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Canada's Wapusk National Park on the shores
of Hudson's Bay in the
north-eastern corner of Manitoba is remote and access is available only
through a handful of approved commercial tour operators. The effort
involved in getting there pales in comparison to the thrill of watching
polar bear mothers wrestle with their cubs in the snow just metres from
your big-wheeled Tundra Buggy.
The park is one of the
biggest polar bear denning sites in the world, drawing scientists from
around the globe to study the bears and the effects of climate change
on the environment.
Image: Polar Bear and cub in Wapusk National Park
© Parks Canada
Beyond the bears are found the remnants of
3,000 years of Inuit, Dene
and Cree culture, as well as many of the roots of modern Canada. The
region was the epicentre of the fur trade for 250 years, and home to
the Hudson's Bay Company that played a dominant role in the country's
economic and political development. The massive stone fortifications of
Prince of Wales Fort National Historic Site recall the rivalry between
the great superpowers of the time, England and France.
Image: Arial view of Prince of Wales Fort National
Historic Site at the mouth of the Churchill River
© Parks Canada
A visit begins in the colourful gateway
community of Churchill. Be
sure to check in to the Parks Canada Visitor Centre for special
presentations that showcase park history, as well as talks and
workshops by visiting scientific researchers who bring the area to
life.
Wapusk
National Park of Canada
Prince of
Wales Fort National Historic Site of Canada
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