Katannilik Territorial Park
Nunavut Parks & Special Places – Editorial Series January, 2008 KatanniLik TErritOriaL Park Stretching across south Baffin Island’s Iqaluit. Today, the Itijjagiaq Trail is followed by skiers, Meta Incognita Peninsula from Frobisher Bay snowmobilers, dog teams, and hikers, as well as the to the Hudson Strait at Kimmirut, Katannilik Inuit who travel regularly between Kimmirut and Territorial Park is the crown jewel of Nunavut’s Iqaluit and continue to use the Soper River valley as territorial park system and a true destination park, their traditional hunting area. offering superlative arctic experiences in summer The Soper River valley, which runs through the and during the snow season. park, is sheltered from harsh winds and is 4 to “Katannilik” is an Inuktitut word meaning 5 degrees warmer than elsewhere. This unique “where there are waterfalls”, and refers to the many microclimate supports a lush profusion of arctic waterfalls cascading down the valley walls into the wildflowers as well as unusually tall willows that Soper River, a Canadian Heritage River which was are growing faster than willows in central Alberta. designated in 1992 for its outstanding natural and The wildflowers, including white arctic heather, cultural heritage values, and its incredible recreational mountain avens, and large-flowered wintergreen, opportunities. Inuit call the Soper River Kuujuaq, or are best in mid-July, and berries (bearberry, “great river”, and have traveled through this natural blueberry, lingonberry, and crowberry) ripen in inland corridor for centuries, on the Itijjagiaq Trail, mid-August. In early September, the tundra is which means “over the land”. This traditional trail resplendent in fall colours.
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