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Alberta/British Columbia/ Manitoba/Newfoundland/New Brunswick/North West Territories/Nova Scotia/Nunavut/Ontario/Prince Edward Island/Quebec/Saskatchewan/Yukon
| NUNAVUT |
Capital City: Iqaluit
On April 1, 1999, Nunavut became Canada's newest territory, encompassing the
central and eastern Arctic regions - nearly one-fifth of Canada's land mass.
Originally
part of the Northwest Territories, its creation was first proposed in the
mid-1970s as
part of the Inuit land claim. The establishment of Nunavut, which means "our
land" in
Inuktitut, represents a landmark event in the history of Inuit and Canada.
Nunavut has a population of about 28,000 - of whom 85 per cent are Inuit and 60
per cent are under the age of 25. Close to one-fifth of the population lives in
Iqaluit.
There are 28 communities scattered through Nunavut’s vast arctic tundra, some of
which are hundreds or thousands of years old. Winter is close to nine months
long in
this region, with snow covering the ground for most of the year. Mining, shrimp
and
scallop fishing, hunting and trapping, and arts and crafts production are the
key
industries.
Tourism is also a growing industry, with the chance to experience rich Inuit
culture
first-hand, and major attractions such as Auyuittuq National Park. Three new
national parks will be created under the terms of the Nunavut land claim
settlement.
You can also enjoy Arctic adventures such as kayaking through wild rapids or
taking
a dog team across the tundra. Nunavut is home to a variety of wildlife,
including
polar bears, muskoxen, whales and Atlantic walruses.
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