Tundra and Treeline

Treeline

Today, trees grow further north in the Mackenzie Delta than anywhere else in Canada, almost to the shores of the Beaufort Sea. This is because the climate is warmer than other places at the same latitude. Summer warmth sets the northern limit to tree growth, and there are indications trees are gradually creeping north. There is evidence that the treeline extended well north of Inuvik and the Arctic coast some 9000 years ago; but it was pushed many hundreds of miles to the south by the continental glaciers.

Tundra

Arctic Phenomena

Arctic Blizzard:

An arctic blizzard is storm of intensely cold wind, laden with fine, blinding snow picked up from the ground. It is associated with arctic cold waves during which the intense cold may cause snow to break up into ice crystals or appear as a cloud of ice needles. Blizzard conditions include visibility of less than one kilometer in snow with winds equal or greater than 40 kmh that last six hours or more.

Ice Fog/ Mirages:

 Arts and crafts express the northern spirit

Unique arts and crafts are available in just about every community of the Northwest Territories. In larger communities, shops and galleries offer a wide selection of northern art, crafts, sculpture and jewellery. In smaller communities, there may be a local specialty, for example, moccasins, tufting work, birchbark baskets, designer clothing or canvas products. Northern festivals provide an opportunity to meet the artists and purchase unique collectibles.

Plant Life of the Northwest Territories

Boreal Forest

The boreal or 'northern' forest occupies 35% of the total Canadian land area and 77% of Canada's total forest. This northern forest, named after Boreas, the Greek god of the North Wind, starts in the Yukon Territory, forming a band almost 1000 kilometres wide, and sweeps southeast towards Newfoundland. To its north is the treeline and beyond that the tundra of the Arctic.

Natural Features of the North

Arctic Circle - What is it?

The Arctic Circle is the line of latitude around the top of the world at approximately 66 degrees, 33' north of the equator. It is the southernmost point at which sun does not set at summer solstice (June 21st), or rise at winter solstice (December 21st), meaning that it has at least one day of the "Midnight Sun".

Midnight Sun:

Trees & Shrubs

Alaska Birch

The Alaska birch is a small tree, which resembles the white birch. Its bark peels off in papery layers, but not as readily as that of white birch. The leaf of this birch is almost triangular.

The Alaska birch is found throughout the Northwest Territories. It inhabits bogs and poorly drained soils. The birch commonly grows in pure stands or with other wet area species such as black spruce or tamarack.

Alpine Fir

Hey, It’s North, It’s Cold, Right?

Wildflowers

Aquatics

Common Mare's Tail
(Hippuris vulgaris)
The leafy stems of this aquatic/amphibious, hairless perennial, stand 5 to 30 cm tall. The leaves stand stiff above the water, but are limp (approximately 6 cm long) underwater. The flowers are tiny and inconspicuous. The common mare's tail is found in ponds, lakeshores, stream banks and mudflats.

Marsh Cinquefoil
(Potentilla palustris)

Welcome to Northwest Territories Tourism

Northwest Territories Tourism is a not for profit organization, responsible to over 200 tourism business members in the Northwest Territories. We are the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for the NWT tasked with marketing Northwest Territories Tourism (NWTT) products. NWTT promotes tourism product locally, nationally and internationally.