What makes it unique?
More than half the city's residents speak Inuktitut, an Inuit language and one of Nunavut’s official languages, so traffic signs and building names are displayed in English and Inuktitut. It lies on the tundra, and though it’s below the Arctic Circle, the average temperature is only above freezing from June to September. It doesn’t have a road or rail connection to mainland Canada—most visitors arrive by plane. (There’s also a harbor, but ice blocks it for much of the year.)
What is there to do & see?
The 2 main attractions are the natural beauty of the surrounding tundra and the traditional arts and culture of the local Inuit community. Nearby Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park offers great views of the natural landscape, as well as wildlife such as caribou, arctic foxes, and migratory birds.
On the culture front, locally made Inuit art and clothing are offered at several boutiques. Other attractions include the igloo-shaped St. Jude's Cathedral and the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum, which displays Inuit art and artifacts from around Nunavut.
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