However, lowland areas, such as the one surrounding Lake Hazen, the most northerly lake in Canada, are relatively lush. In these thermal oases, arctic hare often congregate in groups of hundreds. Small herds of muskox and Peary caribou, a few wolves, numerous arctic foxes and about 30 species of birds thrive in meadows of lush grasses and bright arctic flowers.

Hundreds of archaeological sites in the area tell of ancient Inuit peoples who passed this way 4,000 years ago. The remains of Fort Conger, a scientific research base established in 1881, is a site of historic significance. Wooden shacks built by the Arctic explorer Robert Peary, of North Pole fame, still stand on the site.

Flags snapped and a lone arctic hare hopped by as the coldest park agreement signing ceremony in the history of national park establishment took place. Under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, signed in 1993, government and Inuit are negotiating an Inuit Impact and Benefits Agreement to formally establish northern Ellesmere Island as a national park of Canada. It is expected that these negotiations will be concluded in 1996.