Aulavik National Park
| Aulavik National Park | |
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IUCN category II (national park)
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 Location of Aulavik National Park
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| Location | Northwest Territories, Canada |
| Nearest city | Sachs Harbour, Yellowknife |
| Coordinates | 73°42′01″N 119°55′10″W / 73.70028°N 119.91944°WCoordinates: 73°42′01″N 119°55′10″W / 73.70028°N 119.91944°W |
| Area | 12,200 km2 (4,700 sq mi) |
| Established | 1992 |
| Governing body | Parks Canada |
| http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nt/aulavik/index.aspx | |
Aulavik National Park (Inuvialuktun: place where people travel) is a national park located on Banks Island in the Northwest Territories of Canada. It is known for its access to the Thomsen River, one of the most northerly navigable rivers in North America. The park is a fly-in park, and protects approximately 12,274 square kilometres (4,739 sq mi) of Arctic Lowlands at the northern end of the island. The most practical way to visit the park is to charter a plane, and currently the park has four landing sites. Aulavik is considered a polar desert and often experiences high winds. Precipitation for the park is approximately 300 mm (12 in) per year. In the southern regions of the park a sparsely vegetated upland plateau reaches a height of 450 m (1,480 ft) above sea level.
The park has the highest concentration of muskoxen on earth, with estimates of 68,000 to 80,000 animals on the island, approximately 20% of which are thought to reside in the park. It is also home to the endangered Peary caribou as well as the more common barren-ground caribou.Ptarmigan and ravens are considered the only year-round birds in the park, although 43 different species make seasonal use of the area. The park is completely treeless, and Arctic foxes, brown and northern collared lemmings, Arctic hares and wolves roam the rugged terrain. Marine mammals along the north coast include polar bears, ringed seals, bearded seals, beluga whales and bowhead whales. Birds of prey in the park include snowy owls, rough-legged hawks, gyrfalcons, and peregrine falcons, who feed on the lemmings.
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