Nunavut is the newest, largest, and the northernmost territory of Canada, Iqaluit being the capital. Nunavut or ‘Our Land’ in Inuktitut, has a population of 38,780. Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, English, and French are the official languages of the territory. Nunavut is also home to the world’s northernmost permanently inhabited place, Alert. It was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, through the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act.
Nunavut’s greatest economic asset is its mineral wealth, which includes reserves of iron and nonferrous ores, precious metals and diamonds, and petroleum and natural gas. Turbot, shrimp, and Arctic char are fished and exported to southern markets. Mining is the principal resource-based industry in the territory. Lead, zinc, gold, and diamond are some of the major products.
The largest source of jobs here is the service sector- particularly government services as administration, health care, education, and welfare.
Tourism in Nunavut is based on outdoor activities and the territory’s natural beauty, as well as Inuit culture. The range of tourism activities includes ecotourism, exploration of Nunavut’s territorial and national parks, sport hunting, fishing, cultural, adventure, and educational activities. The minimum wage per hour is 13CAD in Nunavut.
Iqaluit- Nunavut’s Capital is where most trips to the territory begin and end. Traditional Inuit culture can be seen everywhere in the city. Outdoor activities like skiing, snowmobiling, and dogsledding are popular here, as are hunting, fishing, and berry picking. Stay in town to dine and explore, or head out into nature.
Auyuittuq National Park- The challenging terrain attracts hikers and skiers, most of whom follow the 95km Akshayuk Pass (known locally as Pang Pass), a traditional Inuit travel corridor that crosses the park. Visitors can also do day hikes to the Arctic Circle or tackle the terrain via dogsled or snowmobile.
Ellesmere Island- It is the perfect place to observe muskox, caribou, wolves, and lemmings. It is also a great place to take canoe and snowmobile tours, mountain climbing, backpacking or, a North Pole excursion of your own. The place has 24-hour daylight!
Iqalugaarjuup Nunanga Territorial Park- this beautiful park features a chain of lakes, tundra, wetlands, and all the varieties of animals that inhabit there. You can visit the park in the winter, by ski or snowmobile, in the summer, the birds are chirping, and the purple mountain flowers are in bloom.
Sirmilik National Park- it has one of the most diverse sets of wildlife in the Arctic. Narwhals, caribou, polar bears, ringed seals, and killer whales all travel the shore and the water. The park also houses an important bird sanctuary, Bylot Island, with over 70 species and hundreds of thousands of birds. Mountain climbing, ski touring, sea kayaking, touring the floe edge, where the sea ice meets the open water and visiting archeological sites- all can be done here.
