Herschel Island-Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park, Arctic nature reserve in Yukon, Canada
Herschel Island-Qikiqtaruk is a territorial park protecting a remote Arctic island off the northern Yukon coast in the Beaufort Sea. The landscape features tundra, coastal waters, and diverse wildlife habitats that reflect the harsh conditions of the Far North.
Sir John Franklin arrived at the island in 1826 and named it after astronomer Sir John Herschel. The area later became important for whaling operations before gaining protection as a territorial park.
The Inuvialuit have used these waters and shores for hunting and fishing for countless generations, leaving traces of their settlements across the island. This connection to the land remains visible and important to the people today.
The park is accessible from mid-June through mid-September when weather permits travel by charter flights or boats from nearby communities. Plan ahead as services are limited and the island remains remote and weather-dependent.
The island hosts one of the largest colonies of Black Guillemots in the western Arctic alongside over 200 plant species. This biological diversity often surprises visitors who expect less life in such harsh conditions.
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