High Arctic holidays
More and more tourists are hitting the ice floes

by Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 19/97) - Picture yourself camping on sea ice three hours north of Pond Inlet, where the ice meets the ocean and the spring sun never sets.

Travelling to the community of about 900 has become one of the most popular High Arctic tourist destinations, according to David Monteith, assistant director of parks and tourists in Iqaluit.

"The further north you go, the more pristine and untouched the environment," he said.

Situated on the migratory route for several sea mammals, such as bowhead whales and seals, the ice floes are filled with jumping fish, nesting birds and wandering polar bears.

Where else can you see Canada's rarest of animal species?

The journey to the remote location -- three hours by snowmachine on ice off the coast of North Baffin Island -- is certainly one for only the most determined of travellers.

The link between the Northwest passage and the Arctic is successfully attracting a whole new breed of tourists, said Monteith.

More and more tourists are spending the extra cash to fly into these out-of-the-way places to see the natural environment, he added.

Parks Canada is working to get more national parks and historic rivers into place in the High Arctic to attract visitors from down south.

One of these places is on Bathurst Island where there may eventually be a national park that will include a reserve area for the endangered Peary caribou.

In an era when zoos are becoming increasingly scrutinized, natural habitats like Bathurst Island are getting more and more visitors who want to see the animals.

"These are some of the attractions the North can offer," he said. "The numbers are steadily increasing."

The increase in tourist traffic in the High Arctic can be attributed to better-equipped hotels and visitor centres, he added.

More people are recognizing the potential for tourism, and setting up the infrastructure to make the industry flourish.