The capital of Nunavut sits on Baffin Island, where 7,000 residents live among mountains and icebergs. Traditional Inuit culture thrives in this Arctic community.
Iqaluit, Canada's northernmost city and the capital of Nunavut, sits at the head of Frobisher Bay on Baffin Island. You'll find Inuit carvers working soapstone outside their homes, Arctic char swimming beneath the 10-meter falls at Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park, and the distinctive white dome of St. Jude's Anglican Cathedral rising against the Arctic sky. In summer, musicians and artists gather for the Alianait Festival, while winter brings opportunities to glide across the frozen bay by dog sled or snowmobile.
Getting to Iqaluit
You can fly to Iqaluit daily from Ottawa, with additional connections to Montreal, Rankin Inlet, and Kuujjuaq. The international airport serves as the main transit point for travelers heading to Baffin region communities and Greenland during summer months.
Weather and Seasonal Changes
Summer brings almost continuous daylight in late June and July, while December days last only four hours. Winter temperatures range from -10°C to -32°C. From October through April, the Northern Lights dance across the night sky in waves of green and purple.
Parks and Natural Areas
Walk the trails at Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park, just west of downtown, where a platform gives you views of the rushing waterfalls and locals fishing for Arctic char. In Qaummaarviit Territorial Park, you can explore 11 ancient semi-buried sod houses and artifact sites that reveal centuries of Inuit life in the area.
Arts and Culture
Visit the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum to see Arctic artifacts alongside contemporary Inuit art. Local carvers work in front of their homes, transforming local stone into sculptures. At the Unikkaarvik Visitor Centre, you can watch Inuit films and learn about local wildlife through interactive exhibits.
Annual Events
During the Toonik Tyme festival in April, you can watch igloo building competitions, dogsled races, and seal skinning contests. The Alianait Arts Festival fills the long days of late June and early July with Arctic music, theater performances, and storytelling.
Getting Around
Instead of street names, Iqaluit uses building numbers for navigation. No roads extend beyond city limits - in winter, locals use snowmobiles or dog sleds to reach outlying areas. Walking is the simplest way to explore downtown.
Architecture and City Layout
Buildings in Iqaluit emphasize practical design for extreme weather, with structures built to retain heat and withstand harsh conditions. St. Jude's Anglican Cathedral, with its igloo-shaped white dome, stands out as a city landmark visible from most neighborhoods.
Historical Background
The area transformed during World War II when American forces built an air base here. The settlement expanded as workers constructed the DEW Line radar stations. In 1987, the community changed its name back to Iqaluit - meaning "place of fish" in Inuktitut - and became Nunavut's capital in 1999.
