Kugluktuk

Kugluktuk is an Arctic settlement at the mouth of Coppermine River in the Kitikmeot Region, stretching along Coronation Gulf. Sitting at about 23 meters elevation, it marks the westernmost community of Nunavut near the Northwest Territories border.

British expeditions explored the region in the early 1800s, documenting the waterways and resources around Coppermine River. Later, Peter Warren Dease and Thomas Simpson explored the river valley in the 1830s and contributed to early mapping of the area.

The settlement's name comes from the Inuinnaqtun language, meaning 'place of moving water,' and the 1996 renaming from Coppermine reflected a reconciliation between Dene and Inuit communities living here.

The village sits on an exposed coastline with harsh weather for much of the year, so sturdy footwear and warm clothing are essential. Navigation within the settlement is straightforward since buildings cluster mainly along the shoreline.

The Coppermine River valley creates a microclimate allowing stunted trees to grow north of the typical Arctic tree line. Visitors can spot this unexpected forest formation and witness a rare botanical feature of the far north.

Location: Kugluktuk

Elevation above the sea: 23 m

GPS coordinates: 67.82556,-115.09500

Latest update: December 6, 2025 22:01