Canada's Arctic

Jed  Jongens the places you’ve been: Yellowknife, Hay River, Tuktoyaktuk, north on the sea ice around the Hudson Bay, Norman Wells, just for a start many people do not really consider even a part of the true Arctic.

The Canadian Arctic

In general, the vegetation of the Canadian Arctic is the tundra and growing season is short. Plants species in the tundra are very limited and their length of the growth is short. They are adapted to the heavy snow and winds. Cotton grass, sedge, dwarf heath, shrubs, mosses and lichens are the most common vegetation in the Canadian Arctic.

Three types of ecosystems are contained in the Canadian Arctic: the Arctic Cordillera, Northern Arctic and Southern Arctic; to differentiate where different plants species are located.

Southern Arctic                                

Surface Area - 2,799,230 kilometres square

Location - It covers much of the northern mainland of Canada from Yukon Territory to northern Quebec. It is the largest of the three arctic ecozones, and has the highest species diversity.

Climate - In the summer, it is green with beautiful vegetation. It has long, cold winters and short, cool summers.

Many oil patch, mining and resource exploration companies do not even consider this area as real arctic. Usually, Arctic winter packs are not mandatory as they are in “TRUE” arctic areas.

Arctic Cordillera                               

Location - It surrounds the northeastern borderline of the Nunavut and the northern Labrador.

Climate - Arid and cold, harsh climate in the north. Somewhat milder and humid in the southernmost portions.

Vegetation - In the upper elevations of the area, there are not much vegetation to be seen since the land is mostly covered by permanent ice and snow. Arctic willow survives

Northern Arctic

Location - Most of the arctic islands, NORTH of Nunavut and Northwest Territories.

Climate - The northern arctic, is the harshest environment, coldest and driest part of the landscape. ARCTIC PACKS ARE MANDATORY-PERIOD. You cannot board a plane (only practical way of getting there) to fly in without one.