Ivvavik National Park

Geography and climate

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 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.

To its the south, Ivvavik National Park borders Vuntut National Park, established in 1995 as part of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Final Agreement.

Climate ID: 2100660; coordinates ; elevation: 243.8 m; WMO ID: 71978; 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1995–present |Jan record high C = 6.5 |Feb record high C = 1.5 |Mar record high C = 5.4 |Apr record high C = 13.2 |May record high C = 27.9 |Jun record high C = 30.1 |Jul record high C = 31.5 |Aug record high C = 30.4 |Sep record high C = 22.4 |Oct record high C = 14.7 |Nov record high C = 3.7 |Dec record high C = 2.3 |Jan record low C = -45.0 |Feb record low C = -43.7 |Mar record low C = -44.0 |Apr record low C = -36.4 |May record low C = -23.7 |Jun record low C = -8.5 |Jul record low C = -2.7 |Aug record low C = -8.4 |Sep record low C = -18.5 |Oct record low C = -36.3 |Nov record low C = -38.2 |Dec record low C = -43.7 |access-date = 3 July 2024}}

Ecology

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

On the shore of Beaufort Sea, abundant Yukon wolves, grizzly bears, and black bears inhabit the area. Other animals that inhabit this park include two species of fox, Yukon moose, lemmings, Dall sheep, gyrfalcons, muskoxen, and wolverines. The area around Sheep Creek is the northernmost extension of Dall sheep habitat in Canada. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge lies just across the border in Alaska. The Firth River holds some of the longest stocks of Dolly Varden char in western Canada.

Activities and access

The most practical way to enter Ivvavik National Park is via charter aircraft from Inuvik, which is 200 km from the park. Activities such as rafting, fishing, wildlife viewing, camping, and hiking are available in the park. Rafting is available in late June to early August and rafting on the Firth River is a popular activity. A permit is required to fish in the park. There is a daily catch and possession limit of one Dolly Varden char with a restriction of three fish total. Camping is allowed in all areas of the park except archaeological sites and the park does not have any marked hiking trails.

References

References

1. Canada, Parks. "Parks Canada attendance 2022_23 - Parks Canada attendance 2022_23 - Open Government Portal".
2. Parks Canada. (2017-07-26). "Parks Can Can Canada 2017".
3. Finkelstein, Maxwell W.. "Ivvavik National Park". [[The Canadian Encyclopedia]].
4. 2018 - Park Management - Ivvavik National Park {{ISBN. 978-0-660-23910-1
5. Canada, Parks Canada Agency, Government of. "Parks Canada - Ivvavik National Park".
6. Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada. (2021-09-28). "Management Plan 2018 - Ivvavik National Park of Canada Management Plan 2018".
7. Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada. (January 3, 2018). "About - Ivvavik National Park".
8. (May 24, 2019). "Department of Environment".
9. Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada. (2021-09-28). "Plan your visit - Ivvavik National Park".
10. (2017). "National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of Canada.". National Geographic Partners.
11. Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada. (2018-01-12). "Fishing - Ivvavik National Park".