Nunavut: The Travel Vitals

 Iqaluit
 Area: 2,093,190 sq. km
 Time zone: EST, GMT/UTC -5
Population: 32,200 (2009 estimate)
 Languages: Inuktitut, English, French and Inuinnaqtun, a dialect spoken in western Nunavut.
 Getting there: Direct flights with First Air from Ottawa and Montreal to Iqaluit Airport on Baffin Island are available. Once there, connecting flights are available to a number of different communities within the territory. While direct flights are available from Winnipeg, most flights connect via Yellowknife.
 History: The largest and the least populated of the provinces and territories, Nunavut came to be in 1999, but Inuit have called it home for thousands of years. Nunavut-meaning "our land" in Inuktitut, was established following 15 years of negotiations and campaigning by Inuit people to reclaim their land and have a greater voice in the Canadian government.
 Climate: Snow covers Nunavut for most of the year. Summer-July to mid-August-sees an average high of 12 degrees celcius in the capital and about 7 degrees celcius further north and long, if not endless, hours of sunlight. For snow sports the best time to visit is late April or May.
 Getting around: While most communities within Nunavut are small enough to explore on foot, some offer taxi service and car rentals. With few roads and communities spread out throughout the islands, regular air service is available connecting most communities. Snowmobiles and ATVs are popular ways of getting around-some communities still offer dogsled travel

1. Sea Kayak in Ellesmere Island.
Follow in the footprints of past Polar explorers by taking guided sea kayaking trips alongside Ellesmere Island, one of Canada’s largest and most northerly islands. Said to be one of the most remote places in the world for a kayaking adventure, prepared to be awed by dramatic fjord-land, massive glaciers and arctic wildlife. Kayaking is part of Inuit heritage. Trips are available in the summer months only.

2. Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum
Located in Iqaluit—Inuktitut for “place of many fish”—Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum is home to one of the largest collections of Inuit and arctic items. The museum is located in an old Hudson Bay warehouse and features Inuit artifacts, art and interpretive displays.

3. Polar Bear Country.
While polar bears normal dwell on sea ice or close to the coast, they can be found throughout the territory. These carnivorous mammals are known for their hunting abilities and feed mainly on ringed seals, but have been known to go after everything from seabirds to beluga whales.

4. Whale-Watch at Whale Cove
This community’s Inuit name, Tikirarjuaq, translates to “long point” and is famous for, you guessed it, its whales. Located along the western shore of Hudson Bay and encircled by stunning lakes and landscapes, beluga whales assemble near the cove each fall. A rock sculpture, the Whale’s Tail Monument, overlooks the town and symbolizes Canada’s centennial.

5. Rest With the Walrus
The community of Hall Beach has one of the largest groups of walruses in the Arctic. Hall Beach’s Inuktitut name is Sanirayak, translating to “one that is along the coast” and is one of the best places in Nunavut to see marine wildlife. Beyond the walrus, there are seal and waterfowl as well as an excellent fishing industry. This community is a northern transportation centre with Hall Beach airport nearby.

6. Visit Iceberg Lane.
The summer months, on the east coast of Baffin Island from Pond Inlet to Qikiqtarjuaq, are the perfect time to see these majestic white mountains. Daylong iceberg tours are available, or for the more adventurous overnight excursions are offered as well.

7. Follow the Inuksuk.
The Inuksuk (plural Inuksuit) are traditional Inuit symbols of wisdom, knowledge and hope. The sculptures, which have been erected for thousands of years, can act as guides warn of danger or commemorate lives lost. While traditionally we know them to look like a person, they come in many forms and can simply be one rock placed in a deliberate manner to symbolize that someone was there.

8. Ascend Mount Ovayok.
Located in Ovayok Territorial Park just east of the community of Cambridge Bay on Victoria Island, Mount Ovayok has five trails and more than 20 kilometres to explore. At more than 200 metres tall, this mountains stands out like a sore thumb in an otherwise flat terrain. Due to an abundance of fish and waterfowl in the nearby lakes, it has long been a stopping place in the seasonal movement of people.

9. Traverse the Northwest Passage
The first record of exploration in Nunavut was 1576 when Martin Frobisher went in search of the Northwest Passage. Running east to west from north of Baffin Island to north of Alaska, many famed explorers have attempted to cross this passage, from Jacques Cartier to Captain James Cook. It’s a hazardous passageway lined with monstrous icebergs and severe whiteouts from blowing snow.

10. Ride on a Qamutik
A traditional form of transportation for the Inuit people, a qamutik is a long, wooden sleigh customarily pulled by dogs. It has a simple construction of slats of wood tied to two runners, however, each community has its own version.