The communities of Nunavut
The communities of Nunavut are scattered over vast distances:
- Clinton Point (western edge of Nunavut) to the eastern tip of Baffin Island: 2,500km.
- Alert (northern tip of land) to Manitoba border: 2,500km.
Nunavut is 1/5 the size of Canada and contains the geographical centre of Canada (Baker Lake).
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All Nunavut communities have in recent years seen an astonishing rate of new construction and upgrading. Typically, all communities have at least one (usually two) general and food merchandise stores and a small hotel with restaurant. Every community derives its electrical power from diesel generators and the majority of building heat is from fuel oil. Houses are cozy and well insulated, and all windows are triple-paned. Telephone services are via satellites. CBC radio and cable television are available in each community. All communities have schools. Construction materials, vehicles and dry goods are shipped in by barge (sealift) in the summer.
Communities are serviced by frequent air transport. There are no roads linking Nunavut to the rest of Canada. With the exceptions of small boat, snowmobile or dog travel, all movement between communities is by air.
Local Newspaper: The Nunatsiaq News http://www.nunatsiaq.com/
Nunavut Tourism site - http://www.nunavuttourism.com/site/default.asp?Id=69
Nunavut Handbook- http://www.nunavuthandbook.com/about.html
Facts about Nunavut
For Statistic Canada Community Profiles --
http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Index.cfm?Lang=E
Population (1996) census: 24,883
Number of Inuit (as of 1995): 19,500
Birthrate (1991): Nunavut 33%, Canada 15%
Population under 25 years of age (1991):Nunavut 59%, Canada 25%
Languages spoken: Inuktituk, Inuinnaqtun, English, French
Employed population (1994): 7,417
Proportion of families that rely on
Hunting/fishing for their meat: 59%
Average personal income (1992) $25,440.00
Size: 1.9 million square kilometres
Size on Inuit – owned lands: 355.842 square kilometres
Capital: Iqaluit
Weather
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Nunavut is a huge territory, and the weather can vary widely. As a rule, in July and August, inland areas are warmer than coastal regions, and the western regions are warmer than the Baffin area.
Spring temperatures are more consistent throughout Nunavut with average daytime highs between -20C and -10C. Cool days are tempered by sunshine. From late March to the end of May, sun reflected off the snow and ice can cause severe sunburn.
In the winter, be prepared for cold temperatures and short days. The further north one goes, the shorter the winter days get. Communities north of the Arctic Circle do not see the sun for stretches at a time. Conversely, during the summer, the further north you go, the more 24 hours of daylight you experience.
Low humidity reduces the impact of the cold, making a -20C feel like a -5C in southern Canada. January, February, and March are the coldest months with temperatures of
-30C or -40C. Wind chills will often drop the temperature another 10 to 20 degrees.
Most of the Arctic is a polar desert making for long stretches of cloudless days without precipitation. Throughout most of Nunavut, cool temperatures mean that snow generally does not completely melt until June. On most of the land, the only months without snow are July and August. The ocean is free of ice for the months of August and September. Most rain falls after the sea ice breaks up, usually between mid-July and the end of August.
Blizzards are most common in October and November and in the spring, February through April. Travel can be severely affected at these times due to visibility. In summer, strong winds, unpredictable cloud cover, and fog can hamper travel.
