Page 361 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Canada

Polar bears on an ice floe off the coast of Baffin Island

NORTHWEST

TERRITORIES
AND NUNAVUT

Still one of the most remote destinations on Earth,
this part of Northern Canada – renowned for its
Arctic beauty – is now accessible to adventurous
travelers in search of untouched terrain. Many of
the settlements at this brink of the world were
established only in the 20th century. Some of the
first towns grew up around Mountie outposts,
established to monitor trappers, explorers, and
whalers; more recently, defense outposts have
developed settlements. Local Inuit communities
have gradually given up their nomadic life, and
many are now settled around these outposts. These
small towns are bases for exploring the stunning
surrounds. In the winter, the north descends to -58°F
(-50°C), yet in summer warm air sweeps in and the
tundra bursts into bloom. The thaw acts in defiance
of eight long months of winter, when everything
is draped in a blanket of white. This is a startlingly
beautiful region, with deserted plains, icy trails,
and rare wildlife ripe for discovery.
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