Page 373 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Canada

6
Norman Wells
~ # Daily n 23 MacKenzie
Dr; www.normanwells.com
In 1920 crude oil discoveries
were made here near a small
Dene settlement. Oil produc­
tion surged in World War II,
when the US established a
pipeline to supply oil to the
Alaska Highway while it was
being built, and the town grew.
Our Lady of Victory Church, often called the Today, Norman Wells is the
Igloo Church, on Mackenzie Road in Inuvik starting point for the Canol
Heritage Trail, a long­distance
wilderness trail through to
the 1970s. Full of functional The settlement of Paulatuk the Canol Road above the
contemporary archi tecture, it lies 250 miles (400 km) east of Ross River in the Yukon
has a charm that lies mainly in Inuvik and is one of the Territory, which links up with
its location as a good visitors’ smal lest communities in the the Yukon High way system.
center for the region – there NWT. It is well placed for There are few facilities along
are a few hotels and several hunting and fishing; these the trail, making it one of the
shops, which is no mean feat activities remain its staple toughest trekking paths in the
for a town that boasts just a support after many centuries. world. Despite this, it is a
single traffic light. It is, none­ Its location is also useful as a popular destination with
theless, the most­visited town stepping­stone to the wilder­ experienced hikers.
in the northern Arctic, and ness, as tourism in the region
popular as a craft center and becomes increasingly popular.
as a starting point for a tour
of the far north.
5 STAY
Fort Providence
The Arctic
@ n Northern Frontier Chalet Resort
Visitors Association,
This hotel features
4–4807 49th St, comfortable rooms with
Yellowknife; (867) 873 kitchenettes and ski-
4262 to-door access. Other
The Dene people call this on-site activities
village “zhahti koe,” which include dog-sledding
means mission house in their tours, canoe ing,
language. Fort Providence and kayaking.
began life as a Catholic ⌂ 25 Carn St, Inuvik
mission. It was later enlarged ∑ arcticchalet.com
by Hudson’s Bay Company, \\\
which set up an outpost here
in the late 19th century. The
prospect of employ ment Nova Inn Inuvik
attracted the local Dene First A modern, simply
Nations people to settle here furnished hotel with
perma nently. Today, the town cozy fire places to warm
is a Dene handicrafts center. yourself at after bracing
the cold. Continental
Just north of the village lies breakfasts are included.
the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary,
home to the world’s largest ⌂ 300 Mackenzie Rd,
herd of rare pure wood bison. Inuvik ∑ novahotels.ca
The park stretches north \\\
along the banks of Great Slave
Lake, and bison can be seen
along the road.
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