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Natural Wonders and Cultural Treasures
Arctic fox in winter © Parks Canada
Natural Heritage
Walk along the tundra of Wapusk National Park and perhaps in the distance you’ll spot a herd of caribou running along an ancient beach ridge, a polar bear resting in a bed of sea lyme grass, or a litter of arctic fox playing near their maternal den. In this subarctic environment, the soil below your feet is permanently frozen, the trees lean from the effects of the predominant north winds, and winds from the Hudson Bay bring in a cool breeze even on warm summer days. Yet this is the land where a surprising number of incredible plants and animals survive and thrive.
History
Hunting blind or small rock walls used to conceal hunters from animals© Parks Canada
Archaeological evidence in the park tells us Inuit, Dene and Cree have lived in this region for more than 3,000 years. Métis and European traders arrived in the 17th Century. It was around that time that Aboriginal people established permanent settlements near Prince of Wales Fort and York Factory. Both are now National Historic Sites, located north and south of the National Park.