphagnum russowii Sphagnum squarrosum Ptilidiaceae Sphagnum subsecundum Ptilidium ciliare Sphagnum teres Cephaloziellaceae Andreaeaceae Cephaloziella spinigera Andreaea alpestris Jungermanniaceae Andreaea blyttii Anastrophyllum minutum Andreaea rupestris var. papillosa Barbilophozia barbata Ditrichaceae Barbilophozia binstaedii *Distichium capillaceum Barbilophozia hatcheri *Ditrichum flexicaule Barbilophozia kunzeana

Chandonanthus setiformis Dicranaceae Dicranella subulata Gymnomitriaceae Dicranum elongatum Gymnomitrion corallioides Dicranum fuscescens Scapaniaceae Dicranum groenlandicum Scapania nemorosa Kiaeria starkei Scapania undulata Seligeriaceae Marchantiaceae Blindia acuta Preissia quadrata Pottiaceae

*Tortella tortuosa Mosses Grimmiaceae

Sphagnums Racomitrium lanuginosum Sphagnum aongstroemii Bryaceae Sphagnum arcticum Pohlia bulbifera Sphagnum balticum Pohlia cruda Sphagnum capillifolium Pohlia nutans Sphagnum compactum

Sphagnum jensenii

Flora 111 Aulacomniaceae Polytrichaceae Aulacomnium palustre Oligotrichum hercynicum Aulacomnium turgidum Pogonatum dentatum Messiaceae Pogonatum urnigerum *Paludella squarrosa Polytrichastrum alpinum var. alpinum

Bartramiaceae Polytrichum commune

Conostomum tetragonum Polytrichum hyperboreum

Pterigynandraceae Polytrichum juniperinum

*Myurella julacea Polytrichum piliferum Polytrichum strictum Amblystegiaceae Polytrichum swartzii Calliergon stramineum Psilopilum cavifolium *Campylium stellatum

Drepanocladus aduncus

Drepanocladus aduncus polycarpus

*Limprichtia revolvens

*Loeskypnum badium

Sarmenthypnum sarmentosum

Warnstorfia fluitans

Brachytheciaceae

*Tomenthypnum nitens

Hypnaceae

*Orthothecium chryseum

Hylocomiaceae

Pleurozium schreberi

112 Parc des Pingualuit A p p e n d i x

Newly identified regional flora and rare vascular plants

Newly identified regional flora and rare vascular plants 113

Newly identified regional flora and rare vascular plants

Rare in the Species Newly identified regional flora study area Crater Puvirnituq Hills Agrostis mertensii ssp. borealis ! ! Antennaria friesiana ssp. friesiana ! Arenaria humifusa ! Astragalus eucosmus ssp. eucosmus ! ! *Braya glabella ssp. glabella ! ! Calamagrostis lapponica ! Calamagrostis stricta var. borealis !! Campanula rotundifolia ! Carex capillaris ssp. capillaris ! Carex glacialis ! Carex membranacea ! Carex rariflora ! Carex rotundata ! Carex williamsii ! Cochlearia officinalis s.l. ! *Deschampsia brevifolia ! ! Deschampsia caespitosa s.l. ! Draba alpina ! Dryopteris fragrans ! Dupontia fisheri ! Erigeron humilis ! Erigeron uniflorus ssp. eriocephalus ! ! *Festuca hyperborea ! Hierochloe pauciflora ! ! Juncus biglumis ! Juncus castaneus ssp. castaneus ! Juncus triglumis ssp. albescens ! Kobresia myosuroides ! Koenigia islandica ! *Leucanthemum integrifolium ! ! Luzula spicata ! ! Oxytropis deflexa ssp. foliolosa ! Pedicularis flammea ! Pleuropogon sabinei ! Poa arctica ssp. caespitans ! Potentilla prostrata ssp. floccosa !

Newly identified regional flora and rare vascular plants 115 Rare in the Species Newly identified regional flora study area Crater Puvirnituq Hills Ranunculus pallasii ! ! Ranunculus pygmaeus ! Sagina caespitosa ! ! Salix lanata ssp. calcicola ! Saxifraga aizoides ! Saxifraga hirculus ssp. propinqua ! Saxifraga tenuis ! Silene involucrata ssp. invollucrata ! Taraxacum ceratophorum ! ! Woodsia glabella !

* Vascular plants on the list of threatened or vulnerable species in Québec

Source: Gauthier and Dignard (2000)

116 Parc des Pingualuit A p p e n d i x

Birds of Parc des Pingualuit area

Birds of Parc des Pingualuit area 117

Birds of Parc des Pingualuit area

Deception Bay Kangiqsujuaq Pingualuit ENGLISH NAME LATIN NAME INUIT NAME area (1) area(2) area Red-throated loon Gavia stellata Qarsauq R R - Common loon Gavia immer Tuulliq R R P

Snow goose Chen caerulescens Kanguq R R R Canada goose Branta canadensis Nirliq R R R

Green-winged teal Anas crecca Kuuksiuti RR- Saaggaq Northern pintail Anas acuta Qarlutuq R R P Greater scaup Aythia marila Ivugaq R R P Common eider Somateria mollissima Mitiq R R -

King eider Somateria spectabilis Amaulijjuaq R R - Harlequin duck Histrionicus histrionicus Tullirunaq R R - Oldsqaw Clangula hyemalis Aggiq R R - Barrow’s goldeneye Bucephala islandica Kingutuq R - - Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator Nujalik R R P Rough-legged hawk Buteo lagopus Qinnuajuaq R R P Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos Natturalik R R - Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus Kiggaviarjuk R R P Gyrfalcon Falco rusticus Kiggavialuk R R P Willow ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus Aqiggiq R R - Rock ptarmigan Lagopus mutus Aqiggivik R R P Semipalmated plover Charadrius Arpatuaraq RRP semipalmatus

Semipalmated sandpiper Calidris pusilla Sitjariaq R R - Least sandpiper Calidris minutilla Luviluvvilaaq R R - White-rumped sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis -R-- Red phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria Aupaluktuarjuk R R - Red-necked phalarope Phalaropus lobatus ---P Pomarine jaeger Stercocarius pomatus Isunngaq R R - Parasitic jaeger Stercocarius parasiticus Isunngaq R R -

Long-tailed jaeger Stercocarius Isunngaq RRP longicaudus Herring gull Larus argentatus Naujaq R R -

Thayer’s gull Larus thayeri Naujarlugaq R R - Iceland gull Larus glaucoides Naujarlugaq R R -

Glaucous gull Larus hyperboreus Naujavik R R - Great black-backed gull Larus maritimus Kulilik R R -

Black-legged kittiwake Rissa tridactyla Naujaraaq R R - Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea Imirqutailaq R R P Thick-billed murre Uria lomvia Appaq RR-

Birds of Parc des Pingualuit area 119 Deception Bay Kangiqsujuaq Pingualuit ENGLISH NAME LATIN NAME INUIT NAME area (1) area(2) area Black guillemot Cepphus grillae Pitsiulaaq R R - Snowy owl Nyctea scandiana Uppik R R P

Horned lark Eremophila alpestris Qupanuarpaq R R P Common raven Corvus corax Tulugaq R R P

American pipit Anthus rubescens Ingirtajuuq R R P Common redpoll Carduelis flammea ---P Savannah sparrow Passerculus - --P sandwichiensis White-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys Quputalik R R P

Lapland longspur Carcarius lapponicus Nassaulligaq R R P Snow bunting Plectrophenax nivalis Amaulligaaq -RP

Sources: 1) Roche 1992 2) Betsy Etidloe, personal communication

Key: Reported (R) Potential (P)

120 Parc des Pingualuit A p p e n d i x

Mammals of Parc des Pingualuit area

Mammals of Parc des Pingualuit area 121

Mammals of Parc des Pingualuit area

Terrestrial Mammals (Drawn from Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec species lists for Northern Québec)

ENGLISH NAME LATIN NAME INUIT NAME(4) REMARKS Arctic hare Lepus arcticus var. Ukalik Potential, reported in the region (1) labradorius Ungava lemming Dicrontonyx hudsonius Avingngak Historical data, crater lake (2) Meadow vole Microtus pennsylvanicus - Not known to Kangiqsujuaq residents (4) var. labradorius Historical data, Kangiqsujuaq (3) Wolf Canis lupus var. Amaruk Tracks observed, Laflamme Lake, labradorius summer 1998 Arctic fox Alopex lagopus var. Tiriganniaq Dens observed south of Rouxel Lake, ungava summer 1998 Red fox Vulpes vulpes var. Kajurtu tiriganniaq Potential, reported in the region (1) bangsi Polar bear Ursus maritimus Nanuq Potential, reported in the region (1) Ermin Mustela erminea var. - Not known to Kangiqsujuaq residents (4) richardsonii Potential, reported in the region (1) Least weasel Muastela nivalis var. Tiriaq Potential, reported in the region (1) rixona Wolverine Gulo gulo var. luscus - Not known to Kangiqsujuaq residents (4) Potential, reported in the region (1) River otter Lontra canadensis var. Pamiurtuu Historical data, head of Puvirnituq River (2) chimo Caribou Rangifer tarandus var. Tuktuq Observed – widespread, summer 1998 caribou Muskox* Ovibos moschatus Umimmak Potential, reported near Kangiqsujuaq (4)

Sources: 1) Roche 1992 2) Harper 1961 3) Répertoire des micromammifères du Québec (Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec) 4) Betsy Etidloe, 2000. Personal communication *introduced species

Mammals of Parc des Pingualuit area 123 Marine Mammals of the Kangiqsujuaq Region (Based on distribution maps prepared by Banfield, 1977)

ENGLISH NAME LATIN NAME INUIT NAME (4) White whale Delphinapterus leucas Qilalugak Narwhal Monodon monoceros Allanguaq Bowhead whale Balaena mysticetus Arvik Walrus Odobenus rosmarus Aivik Bearded seal Erignathus barbatus Utjuk Harbour seal Phoca vitulina Kairulik Ringed seal Phoca hispida Natsik Harp seal Phoca groenlandica Not known to Kangisujuaq residents (4) Hooded seal Cystophora cristata Not known to Kangiqsujuaq residents (4)

Sources: 1) Roche 1992 2) Harper 1961 3) Répertoire des micromammifères du Québec (Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec) 4) Betsy Etidloe. Personal communication

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130 Parc des Pingualuit Endnotes

1 Dusseau and Borgeat 1984, Beauchemin 1992

2 Mainly from Daigneault 1997, 1999 and Bouchard 1989

3 Mainly from Daigneault 1997, 1999 and Bouchard 1989

4 Mainly from Daigneault 1997, 1999

5 Mainly from Daigneault 1997, 1999

6 Lichen assemblages occurring on a consolidated mineral substrate, occupying existing rock or moraine boulders

7 Lichen assemblages occurring on fine sediment (sand, fine gravel, etc.)

8 A lichen thallus lying close and tightly fixed to the substratum

9 Lichen that grows in the shape of a tree leaf

10 Lichen that is shrubby in shape

11 Plants that resemble a true grass

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