| The Government of Canada’s objective is to have a park
representing each of Canada’s 39 natural regions. Certain
activities, such as harvesting of resources by aboriginal people
may continue in a national park but commercial resource extraction,
such as mining, is not permitted. Public appreciation and enjoyment
through education and tourism are encouraged as long as they do
not effect the ecological integrity of the park. The three existing
National Park Reserves in Nunavut got National Park status in 1999.
They are noted below along with the meaning of their names.
Auyuittuq National Park, whose area is 19 707 square
kilometres, is found on the Cumberland Peninsula of eastern Baffin Island.
This rugged mountain tundra park features active glaciers, deep valleys,
spectacular fjords, and many species of arctic mammals and birds. It attracts
adventure seekers from all over the world to hike and to climb its challenging
peaks. The name means ‘land that never melts’.
Quttinirpaaq National Park is found in northern Ellesmere
Island. This park protects the most remote, fragile, rugged, and northerly
lands in North America. Natural features include high mountains, deeply-cut
plateaux, a polar desert, and arctic tundra landscape. However, the central
feature is an Arctic oasis found around Hazen Lake. At 37 775 square kilometres,
it is Canada’s second largest national park (only Wood Buffalo National
Park is larger). The name, Quttinirpaaq, means ‘top of the world’.
Simirlik National Park covers approximately 22 000 square
kilometres and protects a representative part of the Eastern Arctic Lowlands
Natural Region and portions of the Lancaster Sound Marine Region. This
park is comprised of three separate areas: Bylot Island is a spectacular
area of rugged mountains, icefields and glaciers, coastal lowlands and
seabird colonies; Oliver Sound is a long, narrow fjord with excellent
opportunities for boating, hiking and camping; and the Borden Peninsula
of Baffin Island is an extensive plateau dissected by broad river valleys.
The park features landforms and superb wilderness hiking and camping,
and a major seabird colony in the vicinity of Baillarge Bay. The name
means ‘place of glaciers’.
Proposed National Parks
This section describes three areas in Nunavut being studied for proposed
National Parks.
Tuktut Nogait National Park is in Northwest Territories
but borders Nunavut. This park will be expanded to include additional
land in Nunavut. The added area would be surrounding Bluenose Lake, so
as to protect all the calving areas of the caribou herd associated with
this lake.
Another proposed park is Ukkusiksalik at Wager Bay,
north of Rankin Inlet. The area is an important location for steatite,
a rock formerly used in making pots and oil lamps in the traditional lifestyle
of the Inuit. The entire Wager Bay watershed is being studied for its
geological and tourism potential.
Northern Bathurst Island, (which may be renamed Tuktusiuqvialuk),
northwest of Resolute, is an area very representative of the High Arctic
physiographic province. Several features relating to its topography, geology,
fauna and flora can be observed including a major calving area for Peary
Caribou, an endangered species.
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