Aulavik National Park

Aulavik National Park

Aulavik National Park is located on Banks Island in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Established in 1992, it spans an area of 12,200 square kilometers and is an airplane-accessible park with four current landing sites, making flying the best way to reach it.

Known as the “polar desert,” Aulavik National Park experiences strong winds that carry up to 300 millimeters of sediment per year—proof of their intensity. This perpetually windy park is home to the world’s largest herd of muskoxen, an ancient species that has survived on Earth for 600,000 years since the Ice Age. While exploring the park, you may spot these massive animals. In addition to muskoxen, the park also shelters endangered populations of caribou and Peary caribou. There are 43 different bird species that reside here seasonally, while ptarmigans and ravens are year-round inhabitants. Predatory birds such as ptarmigan, rough-legged hawks, gyrfalcons, and falcons can also be seen.

Aulavik National Park

Must-visit reason: The world’s largest muskoxen gathering

Continent where the attraction is located: North America

Country/region where the attraction is located: Canada

Province/state where the attraction is located: Northwest Territories