northern canada & alaska far north adventure chapter 4

Northern Canada& Alaska

Far North Adventure

Chapter 4

Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited

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Cap of North America Unique Destinations Fishing & Hunting Nature Lovers Paradise Adventure and Eco Adventure Recreation

Niche Market


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How Travellers Get There Air -

YZF, YEV, YFB, YXY First Air, Canadian North

ANC, FAI, JNU Alaska Air

Usually connections


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How Travellers Get There (cont.)

Road Travel Alaska Highway Mackenzie Highway #1

Not completely paved Hazardous during inclement weather Motorists advised to check reports before

attempting travel into the northern regions


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How Travellers Get There (cont.)

Cruising Inside Passage cruising very popular in summer

Seattle and Vancouver Anchorage, Whittier, Seward

Allows pax to view scenery and take tours from the ship

Many cruise lines have train/bus tours to enhance cruise experience


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When to Go

Winters Dark – 20 hours/day Freezing Snow

Summer July & August * Daylight – 20hrs/day Jun/Sep budget


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Getting Around Road travel

Watch for gas stations Air

Expensive but quick Train

Alaska – ANC – FAI – AlaskaPass Cruises

popular


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Northwest Territories Land of the Midnight Sun

Because of latitude – daylight almost 24 hours in the summer – but – opposite in winter!

Northern Lights Aurora Borealis in autumn & winter

Wildlife Wolves, whales, bison, bear Moose, muskoxen, caribou


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Northwest Territories (cont.)

Wilderness Boreal forests, tundra, mountains

First Nations culture 1.17 million sq km pop. >40,000 – 33 communities Longest Canadian River

Mackenzie 2 of Canada’s Largest Lakes

Great Slave & Great Bear


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Yellowknife

Great Slave Lake 512km s of Arctic Circle Only City in NWT Prince of Wales Heritage Centre Midnight Golf Classic www.ykgolf.com

Built on gold – now on diamonds Crafts, jewellery, Canadian Arctic Diamonds

http://www.ykgolf.com/


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Nahanni National Park

4766 km² Nahanni River Whitewater wilderness river

Alpine tundra, mountain ranges

Access via Fort Simpson UNESCO World Heritage Site

Virginia Falls – vertical drop 2X Niagara


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Nunavut April 1, 1999 formed “our land” in Inuktitut language of Inuit Access by air or sealift 2 million km² - only 26 communities Exotic arctic wilderness adventures

Polar bears, narwhals, walruses, char Summer – daylight & flora, midnight sun Insect repellent mandatory!

Iqualuit – pop >6000


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Yukon Klondike gold rush -1898 Frontier spirit – historical

sites

Spectacular scenery Land of Midnight Sun Northern Lights Mount Logan


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Yukon (cont.)

Dawson, first capital Transferred to Whitehorse in 1953

Alaska highway & pipeline Pierre Burton

Born Whitehorse, lived in Dawson Robert W Service

lived in Whitehorse Cremation of Sam McGee


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Whitehorse Home to 2007 Canada Winter Games Miles Canyon SS Klondike sternwheeler MacBride Museum Old Log Church Museum Yukon Wildlife preserve Takhini Hot Springs


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Kluane National Park

22,000km² SW corner of Yukon Mt. Logan www.peakware.com/peaks.html?pk=155

Tallest in Canada, 2nd in N.A. 5951M

http://www.peakware.com/peaks.html?pk=155


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Alaska Largest state in US Bought from Russia in 1867

Approx 2¢ per acre Dog mushing is state sport Natural beauty

Wildlife viewing, glacier hikes “an adventure of a lifetime”

Pan for gold, fishing


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Juneau

Capital of Alaska Narrow streets, network of staircases Mt. Roberts ( tram ) & Mt, Juneau Gateway to glaciers

Mendenhall Glacier – 21 km from Juneau www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/webcam.html

Drive in glacier Plane ship or ferry – no road access

http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/webcam.html


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Anchorage

Alaska’s largest city Modern metropolis surrounded by wilderness Festivals & sporting events Wilderness experiences – winter & summer Portage Glacier & Begich Boggs Visitor Centre

just 80 km south


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Other towns….. Fairbanks

Land of the Midnight Sun, Gold Rush

Nome Similar to 100 years ago except for access

Point Barrow Northernmost spot in US Sun rises on May 10 – sets on Aug 2 Sun sets on Nov 18 – does not rise until Jan 24


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Inside Passage

Natural protected waterway 1500km BC coast to Alaska Sitka, Skagway, Ketchikan,

Glacier Bay Carnival, Celebrity, Crystal,

HAL, NCL Princess, Regent 7 Seas,

RCL BC Ferry Service partially


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Alaska Railroad

Rail service from Seward to Fairbanks Great views of landscape & wildlife

Moose, Dall sheep, bear, elk Service between ANC & FAI

Mt McKinley and Denali State Park White Pass & Yukon

Skagway & Whitehorse – rail/bus Often used in cruise/tours


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Denali National Park

2485826 hectares 130 miles n of Anchorage Mt. McKinley – 6,194m

Permanent snowfields cover >½ mountain Known locally as Denali “great one”

Glaciers, tundra & wildlife


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Accommodations Rustic

Lodges Cabins Camping Bed & Breakfast

Hotels found only in larger cities Alyeska Prince Hotel www.alyeskaresort.com

Only AAA 4 diamond-rated hotel in Alaska

http://www.alyeskaresort.com/

northern canada & alaska far north adventure chapter 4

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