Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories

Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories

Sachs Harbour is a hamlet located in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Situated on the southwestern coast of Banks Island in Canada's Northwest Territories the population according to the 2006 census count was 122 people. [ [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=6107041&Geo2=PR&Code2=61&Data=Count&SearchText=Sachs%20Harbour&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= Canada 2006 Census] ] The two principal languages in the town are Inuvialuktun and English. The traditional name for the town is "Ikahuak", meaning "where you go across to". Bulk supplies of food and other items are brought by barge in the summer months and flights from Inuvik, some 325 miles (523km) to the southwest, operate all year. Sachs Harbour is the only permanent settlement on Banks Island.

The town was named after the ship "Mary Sachs", which was part of the Canadian Arctic Expedition of 1913. The community's economy is based largely on hunting and trapping, but tourism also plays a small role. Most of the town lies within 250 yards of the shoreline. Residents also engage in ice fishing, harvesting fish from the Amundsen Gulf and the Beaufort Sea. There is a goose hunt every spring - Banks Island being the home to the largest goose colony in North America. The community is also home to the largest commercial muskox harvests in Canada. Three quarters of the world's population of muskoxen roam the island.

Sachs Harbour is in the Arctic tundra climatic zone, characterized by long, extremely cold winters. Since the activities of many residents of the community revolve around fishing, hunting, and travel, many residents have considerable knowledge of weather conditions, permafrost, and even erosion patterns. Because of climate changes in recent years, local residents fear their knowledge of weather patterns may not be of much use, as the weather has become harder to predict. Since the climate has been changing, sea-ice has been breaking up earlier than normal, taking seals farther south in the summer. Seals are one of the main sources of food for the town. Salmon appeared for the first time in nearby waters between 1999 and 2001. New species of birds are migrating to the island, including robins and barn swallows, and more flies and mosquitos have been appearing. Barren-ground Caribou and Polar Bear are also seen on the island

Oil and gas exploration has provided jobs over the years for some Sachs Harbour residents—estimates of commercially recoverable oil in the Beaufort Sea range from four to 12 billion barrels, and there is believed to be between 13 and convert|63|Tcuft|km3 of natural gas. Environmentalists would be likely to oppose oil and gas development, since the sea off of Sachs Harbour is home to the endangered Bowhead Whale.

On April 26, 2006 the world's first documented wild-born grizzly-polar bear hybrid was shot near the town.

See also

* Christian Science Monitor
* International Institute for Sustainable Development
* Sachs Harbour Airport

References

External links

* [http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/visitorinfo/nwtmap/sachsharbour.html Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Sachs Harbour profile]
* [http://www.pwnhc.ca/programs/downloads/OfficialCommunityNames.pdf Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre - official names]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sachs Harbour — Lage in Kanada …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Sachs Harbour Airport — Infobox Airport name = Sachs Harbour Airport IATA = YSY ICAO = CYSY type = Public owner = operator = Government of the Northwest Territories city served = location = Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories elevation f = 282 elevation m = 86… …   Wikipedia

  • Northwest Territories — For the former United States territory, see Northwest Territory. For other geographical names that include Northwest , see Northwest. Coordinates: 64°16′N 119°11′W / 64.267°N …   Wikipedia

  • Northwest Territories — Territoires du Nord Ouest Territoires du Nord Ouest Northwest Territories …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Colville Lake, Northwest Territories — Colville Lake K áhbamį́túé   Settlement Corporation   …   Wikipedia

  • Inuvik Region, Northwest Territories — The Inuvik Region is one of Statistics Canada s two census divisions of the Northwest Territories of Canada. It lies in the northern and western part of the Northwest Territories. It main economic centre is the town of Inuvik. The 2006 census… …   Wikipedia

  • Portal:Northwest Territories — Wikipedia portals: Culture Geography Health History Mathematics Natural sciences People Philosophy Religion Society Technology …   Wikipedia

  • Inuvik, Northwest Territories — Infobox Settlement name = Inuvik official name = other name = native name = Inuuvik nickname = settlement type = Town motto = imagesize = image caption = Overlooking Inuvik with the fall colors in the foreground flag size = image seal size =… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Northwest Territories highways — The following is a list of territorial highways in the Northwest Territories of Canada.Access by CommunityThe communities reached by the all weather highway network are:* Behchoko (Rae Edzo) * Enterprise * Fort Liard * Fort McPherson * Fort… …   Wikipedia

  • North West Territories — Territoires du Nord Ouest Territoires du Nord Ouest Northwest Territories …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”