Auyuittuq National Park (Inuktitut: ᐊᐅᔪᐃᑦᑐᖅ, IPA:[aujuitːuq], "the land that never melts") is a national park located on Baffin Island's Cumberland Peninsula, in the Qikiqtaaluk RegionofNunavut, the largest political subdivision of Canada. The park was initially known as Baffin Island National Park when it was established in 1972, but the name was changed in 1976 to its current name to better reflect the region and its history. It features many terrains of Arctic wilderness, such as fjords, glaciers, and ice fields. Although Auyuittuq was established in 1972 as a national park reserve, it was upgraded to a full national park in 2000.
The nearest towns are Qikiqtarjuaq and Pangnirtung. Visitors wishing to enter the park are required by Parks Canada to register at the park office in Pangnirtung or Qikiqtarjuaq, and attend an orientation session.[4][5] Park user fees apply.
First established in 1972 as Baffin Island National Park, in 1975, Parks Canada chose to rename the park in order to better reflect the landscape and the Inuit history within the region. After some debate, the name was changed to Auyuittuq National Park, which is an Inuktitut word meaning "the place that does not melt".[3]
Little vegetation can be found in Auyuittuq Park, although the plants found there range from flowers such as mountain avens, campion, Papaver, and saxifrage to shrubs like dwarf birch, Arctic willow, and heather. Many of the plants in Auyuittuq Park grow in clumps to create their own warmer "microclimate" to survive the harsh Arctic conditions.
The most common backpacking route in the park is known as Akshayuk Pass, and follows the Weasel and Owl rivers via Summit Lake.[5] In 2008, heavy rain and warm weather caused Summit Lake to burst through its banks, flooding the Weasel River and washing away the Windy Lake bridge. As a result, the hiking routes in the pass are limited to either side of the Weasel River.[citation needed]
Ferguson, Steven H; Taylor, Mitchell K; Messier, Francois (1997). "Space Use by Polar Bears in and Around Auyuittuq National Park, Northwest Territories, During the Ice-Free Period". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 75 (10): 1585–1595. doi:10.1139/z97-785.
Konotepetz, Larry (1985). Archaeological Sites of Auyuittuq National Park Reserve. Microfiche report series, 315. Ottawa, Canada: Environment Canada, Canadian Parks Service. OCLC59739479.
Tarnocai, C. (1998). Monitoring the Integrity of Cultural Sites, Auyuittuq National Park Reserve (Report). Ottawa, Canada: Research Branch (ECORC), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Wilson, Roger, ed. (1976). The Land That Never Melts Auyuittuq National Park. Toronto: Peter Martin Associates Limited in association with Indian and Northern Affairs and Pub. Centre, Supply and Services Canada. ISBN0-88778-143-8.
