Inuvik - Life in the Arctic
6th of July 2014
Our Cottage at Arctic Chalets |
Inside cottage |
It was nice to laze around after our eventful tour yesterday to Tuktoyaktuk.
We decided to spend the day just walking and driving around Inuvik.
This town has an interesting beginning. In the 1950 the Canadian Government decided to built this brand new town to replace Aklavik on the Peel River, which was prone to flood and had unstable homes.
Inuvik was built from scratch on pilings above the permafrost.
All the services for fresh water and sewer are above ground in "Utilidors". Utilidors are conduits covered by corrugated steel, connected to most buildings and homes.
Inuvik Northwest Territories. The Western Arctic |
Utilidors where sewer and water goes. |
Utilidors |
Utilidors |
All houses are on pilings. |
Inuvik |
Inuvik Hospital |
Old hockey arena converted to a green house. |
There are good chances for the locals to further their education. |
Talking to the locals, we heard mixed reactions to the project.
The challenge to build a permanent road over the arctic landscape is immense with the permafrost, the tundra, the Mackenzie River delta, and the extreme weather conditions.
The traditions of the Inuvialut, Gwich'in and Metis people are mixed in with today's daily life.
The old hockey arena with the glass roof is being reborn as the huge communal greenhouse with garden plots for individual families.
The local Aurora College gives the approximate 3500 people of Inuvik opportunities the further their education.
Tourism is still in its infancy. The local hotels looked lonely.
One hopes for the economy to improve for Inuvik, but on the other hand it is nice to still find a few old customs and traditional people here above the Arctic Circle.
For more pictures from in and around Inuvik have a look at our "Inuvik Album".
>>>NEXT>>> post in this series.
Here are some shortcuts to all the blogs post from our Yukon and Alaska Trip. Just hover over the number to see where it will take you.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40
41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47,
Here are some shortcuts to all the blogs post from our Yukon and Alaska Trip. Just hover over the number to see where it will take you.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40
41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47,
No comments:
Post a Comment