Ivvavik National Park of Canada Spring 2005

Ivvavik Location National Park of Canada Ivvavik National Park is a 9 750 km2 wilderness area Vegetation Pronounced “Eev-vah-veek” situated in the northwest corner of the Yukon about Compared to other arctic environments, 800 km northwest of Whitehorse, Yukon, and 200 Ivvavik includes an unusually diverse km west of Inuvik, Northwest Territories. The park Climate variety of plants. The vegetation is mainly was established in 1984 after the settlement of the a treeless arctic tundra with sedges, as Inuvialuit Final Agreement. The park area is well as shrubs like willow, dwarf birch, Climate varies greatly within the park. bounded by the Beaufort Sea to the north, the This is mainly because of the variations in and cranberry. Higher in the mountains, Canada/Alaska border to the west,V untut National an alpine tundra of lichens replaces the landscape shape and elevation. Winters Park to the south, and the Babbage River to the east. are long and cold, but summers can be arctic tundra. Here one can also find Park operations are based out of Inuvik. Ivvavik scattered patches of wild- flowers like warm, even hot! Average daily July National Park represents the Northern Yukon and o mountain avens and saxifrage. At the temperatures are 7 C, though freezing Mackenzie Delta Natural Regions. Ivvavik is temperatures can still occur throughout southern end of the park, open stands of located in the Taiga Cordillera and the Southern stunted spruce and poplar mark the the 'warmer' months (June-September) of Arctic Ecozones. the year. Extended periods of warm northern limit of the boreal forest. temperatures in mid-summer are rare Activities near the coast, but more common inland. The sun stays above the horizon constantly If Ivvavik National Park is to remain for all from the last week of May through to mid- Wildlife time an area of unspoiled wilderness, then July. The park's plants and animals visitor activities must be planned which respond with vigour to these long days of The northern Yukon has been called the respect this principle. Rafting, canoeing, the "midnight sun". richest area of Canada's arctic in terms of hiking, and camping offer visitors a chance to Arc wildlife. Habitat for barren ground enjoy the wilderness without destroying it for tic Geology Oc caribou, grizzly bear, Dall's sheep, and others. The exceptional opportunities to view Hershel ean Island arctic fox is exceptional. The Porcupine the caribou herd and migratory waterfowl, as The park is dominated by the 1 800 m caribou herd, one of the world's largest at well as sighting grizzly bears, are only British Mountains. It escaped over 129 000 animals, is the park's most augmented by the sense of almost total r e iv glaciation during the last Ice Age, R Kay prominent feature. Their annual migration isolation. Historic and archaeological sites in Malcolm er Point except along the coast. Instead of Riv patterns take them to their large calving the park reveal the extent and types of human

r landforms typical in glaciated areas e ground on the northern coastal plain. activities that have occurred over time. The iv N R th g Musk-ox, once nearly eliminated, are re- (cirques, U-shaped valleys), the British ir area's rugged terrain challenges rafters, F Sprin r Rive Mountains show the influence of r establishing themselves following their backpackers, and other visitors who wish to q e a iv River g R lu rivers. Gentle slopes and V- shaped u reintroduction to the north coast of Alaska. experience and appreciate Ivvavik's special T Trail valleys are covered with thin layers of e Several birds of prey live in the park, qualities. g a b b including golden eagles, gyrfalcons, sediment deposited by wind and water. a B Ivvavik also has outstanding peregrine falcons, and rough-legged permafrost features like patterned hawks. The coastal plain is an important For more information, contact: ground, ground ice and tussock, and waterfowl nesting area for snow geese and Ivvavik National Park P.O. Box 1840 trailing heath tundra. These result tundra swans. The Firth and Babbage

S Inuvik, Northwest Territories X0E 0T0

T A A Rivers are prime wintering, spawning, and from the lower levels of soil being T

S Telephone: (867) 777-8800

A D

N frozen year round. E 0 28 352 m feeding areas for Dolly Varden Char and

T A Fax: (867) 777-8820 I

C N © U Parks Canada arctic greyling. Website: www.pc.gc.ca/ivvavik Ivvavik National Park of Canada Spring 2005

r landforms typical in glaciated areas e ground on the northern coastal plain. activities that have occurred over time. The iv N R h g Musk-ox, once nearly eliminated, are re- (cirques, U-shaped valleys), the British irt area's rugged terrain challenges rafters, F Sprin r Rive Mountains show the influence of r establishing themselves following their backpackers, and other visitors who wish to q e a iv River g R lu rivers. Gentle slopes and V- shaped u reintroduction to the north coast of Alaska. experience and appreciate Ivvavik's special T Trail valleys are covered with thin layers of e Several birds of prey live in the park, qualities. g a b b including golden eagles, gyrfalcons, sediment deposited by wind and water. a B Ivvavik also has outstanding peregrine falcons, and rough-legged permafrost features like patterned hawks. The coastal plain is an important For more information, contact: ground, ground ice and tussock, and waterfowl nesting area for snow geese and Ivvavik National Park P.O. Box 1840 trailing heath tundra. These result tundra swans. The Firth and Babbage

S Inuvik, Northwest Territories X0E 0T0

T A A Rivers are prime wintering, spawning, and from the lower levels of soil being T

S Telephone: (867) 777-8800

A D

N frozen year round. E 0 28 352 m feeding areas for Dolly Varden Char and

T A Fax: (867) 777-8820 I