Outdoor Activities/Wildlife

Iqalugaarjup Nunanga Territorial Park

Visitors can immerse themselves in a Stone-Age Culture by visiting the nearby Iqalugaarjup Nunanga Territorial Park and catch glimpses of Ancient Inuit Traditions. This Thule Site is located on the mouth of the Meliadine River which is 5 km north of Rankin Inlet and accessible by road. Both the Meliadine River & nearby Diane River are favorite fishing spots for local residents.

Marble Island:

During the short summer– June, July & August, local tour guides can take you on fishing trips to nearby locations. You could also take a Guided Boat Tour to Marble Island, 32 km south of Rankin Inlet. This eerily white island can be seen as a mirage from Rankin Inlet. This is where the famous James Knight expedition of 1721 perished. James Knight and his crew were searching for the famous Northwest Passage and valuable minerals. You can see the remains of one of their ships and their ancient graves.

Wildlife:

The local wildlife includes:

Polar Bear – Top of the Northern Food Chain. Largest of all bears. Skilled hunters – mainly hunting marine mammals. Sizes range from: males – 350 to over 650 kg and females from 150 to 250 kg. Colour varies from pure white to creamy yellow.

Wolves – Has a complex social hierarchy. Larger than a sled dog. Usually white colour in this area. But closer to the treeline, the colour varies.

Foxes – Arctic Fox can change colours with the seasons, from white or bluish-gray during the winter to yellowish- white & brown in the summer. Foxes usually live a nomad life & travel alone. Foxes home range is 16 to 25 sq. km.
Red Fox or Cross Fox – larger than Arctic Foxes. Has started traveling to the Arctic since the 1940s and has increased steadily ever since. Foxes usually live a nomad life & travel alone.

Wolverine – one of the larger species of the weasel family. The wolverine has a muscular body, strong legs & short bushy tail. The wolverine is widely known to stand up to Polar Bears, to raid traps and raid cached food.

Walrus – marine mammal, lives in packs, has 2 long tusks. The male tusks are larger than the female tusks. Males usually weigh up to 800 kg and females up to 500 kg.

Whales – mostly Beluga Whales in this area, occasional Bowhead whales or Narwhales. Beluga whales migrate from Churchill, MB during the summer, and return there in the fall.

Caribou – Have adapted to the cold. Usually travel in herds. Main source of food for Inuit. Available throughout the year. Main diet: lichen, moss & mushrooms.

Birds – Canada Geese, Snow Geese, Bunting, Peregrine Falcon, Gyr Falcon, Raven, Seagull, Owls, Loons, Sandhill Cranes, Swans, Arctic Terns and in recent years Red Robins.

Fish – Arctic Char, Trout, Greyling, and Rock Cod

Siksik – Arctic Ground Squirrel is a social animal that live in colonies. They live in burrows, which have many entrances. These burrows can be hindered by permafrost.