The Largest Unspoiled Natural Paradise at the Top of the World. Nunavut is perhaps the last unspoiled and undiscovered destination in the world where animals are not accustomed to and therefore not afraid of curious glances of the travelers. Travelers to this Canadian Territory can be in awe of the vast expanses of land spotted with pristine wilderness and embraced by the Aurora Borealis at night. The traditional way of life of the Inuit people is cultivated in Nunavut and shared with visitors with pride. Top activities and reasons for visiting Nunavut are its wildlife and birds, variety of parks and protected areas, camping and hiking, kayaking and canoeing (or cruises), the floe edge (huge pieces of drift ice on the ocean in spring), fishing, and arts and culture in the variety of traditional Inuit communities.
Nunavut is the largest and least populated of all the provinces and territories of Canada, with a total area of 2,093,190 square km and a population of approximately 32,000 people (84% Inuit). Nunavut can only be accessed by air and sea, and various communities are not linked by roads. Very likely, this remoteness and lack of excessive infrastructure promotes the feeling of the wide open natural spaces of this arctic wonderland and a true north!
This destination is spectacular for wildlife lovers! Popular species on this Canadian Arctic Archipelago include: beluga and bowhead whales, walrus, caribou, muskox, narwhal, polar bear, and arctic fox, among others. The territory is unsurpassed in its National and Territorial Parks, Bird and Wildlife Sanctuaries, Archeological Sites, Heritage Rivers and Historical Trails, in addition to lands owned by the Inuit. These environmental and cultural treasures consist of 4 National Parks and 13 Territorial Parks which immerse the visitors in the breathtaking arctic beauty, archeological history, and astounding wildlife.
Nunavut’s bodies of fresh water, rivers, and thousands of lakes thaw in the late spring and most of its 45,000 km of arctic coastline interspersed with spectacular bays, fiords and inlets, become open to navigation when the sea ice breaks up. Nunavut is a world-class destination for observing wildlife while kayaking, canoeing, or rafting amongst the icebergs, and even drifting on the ocean on a chunk of floating sea ice, the floe edge, from April to July! Many guided tours offer these adventures in a safe setting, while those of a fainter heart can still enjoy these spectacular sights from a cruise, traveling through the Northern Passage, High Arctic and Baffin (e.g., Cruise North Expeditions). Other cruise lines, like the Adventure Canada, offer Arctic explorations with Canada’s top authors, lecturers, scientists, musicians, archeologists, and artists.
Traveling North can be a voyage of exploration and adventure or a luxury travel amidst awe-inspiring landscapes of vast and unspoiled wilderness.
Photo by pmorgan Flickr