Aulavik, meaning “place where people travel”
in Inuvialuktun, protects more than 12,000 square kilometres of
arctic lowlands on the north end of Banks Island. The park encompasses
a variety of landscapes from fertile river valleys to polar deserts,
buttes and badlands, rolling hills, and bold seacoasts. At the
heart of Aulavik is the Thomsen River, which offers visitors a
chance to paddle one of the continent’s most northerly navigable
waterways. This pristine arctic environment is home to both the
endangered Peary caribou and to the highest density of muskoxen
in the world. The wildlife and land have supported aboriginal
peoples for more than 3,400 years, from Pre-Dorset cultures to
contemporary Inuvialuit.