Iqaluit
Iqaluit is the capital of existing since April 1, 1999 Canadian territory of Nunavut and also the administrative center of the region Qikiqtaaluk ( Baffin ). The city has 6,699 (as of 2011) inhabitants (of which almost 85 % Inuit ) and was collected in 2001 in the rank of a ville or city. The Inuktitut word Iqaluit means "place of many fish ".
History
Iqaluit, known until January 1, 1987 Frobisher Bay, is located at the rear end of Frobisher Bay on the southern Baffin Island in the Arctic Ocean. The place has developed from a U.S. Air Force Base, which was created with the approval of the Canadian government in 1942 and 1963 in the possession of the Canadian Air Force ( Royal Canadian Air Force) went over.
In the region ancestors of today's Inuit were for around 4,000 years established, first people of the Dorset culture, the Thule culture. The first Europeans reached Martin Frobisher in 1576 in search of the Northwest Passage, the (but penetrate to their end without) later named after him bay. In the 18th and 19th century researchers, traders and whalers came to the coasts of the southern part of Baffin Island and finally missionaries again and again.
1950 moved the Hudson 's Bay Company their hitherto at Ward Inlet, 50 kilometers away nearby trading post at a position at the Frobisher Bay in the mid- 1950s by the Canadian government to a model village by the name of Apex ( called by the Inuit Niaqunngut ) was expanded. Today, five kilometers from the center Iqaluit's apex is a suburb of the capital. 1955 began the construction of the DEW Line ( "Distant Early Warning Line " early warning system), and since then, the population has increased fivefold.
Facilities
At the seat of government Iqaluit are government buildings and a parliament building, the courthouse for Nunavut (but processes can also be found in other places instead ), a 2008 newly constructed police headquarters and a prison. In addition, Iqaluit has several churches, the Roman Catholic Church " Our Lady of the Assumption ," the Anglican church of "St. Simon " in Apex, a church of the Pentecostal ( Pentecostal Church ) and even a Bahai house. The Anglican Church " St. Jew ", modeled in its external form an igloo, as well was the most beautiful religious building in the Arctic, in 2004, largely destroyed in an arson attack, after which it was demolished; a reconstruction with a modified architecture - from available funds depends - sought. Worth visiting are the " Nunatta Sunakkutanngit Museum " ( historical and archaeological collection ) and the " Unikkaarvik " - Visitor Centre ( inter alia collection of exquisite Inuit art ). Furthermore, Iqaluit has a hospital and other facilities.
Economy and infrastructure
In Iqaluit Matty McNair leads, by, inter alia, with the first woman experienced expedition to the North Pole polar explorer, two-week training for polar expeditions.
Education and Research
There are seven schools in the city, which lead from the primary school to grade 12 high school. Of these, six public schools and a private entity. In addition to English teaching schools is a school in the city in which it is taught entirely in French.
There are two universities in the city. The Nunavut Arctic College ( Nunatta Campus ) and the Akitsiraq Law School.
Media
The Nunatsiaq News is a weekly newspaper published and the largest in the city. The second major newspaper, the News / North.
There are several radio stations in the city. CBC Radio One sends the latest news, as well as local news and other information programs. Another station is The New Triple 9, the current music charts sends, and the French-speaking local station CFRT - FM.
Traffic
The airport of Iqaluit is well developed. On February 5, 2006 ended up here even an Airbus A380 during a test flight in the Arctic, to perform there cold tests.
Attractions
Iqaluit is the starting point for touring the Qaummaarviit History Park, Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park - and to near Kimmirut extending Katannilik - Territorial Park. Because of the diverse flora and fauna of the Soper Heritage River Park is worth seeing.
Famous people
- Eva Aariak, Canadian politician
- Paul Okalik, former Prime Minister of Nunavut between 1999-2008
- Sheila Watt - Cloutier, Canadian activist