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Napartulik

Within the context of the development of the Nunavut Parks Program, the Department of Environment, Parks and Special Places Division is studying the feasibility of developing an attraction in and around the fossil forests of the high arctic as the focus for protecting and preserving the area's natural and cultural heritage, and enhancing opportunities for recreation, tourism and economic development.

Napartulik is on uninhabited Axel Heiberg Island, Canada’s seventh-largest island and is the second-most northern island in Canada.  It is located in the Qikiqtaaluk Region approximately 385km north of Grise Fiord, Canada’s northernmost community, about 1895km from Iqaluit and an amazing 3860km north of Ottawa, making Axel Heiberg closer to the capitals of Norway and Iceland than to the capital of Canada.  Napartulik is located in close proximity to the Eureka base and Grise Fiord.  It is also relatively close to Quttinirpaaq National Park.  Much of Axel Heiberg Island is covered in glaciers, but it is still home to an abundance of Muskoxen and the rare Peary Caribou.  The fossil forests of Napartulik are approximately 45 Million years old, yet their remains: stumps, leaves, branches, trunks and cones are still clearly visible on the surface of the high arctic soil.  Even more intriguing is the fact that the abundant plant material is not, in fact, fossilized, but perfectly preserved in a mummified state.  Napartulik is an extremely rare site.  There are only a two or three similar places known to exist in the world, but none can boast such an ancient or well-preserved collection of ancient plant life.  In addition to mummified plants, Napartulik is also known for several major fossil animal discoveries such as giant tortoises.  It may also hold the key to understanding one of the most ancient and devastating global extinction events in Earth’s history.

Nunavut Parks is currently collecting information to support a Feasibility Determination for a Territorial Park at Napartulik to help preserve its astounding and globally significant fossils as well as its current sensitive populations of Muskox and Peary Caribou.  A key component of a potential Territorial Park at Napartulik will be the protection of these natural features as well as providing opportunities for broad education programs to help people learn about and appreciate this unique place in Nunavut.