Auyuittuq National Park of Canada Spring 2005
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Auyuittuq National Park of Canada Spring 2005 Location Auyuittuq Auyuittuq National Park lies on the northeastern Vegetation Activities shore of Baffin Island, Nunavut, almost entirely National Park of Canada within the Arctic Circle. It was established in There are no trees in Auyuittuq. Plant-life Visitors can obtain the service of an outfitter to Pronounced “Ow-you-eet-took” 1976. Auyuittuq means "the land that does not consists of shrub willows, heather, sedge take them the final stretch from Pangnirtung to melt" and is at the northern extreme of the grasses, lichens, mosses, and a short season Pangnirtung Pass. Access to the park is either by Canadian Shield, on the island's Cumberland of colourful wildflowers. They thrive under outfitters' boat or snowmobile, or hiking, or cross- Peninsula.The park protects a representative the moist and sunny conditions of summer. country skiing. Once in the park, visitors are Climate sample of the Northern Davis Natural Region, Arctic willow is the tallest tundra species. virtually on their own, carrying all their needs with and includes 19 089 km2 of mountains, fjords, and Other plants include the Arctic poppy, them. Most people come to hike the Pass' trail, The park's polar marine climate causes long, glaciers. Pangnirtung is the closest community cotton grass, and broad-leaved willow herb. which has three designated campsites, though cold winters, and short, cool summers. Snow to the park, and is accessible by airline from Most plants grow in clumps which helps to random camping is permitted. Broughton Island exists year-round, though precipitation is only Iqaluit. The park can also be reached via preserve warmth, and many grow in and Pangnirtung have hotels and lodges. A few about 200 mm annually. Average temperature tussocks. These are essentially a mound of fixed-roof emergency shelters are located in the ooBroughton Island, but is inaccessible to hikers highs are -23 C in January and 10 C in July. during ice break-up in July and August. built-up root systems that continue to park. Mountain climbers come from all over the Weather patterns are extreme and Auyuittuq is a vast, unspoiled increase each year. world to scale Auyuittuq’s peaks. Cumberland unpredictable, and strong breezes usually arctic wilderness. Auyuittuq is located in the Sound offers excellent fishing for Arctic char. blow along the fjords. A few brief weeks of Arctic Cordillera Ecozone. Wilderness trekkers must register with the park endless daylight in the summer are countered office, and a "no trace" camping ethic is strongly by a similar period of endless night during the encouraged. Even campfires are not permitted. middle of winter. Any garbage or other refuse, including organic Wildlife waste, remains undecomposed for decades and can diminish a later visitor's park experience. The animal life of Auyuittuq National Park is a small but hardy assemblage of 12 Geology mammal species, and about 40 types of Home birds. Land mammals include lemmings, The park's rugged mountain tundra is rich Bay Arctic hares, Arctic fox, polar bears, and D ie a with glaciers, fjords, and is dominated by d v ro y is caribou. In the adjacent seas there are B a B a y the massive Penny Ice Cap. This area of B S populations of Beluga whales, narwhal, a t o ra k i solid ice is over 300 m thick and covers O t walrus, and Ringed, Bearded, and Harp 2 some 5 100 km . It is a remnant of the huge seals. Bird species include snow geese, ice sheets that once covered much of North Eider ducks, and shorebirds such as America. The Penny Highland mountains, PE Broughton NN Island glaucous gulls. One can also observe Y composed of typical Shield granite, reach I ptarmigan, snowy owls, gyrfalcons, ravens, Greenshield C Lake E heights of over 2 000 m. Along the coast, C and the occasional finches and sparrows. A P narrow fjords with high (up to 900 m), steep Glacier/Icefield Sea life is generally more plentiful than that walls show where glaciers have created found on land. Most of the animals are For more information, contact: The Superintendent valley floors below sea level. N distinctly adapted to their arctic Auyuittuq National Park Nunavut Field Unit ARCTIC CIRCLE environment, possessing thick coats of fur or down feathers, insulating layers of P.O. Box 353 Pangnirtung, Nunavut Cumberland Sound blubber, and short ears to help conserve X0A 0R0 Pangnirtung 0 44 000 m essential body heat. Telephone: (867) 473-8828 © Parks Canada Fax: (867) 473-8612 Website: www.pc.gc.ca/auyuittuq Auyuittuq National Park of Canada Spring 2005 Location Auyuittuq Auyuittuq National Park lies on the northeastern Vegetation Activities shore of Baffin Island, Nunavut, almost entirely National Park of Canada within the Arctic Circle. It was established in There are no trees in Auyuittuq. Plant-life Visitors can obtain the service of an outfitter to Pronounced “Ow-you-eet-took” 1976. Auyuittuq means "the land that does not consists of shrub willows, heather, sedge take them the final stretch from Pangnirtung to melt" and is at the northern extreme of the grasses, lichens, mosses, and a short season Pangnirtung Pass. Access to the park is either by Canadian Shield, on the island's Cumberland of colourful wildflowers. They thrive under outfitters' boat or snowmobile, or hiking, or cross- Peninsula.The park protects a representative the moist and sunny conditions of summer. country skiing. Once in the park, visitors are Climate sample of the Northern Davis Natural Region, Arctic willow is the tallest tundra species. virtually on their own, carrying all their needs with and includes 19 089 km2 of mountains, fjords, and Other plants include the Arctic poppy, them. Most people come to hike the Pass' trail, The park's polar marine climate causes long, glaciers. Pangnirtung is the closest community cotton grass, and broad-leaved willow herb. which has three designated campsites, though cold winters, and short, cool summers. Snow to the park, and is accessible by airline from Most plants grow in clumps which helps to random camping is permitted. Broughton Island exists year-round, though precipitation is only Iqaluit. The park can also be reached via preserve warmth, and many grow in and Pangnirtung have hotels and lodges. A few about 200 mm annually. Average temperature tussocks. These are essentially a mound of fixed-roof emergency shelters are located in the ooBroughton Island, but is inaccessible to hikers highs are -23 C in January and 10 C in July. during ice break-up in July and August. built-up root systems that continue to park. Mountain climbers come from all over the Weather patterns are extreme and Auyuittuq is a vast, unspoiled increase each year. world to scale Auyuittuq’s peaks. Cumberland unpredictable, and strong breezes usually arctic wilderness. Auyuittuq is located in the Sound offers excellent fishing for Arctic char. blow along the fjords. A few brief weeks of Arctic Cordillera Ecozone. Wilderness trekkers must register with the park endless daylight in the summer are countered office, and a "no trace" camping ethic is strongly by a similar period of endless night during the encouraged. Even campfires are not permitted. middle of winter. Any garbage or other refuse, including organic Wildlife waste, remains undecomposed for decades and can diminish a later visitor's park experience. The animal life of Auyuittuq National Park is a small but hardy assemblage of 12 Geology mammal species, and about 40 types of Home birds. Land mammals include lemmings, The park's rugged mountain tundra is rich Bay Arctic hares, Arctic fox, polar bears, and D ie a with glaciers, fjords, and is dominated by d v ro y is caribou. In the adjacent seas there are B a B a y the massive Penny Ice Cap. This area of B S populations of Beluga whales, narwhal, a t o ra k i solid ice is over 300 m thick and covers O t walrus, and Ringed, Bearded, and Harp 2 some 5 100 km . It is a remnant of the huge seals. Bird species include snow geese, ice sheets that once covered much of North Eider ducks, and shorebirds such as America. The Penny Highland mountains, PE Broughton NN Island glaucous gulls. One can also observe Y composed of typical Shield granite, reach I ptarmigan, snowy owls, gyrfalcons, ravens, Greenshield C Lake E heights of over 2 000 m. Along the coast, C and the occasional finches and sparrows. A P narrow fjords with high (up to 900 m), steep Glacier/Icefield Sea life is generally more plentiful than that walls show where glaciers have created found on land. Most of the animals are For more information, contact: The Superintendent valley floors below sea level. N distinctly adapted to their arctic Auyuittuq National Park Nunavut Field Unit ARCTIC CIRCLE environment, possessing thick coats of fur or down feathers, insulating layers of P.O. Box 353 Pangnirtung, Nunavut Cumberland Sound blubber, and short ears to help conserve X0A 0R0 Pangnirtung 0 44 000 m essential body heat. Telephone: (867) 473-8828 © Parks Canada Fax: (867) 473-8612 Website: www.pc.gc.ca/auyuittuq.