Ivvavik National Park

Ivvavik National Park
Parc national Ivvavik (French)
IUCN category II (national park)
Sheep Slot Rapids on the Firth River
Map showing the location of Ivvavik National ParkParc national Ivvavik (French)
Location of Ivvavik National Park in Canada
Location Yukon, Canada
Nearest city Inuvik
Coordinates 69°31′11″N 139°31′30″W / 69.51972°N 139.52500°W / 69.51972; -139.52500Coordinates: 69°31′11″N 139°31′30″W / 69.51972°N 139.52500°W / 69.51972; -139.52500
Area 10,168 km2 (3,926 sq mi)
Established 1984
Governing body Parks Canada

Ivvavik National Park is located in Yukon, Canada. Initially named "Northern Yukon National Park," the park was renamed Ivvavik in 1992 for the Inuvialuktun word meaning "nursery" or "birthplace."[1] Created as a result of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement in 1984, negotiated between the Canadian Government and the Inuvialuit of the Northern Yukon, Ivvavik is the first national park in Canada to be established as a result of an aboriginal land claims agreement.[2]

Ivvavik contains the British Mountains which run east to west, parallel to the Arctic coast, and merge into the Brooks Range in Alaska. Draining north through the Park from the British Mountains is the Firth River, the oldest river in Canada[3] and considered one of the great rafting rivers of the world. The river starts from year-round aufeis formations at the headwaters and then flows through extensive canyon areas before forming a huge delta as it enters the Beaufort Sea just west of Herschel Island. The first raft descent was by Martyn Williams, Alan Dennis and Jim Boyde. Gold miners have operated on the Firth River and at Sheep Creek until the area became a National Park. The area around Sheep Creek is the northern most extension of Dall sheep habitat in Canada

The park contains many cultural sites of continuing importance to the local indigenous people, both Inuit and Indian. Protecting a portion of the calving grounds of the Porcupine caribou herd, the park allows only a minimal number of people to visit per year.

On the shore of Beaufort Sea, there is abundant game for timber wolves, grizzly bears, and black bears that inhabit the area. Other animals that inhabit this park two species of fox, moose, lemmings, Dall sheep, gyrfalcons, muskoxen, and wolverines. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge lies just across the border in Alaska.

On the south-east, Ivvavik National Park borders Vuntut National Park, established in 1995. Due to land claims negotiations, Vuntut is still quite undeveloped and has no roads or developed trails. Due to its undeveloped nature, several people have gotten lost and are presumed dead.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Finkelstein, Maxwell W. "Ivvavik National Park". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  2. ↑ Canada, Parks Canada Agency, Government of. "Parks Canada - Ivvavik National Park". www.pc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  3. ↑ http://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/yt/ivvavik/info
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