-
Kinngait, formerly known as Cape Dorset
Back in Nuunavut, we spent the day around Kinngait, until 2020 called Cape Dorset. See the map above. In Inuktitut, “kinngait” means “high mountain.” This hamlet is world renowned for its stonecut prints and carvings. The day began with a hike on Mallikjuat Island, a Nunavut territorial park, and ended with a visit to the…
-
Kangirsukallak and Digges Island
In 1610, Henry Hudson landed at Kangirsukallak in present day Nunavik (see map above). He named the site Cape Wolstenholme after his financial backer. There was some interaction with the Inuit but commercial trade did not begin until 1697. The site was shortly thereafter abandoned until 1909 when the Hudson Bay Company set up a…
-
Qanattalik – or “the place with tent poles”
We sailed overnight to a fiord called Qanattalik which translates literally from the Inuktitut to “the place with tent poles” although why is a mystery to all aboard. There were certainly no tent poles in evidence. A polar bear was spotted walking along the beach earlier this morning, so we had bear guards armed with…
-
Akpatok Island
This morning opened with an archeological briefing on do’s and don’ts when we are on land. Brendan first defined an artifact – any object made, shaped or modified by humans that is older than 50 years. He paused, looked around, and commented that he was looking out at a sea of artifacts. Ha ha ha…
-
Sea Days and Kimmirut
We have now crossed the Davis Strait and are back in Canada. The Strait was exceedingly considerate and our crossing was easy which I understand is not always the case. It is quite comforting to be rocked gently to sleep at night.
-
Nuuk, Greenland
The Ocean Nova docked in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, in early morning. See the map at the top of this post for our route to date. At 7:30 am we disembarked and loaded onto buses for a “city tour.” The commentator on my bus was an 18-year-old girl whose comments were mostly accurate, always…
