Nunavut is a massive, sparsely populated territory of northern Canada, forming most of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Its islands have expanses of tundra, craggy mountains and remote villages, accessible only by plane or boat. It’s known for its indigenous Inuit people’s artwork, carvings and handmade clothing. Inuit art is displayed at the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum in the capital, Iqaluit, on Baffin Island.
The Inuit constitute more than four-fifths of Nunavut’s population; nearly all of the rest are of European descent. The language of the Inuit, Inuktitut, consisting of several dialect groups, is spoken widely. It has two writing systems: roman letters and a syllabic system developed in the 19th century by European missionaries. The territorial government recognizes Inuinnaqtun, an Inuktitut dialect spoken in western Nunavut and written in roman letters, as one of the territory’s four main languages (Inuktitut, English, and French are the other three).
Capital: Iqaluit
Population: 36,858 (2021)
Official Website: https://www.gov.nu.ca/
Tourism website: https://travelnunavut.ca/
Tourist Attractions:
Officially established in 1999, Canada’s Nunavut Territory is an administrative unit that was once part of the former Northwest Territories. And it’s a very big place. Nunavut covers the whole of the eastern section of northern Canada and is a wonderful place to learn about the attractions, history, culture, nature, and best places to visit in Canada’s Far North.
Craft- and handicraft-based businesses have achieved extraordinary success here. Produced mainly in small workshops, the territory’s leather goods, jewelry, and ivory work have great appeal for tourists visiting this and other regions of Canada. Hence, in addition to meeting the demand from the as-yet small number of tourists who visit the Far North, there is a lively “export trade” to the major tourist centers of the Canadian South, including Québec, Toronto, and Vancouver.
- Baffin Island
- Auyuittuq National Park
- Iqaluit
- Ellesmere Island
- Quttinirpaaq National Park
- Sirmilik National Park
- Naujaat (Repulse Bay)
- Belcher Islands
- Pond Inlet
- Qaummaarviit Territorial Park