“Where
exactly is Inuvik located?”
Inuvik is located at 68º 18´N, 133º 29´W. Inuvik is located along
the East Channel of the Mackenzie River Delta and is 97 km south of the Beaufort
Sea. Inuvik is 10 degrees further west than Vancouver and 2 degrees above the Arctic Circle.
“What is the population
of Inuvik”?
The population of Inuvik is 3,451 according to GNWT Bureau of Statistics (2000).
“How cold can it get
in the winter and how warm does it get in the summer?”
The extreme minimum temperature is -56.7 degrees Celsius (-70.06 degrees
Fahrenheit). The extreme maximum temperature is +31.7 degrees Celsius (89.06
degrees Fahrenheit).
“Is it true that the
sun does not set in the summertime?”
Inuvik enjoys 56 days of 24 hour daylight (late June, July and part of
August) and has 30 days without sunlight mostly in the month of December,
with the
return of the sun in early January.
Comparison of Daylight and Twilight Hours: Inuvik
and New York City |
| DATE |
INUVIK
(HRS DAYLIGHT) |
INUVIK
(HRS TWILIGHT) |
NEW YORK
(HRS DAYLIGHT) |
NEW YORK
(HRS TWILIGHT) |
| January |
0 |
5:25 |
9:20 |
1:01 |
| February |
5:49 |
2:27 |
10:08 |
0:58 |
| March |
9:40 |
1:55 |
11:18 |
0:55 |
| April |
13:57 |
2:12 |
12:42 |
0:55 |
| May |
18:15 |
4:22 |
13:58 |
0:59 |
| June |
24-hour daylight |
0 |
14:54 |
1:05 |
| July |
24-hour daylight |
0 |
15:02 |
1:06 |
| August |
19:48 |
4:12 |
14:19 |
1:01 |
| September |
15:06 |
2:13 |
13:05 |
0:56 |
| October |
11:09 |
1:52 |
11:46 |
0:55 |
| November |
6:55 |
2:14 |
10:26 |
0:57 |
| December |
1:52 |
4:08 |
9:29 |
1:01 |
(source: Canada’s Western Arctic Handbook) “ I would like to go
and dip my toe in the Arctic Ocean. Can I drive there from Inuvik?"
In order to access the Beaufort Sea via Tuktoyaktuk. The only time you
can travel by
road from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk is during the winter months (i.e. January
to April
approximately) on the temporary ice road on the Mackenzie River. The
ice road allows
for road travel to both Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk from Inuvik. During the
rest of the
year, road travel is not possible. For further information on Mackenzie
Delta ice road
conditions visit www.hwy.dot.gov.nt.ca/highways. Scheduled flights and
chartered
flights are available to Tuktoyaktuk and other communities in the Beaufort
Delta. In the
summer, some adventurers travel the Mackenzie River via boat.
“I am planning on embarking
the Dempster Highway and driving to Inuvik. Do you have
any travel tips for me along this route?”
The Dempster is a beautiful drive with spectacular scenery along the
way. It is also important to note that it is a gravel road that is
regularly maintained. Having said that, the road does have some rough
areas along
the way and it
is not uncommon to acquire a flat tire. Be sure to have a couple spare
tires with
you and ensure that your vehicle has gone through a pre-trip inspection.
It
is also a good idea to pack an extra can of gasoline just in case as
the
service stations along the way are not as prevalent as on major highways
down south.
It is also important to note that driving the Dempster to Inuvik consists
of crossing two bodies of water, the Peel River and the Mackenzie at
Tsiigehtchic). During the winter months these become two ice crossings
and in the summer,
ferry crossings. During ice break-up and freeze up times, these crossings
are
closed.
For conditions of the Dempster crossings visit www.hwy.dot.gov.nt.ca/highways.
For further information on the Dempster Highway
visit www.dempsterhighway.com.
“How is the bug season
in your area?”
Being an area surrounded by many bodies of water, the mosquitos
and black flies do
come out in full force mainly in late June and July. Be sure to
pack bug spray. Bug
jackets, pants, hats, etc. are another idea and these items are
available to purchase in
town.
“How can I obtain further
information on Inuvik and the Beaufort Delta region?”
For further information please email: tourism@town.inuvik.nt.ca or by signing up for our electronic updates in the form below
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