Aulavik National Park: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|National ___locationpark =in [[Northwest Territories]], [[Canada]]}}

{{Infobox_protected_area | name = Aulavik National Park

{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}

| iucn_category = II

{{Infobox protected area

| image = Canadian National Parks Location.png

| captionname = Location of ''Aulavik National Park'' in [[Canada]]

| alt_name = Parc national Aulavik

| locator_x = 79

| photo = Aulavik muskox.jpg

| locator_y = 48

| photo_caption = Herd of muskox beside the Thomsen River

| ___location = [[Northwest Territories]], [[Canada]]

| iucn_category = II

| nearest_city = [[Yellowknife, Northwest Territories|Yellowknife]], [[Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories|Sachs Harbour]]

| iucn_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|title=Protected Planet {{!}} Aulavik National Park Of Canada|url=https://www.protectedplanet.net/100676|access-date=2020-10-13|website=Protected Planet}}</ref>

| lat_degrees = 74

| map = Canada#Canada Northwest Territories

| lat_minutes = 01

| map_caption = Location of ''Aulavik National Park''

| lat_seconds = 21

| lat_directionrelief = Nyes

| ___location = [[Banks Island]], [[Northwest Territories]], [[Canada]]

| long_degrees = 119

| nearest_city = [[Sachs Harbour]], [[Yellowknife]]

| long_minutes = 44

| coords = {{coord|73|45|N|119|37|W|region:CA-NT_dim:300000|display=inline,title}}

| long_seconds = 29

| areaarea_km2 = 12,200 km²

| long_direction = W

| established = 1992

| area = 12,200 km²

| visitation_num = 34

| established = 1992

| visitation_year = 2022–23<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Parks |title=Parks Canada attendance 2022_23 - Parks Canada attendance 2022_23 - Open Government Portal |url=https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/57c69cfc-fc85-495b-9eef-555a08404034/resource/020bfd16-2079-4fa7-839f-f4cc8c19851c |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=open.canada.ca |archive-date=2024-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111231343/https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/57c69cfc-fc85-495b-9eef-555a08404034/resource/020bfd16-2079-4fa7-839f-f4cc8c19851c |url-status=live }}</ref>

| visitation_num =

| governing_body = [[Parks Canada]]

| visitation_year =

| website = {{URL|http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nt/aulavik/index.aspx|Aulavik National Park}}

| governing_body = [[Parks Canada]]

| embedded = {{Infobox mapframe |wikidata=yes |zoom =5 |coord={{coord|73|45|N|119|37|W}}}}

}}

'''Aulavik National Park''' ({{IPAc-en|'|aʊ|l|ə|v|ɪ|k}} {{respell|OW|lə|vik}});<ref>{{cite AV media |author=Parks Canada |author-link=Parks Canada |date=2017-07-26 |title=Parks Can Can Canada 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkPzJaDTXL0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/gkPzJaDTXL0 |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|access-date=2019-05-19}}{{cbignore}}</ref> from the [[Inuvialuktun]] for "place where people travel") is a [[National Parks of Canada|national park]] located on [[Banks Island]] in the [[Northwest Territories]] of [[Canada]].<ref name="parkcan">{{cite web|title=Aulavik National Park of Canada |website=Parks Canada |url=http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nt/aulavik/index_E.asp |date=2015-05-07 |access-date=2015-05-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124185613/http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nt/aulavik/index_E.asp |archivedate=2008-01-24 }}</ref> It is known for its access to the [[Thomsen River]], one of the most northerly navigable rivers in [[North America]].<ref name="parkcan"/> The park is a fly-in park, and protects approximately 12,274 km².{{convert|12274|km2}} of [[Arctic lowlandsLowlands]] at the northern end of the island.<ref name="parkcan"/><ref name="getthere">{{cite web|url=http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nt/aulavik/visit/visit1.aspx#access |title=How to Get There - Aircraft access |website=Parks Canada |date=2013-11-18 |access-date=2015-05-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523015634/http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nt/aulavik/visit/visit1.aspx |archivedate=2015-05-23 }}</ref> The most practical way to visit the park is to charter a plane.,<ref Inname="getthere"/> [[2005]]and currently the park hadhas four landing sites.<ref name="map">{{cite web|title=How to Get There - Map of Aulavik |url=http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nt/aulavik/visit/visit1.aspx#map2 |website=Parks Canada |date=2013-11-18 |access-date=2015-05-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523015634/http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nt/aulavik/visit/visit1.aspx |archivedate=2015-05-23 }}</ref> Aulavik is considered a [[polar desert]] and often experiences high winds. Precipitation for the park is approximately {{convert|300 |mm|abbr=on}} per year.<ref name="parkclim">{{cite web|url=http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nt/aulavik/natcul/natcul1_E.asp#climate |title=Natural Wonders & Cultural Treasures - Climate |website=Parks Canada |date=2015-05-07 |access-date=2015-05-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060613124330/http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nt/aulavik/natcul/natcul1_e.asp |archivedate=2006-06-13 }}</ref> In the southern regions of the park a sparsely vegetated upland plateau reaches a height of {{convert|450 metres|m|abbr=on}} above sea level.<ref name="parkgeo">{{cite web|title=Natural Wonders & Cultural Treasures - Geography |url=http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nt/aulavik/natcul/natcul1.aspx#geography |website=Parks Canada |date=2015-05-07 |access-date=2015-05-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523015100/http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nt/aulavik/natcul/natcul1.aspx |archivedate=2015-05-23 }}</ref>

The park has the highest concentration of [[musk-oxenmuskox]]en on earth, with estimates of 68,000 to 80,000 animals on the island, approximately 20% of which are thought to reside in the park.<ref name="parkcan"/><ref name="parkwild">{{cite web|url=http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nt/aulavik/natcul/natcul1.aspx#wildlife |title=Natural Wonders & Cultural Treasures - Wildlife |website=Parks Canada |date=2015-05-07 |access-date=2015-05-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523015100/http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nt/aulavik/natcul/natcul1.aspx |archivedate=2015-05-23 }}</ref> It is also home to the endangered [[Peary Cariboucaribou]] as well as the more common [[Barrenbarren-ground Cariboucaribou]].<ref Thename="parkcan"/><ref name="parkwild"/> [[rock ptarmigan|Ptarmigan]] and [[raven]]s are considered the only year-round birds in the park, although 43 different species make seasonal use of the area.<ref name="parkbird">{{cite web|url=http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nt/aulavik/natcul/natcul1.aspx#birds |title=Natural Wonders & Cultural Treasures - Birds |website=Parks Canada |date=2015-05-07 |access-date=2015-05-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523015100/http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nt/aulavik/natcul/natcul1.aspx |archivedate=2015-05-23 }}</ref> The park is completely treeless.<ref>{{cite web|title=Natural Wonders & Cultural Treasures - Vegetation |url=http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nt/aulavik/natcul/natcul1.aspx#vegetation |website=Parks Canada |date=2015-05-07 |access-date=2015-05-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523015100/http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nt/aulavik/natcul/natcul1.aspx |archivedate=2015-05-23 }}</ref> It has 150 species of flowering plants.<ref>{{Cite book|title=National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of Canada, and2nd Edition.|publisher=National Geographic Partners|year=2017|isbn=978-1-4262-1756-2|pages=348}}</ref> [[arcticArctic fox]]es, [[North American Brownbrown Lemminglemming|brown]] and [[Northernnorthern Collaredcollared Lemminglemming]]s, [[Arctic hare]]s and [[GrayArctic Wolfwolf|wolves]] roam the rugged terrain. Marine mammals along the north coast include [[polar bear]]s, [[ringed seal]]s, [[bearded seal]]s, [[beluga whale]]s and [[bowhead whale]]s. Birds of prey in the park include [[snowy owl]]s, [[Roughrough-legged Buzzardbuzzard|rough-legged hawk]]s, [[Gyr Falcongyrfalcon]]s, and [[Peregrineperegrine Falconfalcon]]s, who feed on the lemmings.<ref name="parkwild"/><ref name="parkbird"/>

Prior to the arrival of the [[Thule people|Thule culture]] in southern Banks Island there were some [[Dorset culture|Pre-Dorset culture]] people living in what is now the Aulavik National Park.<ref name="parkhist">{{cite web|title=History and culture |url=http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nt/aulavik/natcul/natcul2.aspx |website=Parks Canada |date=2015-05-07 |access-date=2015-05-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124858/http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nt/aulavik/natcul/natcul2.aspx |archivedate=2016-03-04 }}</ref> Due to the cooling climate brought on by the [[Little Ice Age]] Banks Island was most likely deserted until the arrival of the [[Inuvialuit]] in the 17th century.<ref name="parkhist"/>

Aulavik National Park has two major bays, Castel Bay and Mercy Bay, and lies south of the [[M'Clure Strait]]. Captain [[Robert M'Clure]], spent two winters in Mercy Bay on the [[HMS Investigator]], while searching for the missing Franklin Expedition between [[1850]] and [[1853]]. M'Clure's team abandoned their ship in Mercy Bay and hiked across the sea-ice of the strait to board another ship, the HMS Resolute.

Aulavik National Park has two major bays, [[Castel Bay]] and [[Mercy Bay]], and lies south of the [[M'ClureMcClure Strait]]. Captain [[Robert M'ClureMcClure]], spent two winters in Mercy Bay on the [[HMS Investigator (1848)|HMS ''Investigator'']], while searching for the missing Franklin[[John Expedition betweenFranklin]]'s [[1850Franklin's lost expedition|lost expedition]] between 1850 and [[1853]]. M'ClureMcClure's team abandoned their ship in Mercy Bay and hiked across the sea-ice of the strait to board another ship, the HMS ''Resolute''.<ref name="parkhist"/> [[Nangmagvik Lake]] is located within this national park.

The Mercy Bay area was visited by the [[Copper Inuit]] of [[Victoria Island (Canada)|Victoria Island]] to salvage materials left by McClure's party.<ref name="parkhist"/> They also hunted the caribou and muskox in the area as evidenced by the large number of food caches.<ref name="parkhist"/> In the 20th century the area was popular with Inuvialuit due to the large numbers of foxes.<ref name="parkhist"/> Until the [[fur trade]] went into decline, fox trapping provided a source of income for people from as far away as the [[Mackenzie River|Mackenzie Delta]] and the [[Alaska North Slope|North Slope]] of [[Alaska]].<ref name="parkhist"/> This influx of people led to the establishment of [[Sachs Harbour]], the only community on the island.<ref name="parkhist"/>

==See also==

*[[CanadianList of National Parks of Canada]]

*[[List of Canadianprotected nationalareas parksof the Northwest Territories]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

*Parks Canada

== External link ==

*[http://pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nt/aulavik/index_e.asp Official site]

{{National parks of Canada}}

{{Northwest Territories parks}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:National parks ofin Canadathe Northwest Territories|Northwest]]

[[Category:GeographyParks ofin the Northwest Territories]]

[[Category:Protected areas established in 1992]]

[[Category:Banks Island]]

[[de:Aulavik-Nationalpark]]

[[Category:Protected areas in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region]]

[[pl:Park Narodowy Aulavik]]

[[Category:1992 establishments in the Northwest Territories]]

[[pt:Parque Nacional Aulavik]]