one of the rarest whale species on earth,
the narwhal has long been the source
of myth and legend and captured the
imaginations of explorers and travellers
alike. with a long, spiralled tusk or
tooth protruding from its upper jaw,
this astonishing creature is known as
the unicorn of the sea. pods of narwhals
can be found in and around Baffin Bay,
where they rest and feed from the edge
of the ice floe. the northern nunavut
community of pond inlet is surrounded
by towering mountain ranges, scenic
fjords and spectacular glaciers and its
location close to the floe edge, where the
open sea and frozen sea meet, makes it a
perfect spot for narwhals who gather in
abundance from april to July.WhERE: baffiN bay, NuNavut
WhERE: april to JulyNarwhals
along the northern coasts of hudson Bay,
Baffin Bay and Foxe Basin in the remote
reaches of nunavut, the atlantic walrus
can be seen making the most of rising
temperatures, using their impressive
tusks to haul themselves on to ice to
rest and bask in the sun. their blubbery
bodies, whiskery faces and long tusks of
ivory make them a sight to behold as they
huddle in noisy, sociable groups. travel
to the oldest inuit settlement in canada,
igloolik, located on an island in Foxe
Basin, and an ideal place to experience
the inuit way of life. alternatively, watch
for drifting icebergs as they pass through
the narrows of Fury and hecla Strait,
bringing huddles of walrus within easy
viewing distance.
WhERE: coastliNe of NuNavut
WhEn: JuNe to auGustWalrus
only male narwhals have tusks, and
some scientists believe they’re used
to communicate; a female walrus
and pup on ice (above) – their tusks
may grow up to a metre long.winter iSSUe 2018 123