Nunavut

Nunavut is the largest and newest territory in Canada. It was created in 1999 as a homeland for the Inuit people. Nunavut covers a huge area of Arctic land and islands in northern Canada. The territory has frozen tundra, polar bears, and long, dark winters.

Land and People

Only about 40,000 people live in Nunavut, even though it is bigger than Western Europe. The capital is Iqaluit. There are no roads connecting the communities, so people travel by plane or snowmobile. The territory includes many Arctic islands and a huge stretch of the Arctic coastline.

Culture and Fun Facts

Most people in Nunavut are Inuit, and Inuktitut is an official language along with English and French. The Inuit have lived in this region for thousands of years, hunting seals, caribou, and whales. Inukshuks, stone landmarks shaped like people, are an important Inuit symbol. The territory has polar bears, caribou, narwhals, and Arctic foxes.

Fun Facts

• Nunavut is the largest territory or province in Canada, covering about one-fifth of the country.
• No roads connect the communities in Nunavut. People fly or use snowmobiles to travel between towns.
• Nunavut means 'our land' in the Inuktitut language.

Did You Know?

Nunavut has no highways or roads connecting its 25 communities. People must fly between towns or travel by snowmobile and dogsled in winter. It is one of the most remote places in the world.