The Arctic Islands

The Arctic Islands in the Northwest Territories are:

Banks Island
Victoria Island (western portion)
Parry Islands
Read Island

Ulukaktok is located on Victoria Island. Victoria Island has over:

two hundred species of plants
50 species of bird
9 species of mammal including caribou, muskox and grizzly bear
marine life including crabs, krill, sea urchins, nudibranchs, clams
10 species of fish including Arctic char, lake trout and whitefish
5 species of marine mammals

The Banks Island have a population of number in the hundreds. Peary caribou are recognized as an endangered species. A large herd of Muskox also make their home on this island. Ringed seal, bearded seal, beluga and polar bears are found along the north coast of Banks Island.

Over forty species of birds make seasonal use of Banks Island. There is also a surprising diversity of fish in the fresh waters on the island.

Read Island was home to a Hudson Bay trading post until 1960. Many of the residents of Read Island moved to the community of Ulukaktok including Billy Joss who is honoured each year with an annual golf tournament at the Ulukhaktok Golf Course. This is the most northernly golf tournament in the world.

Banks Island