Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/657907
Population: 33,300 Capital City: Iqaluit Territorial Website: www.NunavutTourism.com Gateways: Flights to Nunavut depart from Ottawa, Montréal, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and Yellowknife. W hat part of Canada is as long as the distance between London and Istanbul? With 28,000 miles (45,061 km) of coastline, Nunavut is vast. Uninhabited islands comprise more than half of the territory. On a map, Nunavut is located directly above Manitoba, Ontario and Québec. The Northwest Territories bor- ders Nunavut on the west. The northeast corner of Saskatchewan touches its south- west corner. Cruising is one way to discover Nunavut's communities, wildlife, moun- tains, glaciers, fjords and tundra landscapes. For land-based trips, it's best to fly to the gateway communities of the territory's three regions: Iqaluit in the Qikiqtaaluk Region (formerly Baffin Region) via Ottawa or Montréal, Cambridge Bay in the Kitikmeot Region via Calgary, Edmonton or Yellowknife and Rankin Inlet in the Kivalliq Region (formerly the Keewatin Region) via Winnipeg or Yellowknife (www.canadiannorth.com; www.first air.ca; www.calmair.com; www.kivalliq air.com; www.airinuit.com). For maps of each region: www .nunavuttourism.com. Nunavut communities are accessible by air, year-round. There are no trains, fer- ries or roads connecting communities. Local tour operators and outfitters advise visitors of the best ways to reach com- munities and regional attractions. Besides aircraft, dogsleds, snow machines, all-ter- rain vehicles and boats are used seasonally for transportation. Regional tour operators, listed in the Explore Nunavut Travel Planner (www.nunavuttourism.com), offer day trips and multi-day packages for every interest. ArcTic AdVEnTUrES On guided wilderness canoe trips, pad- dlers view waterfalls and search for wild- life. Adventure-lovers sea kayak past icebergs. Sport fishermen land trophy-size lake trout and feisty Arctic char. Climbers scale the longest uninterrupted cliff face in the world on Mount Thor. Outfitters help campers find tent sites near bird sanctuaries. SUMMEr wiLdFLowErS Nunavut has more than 200 species of flowering plants. From a distance, the Arctic tundra looks devoid of life. Closer views reveal purple mountain saxifrage, silky white blossoms of Arctic cotton, brilliant pink fireweed and yellow Arctic poppies. Abundant mosses and lichens add even more colour to Arctic landscapes. cULTUrAL EXPEriEncES You can learn about Inuit art and culture in Nunavut's 25 year-round communities. Drum dancers and throat singers high- light many festivals and feasts. On cultural tours, visitors discover archaeological sites in summer, build igloos in winter, and visit communities year-round. In Iqaluit, the Unikkaarvik Visitor Centre hosts regular Inuit Art Experience events where locals and visitors can learn about artists and their art. Many Nunavut artists, who carve stone, walrus ivory and bone, work outside their homes, where visitors can ask questions about their art and take photos. Some communities are known for other types of art, such as handmade parkas and clothing, jewelry, tapestries and ceramics. Whether you travel to Canada's east- ern Arctic during the 24-hour daylight of summer, or during the months when northern lights illuminate the sky, you'll want to return. Discovering Nunavut's natural and cultural treasures requires more than one trip. WHAT'S NEW? Arc tic Safari: From July 30 to August 9, 2012, Cruise North will run an expedi- tion cruise, which includes Baffin Island's northeast coast. Passengers search for wildlife, experience cultural activities in Mittimatalik (formerly Pond Inlet), view birds on Bylot and Prince Leopold Islands, and the graves of some of Sir John Franklin's men on Beechey Island (www .cruisenorth expeditions.com). New igloo-shaped church: Iqaluit's fire- damaged landmark St. Jude's Anglican Cathedral has been rebuilt and is sched- uled to reopen in May 2012 (www.city. iqaluit.nu.ca). RECOMMENDED WALKS Mount Pelly (Kitikmeot): The well-main- tained nine-mile (15-km) trail is located in Ovayok Territorial Park, east of Cambridge Bay. The park is a temporary home for migratory birds and a good place to see archaeological sites and wildflowers (www .nunavutparks.com/english/ parks-special-places/ovayok-territor ial-park/overview.aspx). 2012 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA 179