50-597: The Arctic Circle is one of the two polar circles , and the most northerly of the five major circles of latitude as shown on maps of Earth at about 66° 34' N. Its southern equivalent is the Antarctic Circle . The Arctic Circle marks the southernmost latitude at which, on the winter solstice (which is the shortest day of the year) in the Northern Hemisphere , the Sun will not rise all day, and on
100-460: A change of about 31 metres north or south in the positions of the polar circles on the Earth's surface). The polar circles would almost precisely match the boundaries for the zones where the polar night and the polar day would occur throughout the winter solstice and summer solstice day respectively. They do so loosely due to two effects. The first one is atmospheric refraction , in which
150-572: A halt in the winter when the Mackenzie River freezes. Inuvik has a subarctic climate ( Köppen Dfc ). Summers are typically wetter and cool, with temperatures varying wildly throughout the months due to its peculiar location near the cold Arctic Ocean . The average hottest month of the year, July, has a mean high of 19.5 °C (67.1 °F) and mean low of 8.6 °C (47.5 °F). Unlike many other North American continental climates, Inuvik warms up very quickly during May and June due to
200-469: A multi-use community hall with stage; on-site business centre/production office; full building wireless; video-conferencing facility; on-site catering/kitchen; and meeting rooms for groups of 5 to 500. At full-building use, the Complex can host conferences, conventions and trade shows with up to 1200 delegates/exhibitors. The community has a state-of-the-art school called East 3. The construction budget for
250-567: A number of smaller communities in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut . Air North connects to points in the Yukon and travels as far south as Vancouver . Aklak Air flies north to the small communities of Sachs Harbour , Paulatuk , and Ulukhaktok . Freight services, helicopters, and floatplane charters are also available from Inuvik. Floatplane service operates out of the nearby Inuvik/Shell Lake Water Aerodrome . When
300-455: A polar night as is the case for longer, within the circles. Up to and including the associated poles ( North and South ), known geographically as the frigid zones , such duration extends up to half of the year, namely, close to the poles. Instead, atmospheric refraction and the Sun's light reaching the planet as an extended object rather than a point source means that just within each circle
350-567: A population of 3,137 living in 1,223 of its 1,464 total private dwellings, a change of -3.3 per cent from its 2016 population of 3,243. With a land area of 62.68 km (24.20 sq mi), it had a population density of 50.0/km in 2021. As of the 2021 Canadian census there were 1,990 people who identified as Indigenous . Of these 63.6 per cent were Inuvialuit ( Inuit , predominantly Uummarmiut ), 26.1 per cent First Nations , 5.8 per cent Métis and 4.8 per cent reported other Indigenous heritage. The non-Indigenous population of Inuvik
400-591: A stage-built multi-use facility, was completed in 2006. Featuring the Roy 'Sugloo' Ipana Memorial Arena, with an NHL-sized ice surface; the Inuvik Curling Club with three sheets and a well-situated licensed lounge/viewing area; the Inuvik Pool, an award-winning Class B recreational pool with lane swimming, waterpark features including a two-story waterslide, hot tub, sauna and steam room; two squash courts;
450-618: A variety of reasons, including disappearing government military subsidies, local resistance to petroleum exploration, and low international oil prices. Since then the economy has been based on some minor tourism and subsidy provided by the Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), Health Canada (for the regional hospital) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police . In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada , Inuvik had
500-523: Is visible at local midnight , and at least once the centre is not visible at local noon . Directly on the Arctic Circle these events occur, in principle, exactly once per year: at the June and December solstices , respectively. However, because of atmospheric refraction and mirages , and also because the sun appears as a disk and not a point, part of the midnight sun is visible, on the night of
550-484: Is a very small change in tilt. Observers higher above sea level can see a tiny amount of the Sun's disc (see horizon ) where at lower places it would not rise. For the Arctic Circle , being 80–100 km north of the circle in winter, and 80–100 km south of the circle in summer; the inverse directions apply to the other circle. Inuvik Inuvik / ɪ ˈ n uː v ɪ k / ( place of man )
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#1732758179633600-661: Is also offered in Inuvik by New North Networks. Fibre optic communications were added in Inuvik in June 2017 with the completion of the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link ; the $ 82 million 1,200 km (750 mi) line adds new capability to the town. However, the dependence on this single trunk line occasionally causes widespread Internet outages during Dempster or Alaska Highway maintenance or construction. A backup trunk line between Fort Simpson and Inuvik
650-657: Is the only town in the Inuvik Region , and the third largest community in Canada's Northwest Territories . Located in what is sometimes called the Beaufort Delta Region, it serves as its administrative and service centre and is home to federal, territorial, and Indigenous government offices, along with the regional hospital and airport. Inuvik is located on the northern edge of the boreal forest , just before it begins to transition to tundra , and along
700-608: The Arctic Ocean , the Scandinavian Peninsula , North Asia , Northern America , and Greenland. The land within the Arctic Circle is divided among eight countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the United States ( Alaska ), Canada ( Yukon , Northwest Territories , and Nunavut ), Denmark (Greenland), and Iceland (where it passes through the small offshore island of Grímsey ). The climate north of
750-504: The Greek word ἀρκτικός ( arktikos : "near the Bear , northern") and that from the word ἄρκτος ( arktos : " bear "). The Arctic Circle is the southernmost latitude in the Northern Hemisphere at which the centre of the Sun can remain continuously above or below the horizon for twenty-four hours; as a result, at least once each year at any location within the Arctic Circle the centre of the Sun
800-710: The Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk Highway was extended north from Inuvik another 138 km (86 mi) to Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic coast. Inuvik is also connected to Aklavik by an ice road across the Mackenzie Delta from late December until late April each year. The Dempster Highway relies on ferries to cross the Peel River near Fort McPherson and the Mackenzie River at Tsiigehtchic during
850-410: The ecliptic , the plane of the Earth's orbit). This predominant, average tilt of the Earth varies slightly, a phenomenon described as nutation. Therefore, the latitudes noted above are calculated by averaging values of tilt observed over many years. The axial tilt also exhibits long-term variations as described in the reference article (a difference of 1 second of arc (″) in the tilt is equivalent to
900-613: The permafrost underlying the town. The town is served by the Inuvik Drum , a community newspaper published weekly by Northern News Services . Inuvik was previously served by CHAK-TV , VHF channel 6, a CBC North television repeater of CFYK-DT ( Yellowknife ). That station closed on 31 July 2012 due to budget cuts affecting the CBC. Landline telephone service is provided by Northwestel , and cellular service by Ice Wireless and Arctic Digital ( Bell Mobility ). Cable television
950-523: The Arctic Circle is currently drifting northwards at a speed of about 14.5 m per year and is now at a mean latitude (i.e. without taking into account the astronomical nutation ) of 66°33′50.2″ N; the Antarctic Circle is currently drifting southwards at a speed of about 14.5 m per year and is now at a mean latitude of 66°33′50.2″ S. Polar circles are often equated with polar regions of Earth . Due to their inherent climate environment ,
1000-526: The Arctic Circle is generally cold, but the coastal areas of Norway have a generally mild climate as a result of the Gulf Stream , which makes the ports of northern Norway and northwest Russia ice-free all year long. In the interior, summers can be quite warm, while winters are extremely cold. For example, summer temperatures in Norilsk , Russia will sometimes reach as high as 30 °C (86 °F), while
1050-535: The Arctic Circle is not fixed and currently runs 66°33′50.2″ north of the Equator . Its latitude depends on the Earth's axial tilt , which fluctuates within a margin of more than 2° over a 41,000-year period, owing to tidal forces resulting from the orbit of the Moon . Consequently, the Arctic Circle is currently drifting northwards at a speed of about 14.5 m (48 ft) per year. The word arctic comes from
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#17327581796331100-548: The Arctic Circle with about 5,000 inhabitants. The largest such community in Canada is Inuvik in the Northwest Territories , with 3,137 inhabitants. Download coordinates as: The Arctic Circle is roughly 16,000 km (9,900 mi) in circumference. The area north of the Circle is about 20,000,000 km (7,700,000 sq mi) and covers roughly 4% of Earth's surface. The Arctic Circle passes through
1150-465: The Arctic Circle, lying 6 km (4 mi) south of the line. Salekhard (51,186) in Russia is the only city in the world located directly on the Arctic Circle. In contrast, the largest North American community north of the Arctic Circle, Sisimiut ( Greenland ), has approximately 5,600 inhabitants. In the United States, Utqiagvik, Alaska (formerly known as Barrow) is the largest settlement north of
1200-699: The Dempster Highway, is the first road in history to reach the Arctic Ocean in North America. Between 1971 and 1990, the town's economy was supported by the local Canadian Armed Forces Station, CFS Inuvik, (originally a Naval Radio Station, later a communications research/signals intercept facility ) and by petrochemical companies exploring the Mackenzie Valley and the Beaufort Sea for petroleum. This all collapsed in 1990 for
1250-407: The Earth's atmosphere bends light rays near the horizon. The second effect is caused by the angular diameter of the Sun as seen from the Earth's orbital distance (which varies very slightly during each orbit). These factors mean the ground-observed boundaries are 80 to 100 kilometres (50 to 62 mi) away from the circle. A further global factor for this numerical range is Earth's nutation , which
1300-485: The Earth's surface does not experience any proper polar night, 24 hours where the sun does not rise. By these same two factors, just outward of each circle still experiences a polar day (a day in which the sun does not fully set). The latitude of the polar circles is + or −90 degrees (which refers to the North and South Pole, respectively) minus the axial tilt (that is, of the Earth's axis of daily rotation relative to
1350-524: The Gwich'in and Inuvialuit Settlement Regions . The annual Sunrise Festival happens on the second weekend of the new year, when the sun finally breaks the horizon after about thirty days of polar night . The Festival is an all-day community event highlighted by dog sled races, a long-program fireworks show and community bonfire. This Festival was highlighted in the award-winning 2010 national Tropicana Orange Juice commercial Arctic Sun . Inuvik celebrates
1400-513: The Mackenzie River is ice-free, Marine Transportation Services provides a commercial barge service from Hay River , on Great Slave Lake to the regional terminal in Inuvik. The annual sealift moves supplies east into the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut and west to Utqiagvik, Alaska . Many locals own small boats with outboard motors which are used to access family hunting and fishing camps or to visit Aklavik . Boat traffic comes to
1450-698: The Muskrat Jamboree each year in late March or early April. Started in 1957, the event brings together thousands of people to participate in traditional games, watch the dog sled and snowmobile races and dance (jig) the night away in town. Most events are held on the Mackenzie River where several community groups operate concessions in stove-heated traditional McPherson tents, preparing hot soup, bannock , baked goods, coffee, Labrador tea , hot chocolate and other traditional refreshments. Many participants and spectators wear traditional clothing and often local artisans will have something to sell. In conjunction with
1500-556: The Muskrat Jamboree, the Town of Inuvik hosts the annual Muskrat Cup 3-on-3 Pond Hockey Tournament on the frozen Mackenzie River, the world's most northerly cash tournament. The weekend closest to the summer solstice (21 June) each year features the Midnight Sun Fun Run, a 5K, 10K and half marathon that starts at midnight under the 24-hours of sunlight experienced for over 50 days each summer in Inuvik. Runners from around
1550-580: The Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice (which is the longest day of the year), the Sun will not set. These phenomena are referred to as polar night and midnight sun respectively, and the further north one progresses, the more pronounced these effects become. For example, in the Russian port city of Murmansk , three degrees above the Arctic Circle, the Sun does not rise above the horizon for 40 successive days in midwinter. The position of
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1600-408: The bulk of the Arctic Circle, much of which is sea, is sparsely settled whereas this applies to all of Antarctica which is mainly land and sheltered ice shelves. If Earth had no atmosphere, then both polar circles (arcs) would see at least a day a year when the center of the Sun is continuously above the horizon and at least a day a year when it is always below the horizon – a polar day and
1650-695: The east side of the enormous Mackenzie River delta. The town lies within the Gwich'in Settlement Region and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region . Inuvik was conceived in 1953 as a replacement administrative centre for the hamlet of Aklavik on the west of the Mackenzie Delta , as the latter was prone to flooding and had no room for expansion. Initially called "New Aklavik", it was renamed Inuvik in 1958. The school
1700-524: The largest annual tourism event in the Beaufort Delta. Featuring on-site demonstrations, 50+ arts workshops, a 3,500-piece gallery, an outdoor carving village, an interactive artist studio zone, nightly cultural performances, northern film screenings, family activities and an Arctic fashion show, the Festival attracts visitors from around the world to travel the Dempster Highway to visit Inuvik and
1750-399: The mosque "the world's northernmost mosque", but in fact mosques in Norilsk, Russia , and Tromsø , Norway, are both slightly further north than Inuvik. The Great Northern Arts Festival has been held annually for 10 days in the middle of July since 1989. The Festival has hosted over 3,000 artists from across Canada's north, and from as far away as Japan and Australia over 31 years and is
1800-607: The most northerly town to which one could drive in Canada. While a winter only ice road through the Mackenzie River delta still connects Inuvik to Aklavik , southwest of Inuvik, the Tuktoyaktuk Winter Road , which ran northeast to Tuktoyaktuk , is no longer being built due to the opening in November 2017, of the Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk Highway (ITH), which is open all year round. The Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway, which connects to Canada's highway system at Inuvik via
1850-411: The northern summer solstice , at a latitude of about 50 minutes of arc (′) (90 km (56 mi)) south of the Arctic Circle. Similarly, on the day of the northern winter solstice , part of the Sun may be seen up to about 50′ north of the Arctic Circle. That is true at sea level ; those limits increase with elevation above sea level , although in mountainous regions there is often no direct view of
1900-464: The rapidly increasing day length, and that remaining snow cools down until May. June is a warmer month than August. Seasonal transitions are extremely short, with mean daily temperatures rising or falling as fast as 0.5 °C (0.90 °F) per day. Winters are long and cold; the coldest month of the year, January, having a mean high of −22.8 °C (−9.0 °F) and a mean low of −31.0 °C (−23.8 °F). Freezing temperatures can occur any month of
1950-464: The school exceeded $ 110 million, and it features modern technologies such as 'smartboards' and videoconferencing facilities as well as a large gym. A distinct feature of Inuvik is the use of " utilidors " – above-ground utility conduits carrying water and sewage – which are covered by corrugated steel. They run throughout town connecting most buildings, and as a result there are many small bridges and underpasses. The utilidors are necessary because of
2000-583: The site was transferred to the Department of Transport for use as a telecommunications station. Nothing remains of CFS Inuvik today. The Navy Operations base at the end of Navy Road was completely dismantled and removed. Inuvik achieved village status in 1967 and became a full town in 1979 with an elected mayor and council. In 1979, with the completion of the Dempster Highway , Inuvik became connected to Canada's highway system , and simultaneously
2050-639: The spring thaw in mid-May. By March, the median snow depth has reached its greatest, about 56.2 cm (22.1 in). Inuvik's Our Lady of Victory Church , often called Igloo Church , is a famous landmark in the region. It is the most-photographed building in the town . Inuvik has the Midnight Sun Mosque , North America's northernmost, which opened in November 2010 after being built in Winnipeg and moved 4,000 km (2,500 mi) by truck and barge. Some media reports have mistakenly called
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2100-521: The summer. In winter, ice bridges are constructed to cross the rivers. During the spring the crossings close throughout May as the ice on the rivers breaks up. Similarly, they are impassible for most of November while the rivers freeze. During these times air travel is the only way for people and goods to reach Inuvik. The Inuvik (Mike Zubko) Airport is serviced by several regional carriers. Canadian North has regular direct flights to Yellowknife and Norman Wells . It further connects to Edmonton , and
2150-516: The true horizon. The largest communities north of the Arctic Circle are situated in Russia, Norway, and Sweden: Murmansk (population 295,374) and Norilsk (178,018) in Russia; Tromsø (75,638) in Norway, Vorkuta (58,133) in Russia, Bodø (52,357) and Harstad (24,703) in Norway; and Kiruna , Sweden (22,841). Rovaniemi (62,667) in Finland is the largest settlement in the immediate vicinity of
2200-739: The tundra" in reference to the CBC show Little Mosque on the Prairie ) was established in 2010. Inuvik is located on the East Channel of the Mackenzie Delta, approximately 100 km (62 mi) from the Arctic Ocean and approximately 200 km (120 mi) north of the Arctic Circle . The tree line lies north of Inuvik, and the town is surrounded by boreal forest . Due to its northern location, Inuvik experiences an average of 56 days of midnight sun every summer and 30 days of polar night every winter. Until November 2017, Inuvik
2250-408: The winter temperatures frequently fall below −50 °C (−58 °F). Starting at the prime meridian and heading eastwards, the Arctic Circle passes through: Polar circle A polar circle is a geographic term for a conditional circular line (arc) referring either to the Arctic Circle or the Antarctic Circle . These are two of the keynote circles of latitude (parallels). On Earth ,
2300-464: The world make their way north to participate in this unique event under the midnight sun. A new hospital opened in early 2003, providing service to an area extending from Sachs Harbour on Banks Island , to Ulukhaktok on Victoria Island , and from Paulatuk into the Sahtu Region including Norman Wells , Tulita , Délı̨nę , Fort Good Hope , and Colville Lake . The Midnight Sun Complex,
2350-433: The year. Inuvik has a great variation of temperatures during the year, usually peaking below −40 °C (−40 °F) in the winter and above 30 °C (86 °F) in the summer. The highest temperature ever recorded in Inuvik was 34.8 °C (94.6 °F) on 7 August 2024. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −56.7 °C (−70.1 °F) on 4 February 1968. Snow that falls from October onward usually stays until
2400-535: Was 36.6 per cent. Local Gwichʼin are enrolled in the Inuvik Native Band . The main language spoken in Inuvik is English, though schools teach and a handful of local people still speak Inuinnaqtun ( Inuvialuktun ), and Gwichʼin . Local CBC Radio , CHAK (AM) , broadcasts an hour of programming a day in each of these languages. There are also about 100 Muslims, most of whom came there for economic opportunities. A small mosque (dubbed "Little mosque on
2450-566: Was built in 1959 and the hospital, government offices and staff residences in 1960, when people, including Inuvialuit , Gwichʼin ( Dene ) and Métis , began to live in the community. Naval Radio Station (NRS) Inuvik , later CFS Inuvik, callsign CFV, was commissioned on 10 September 1963 after operations had been successfully transferred from NRS Aklavik. Station CFV was part of the SUPRAD (Supplementary Radio) network of intercept and direction finding stations. CFS Inuvik closed on 1 April 1986 and
2500-456: Was the most northern community in Canada to be accessible by road (now second to Tuktoyaktuk ). The 736 km (457 mi) Dempster Highway links Inuvik to the rest of Canada, providing relatively easy access to a wide variety of goods, and greatly reducing their cost. In contrast, many Arctic communities depend on cargo flights for regular goods and summer sealifts for larger freight, making goods expensive and often slow to arrive. In 2017,
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