Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" On the Unique Things About Nunavut

Since the middle of April when I learned I am a "Lost Canadian", it matters to me to know all I can about Canada. While I have learned many things,  there clearly are a great many things I still do not know and have yet to learn. Today I'm sharing some of the unique things I've learned online about  Nunavut . . .

Nunavut is Canada's newest, largest, and most northern territory. Spanning over 2 million square kilometers, it is larger than Mexico yet has a population of only about 40,000 people, making it one of the most remote and sparsely populated places on Earth. 

Geography and Isolation

No Connecting Roads: There are no highways or roads connecting Nunavut to the rest of North America. Travel between communities is done strictly by airplane or snowmobile, and cargo arrives by seasonal sealift or air. 
Extreme Northern Outposts: It contains Alert, the world's northernmost permanently inhabited place on Ellesmere Island.
Mars on Earth: Devon Island in Nunavut is the largest uninhabited island on Earth and home to the Haughton Crater, a Mars-like impact site used by scientists to simulate space missions. 
Largest Land Area: Nunavut accounts for roughly 20 percent of Canada’s land mass, making it the country’s largest political subdivision.
Lots of Islands: Nunavut is home to over 36,000 islands.

Culture and Government

Inuit Homeland: Established on April 1, 1999, the name Nunavut means "Our Land" in Inuktitut. About 84% of the population is Inuit.
Consensus Government: Nunavut has no political parties. The legislative assembly operates on a consensus model where members run as independents and sit in a circle to make decisions, reflecting traditional Inuit leadership.
Four Official Languages: The territory recognizes English, French, Inuktitut, and Inuinnaqtun as official languages. 
Ancient Ancestors: The Inuit, who make up 85 percent of Nunavut’s population, are descended from the Thule, whose presence dates back at least 1,000 years.
Tasty Heritage: The tuktu (caribou) and qilalugaq tugaalik (narwhal) on Nunavut's Coat of Arms refer to land and sea animals which are part of the rich natural heritage of Nunavut and provide sustenance for its people.
A Very Special Dog: The Canadian Inuit dog (Canis familiaris borealis) is the official animal of Nunavut. Called “Qimmiq” in Inuktitut, this dog is one of the world’s oldest pure breeds and is known to have been resident in the Arctic for at least 4,000 years. 
Reliable Transportation: The ancient Inuit sled dog breeds are alive and well. These dogs are perfectly adapted to the arctic climate, and love to run. But when distances are a bit too far for dogs, Nunavummiut hop on their snowmobiles to make tracks.
Familiar "Pot Luck": At a typical community feast, you can find arctic char, caribou, seal, and whale, also known as muktuk. Mamaqtuq! (Pronounced ma-maq-tuq) is an Inuktitut word that means “It is delicious!”
2012 Redesign of License Plate: Due to copyright and production factors, Nunavut shifted to a flat, rectangular digital graphic plate featuring an inuksuk, northern lights, and 25 stars for local municipalities. 
2025/2026 Return of the Bear: The territory introduced a newly oriented polar bear-shaped plate with embossed features to celebrate Nunavut's 25th anniversary milestone.

Wildlife and Nature

Narwhal Capital: Roughly 75% of the global narwhal population spends time in the icy waters and estuaries of Nunavut.
The Midnight Sun and Polar Night: Depending on the season, communities experience months of 24-hour sunlight in the summer or weeks of total darkness in the winter. 
Almost No Trees: You can only find trees in the southernmost parts of Nunavut, especially near the border of Manitoba. But the tundra is completely free of trees. 
Home to the Largest Land Carnivore: With male polar bears clocking in at 1,500 lbs, and over 10 ft. tall when standing, they hold the record for being the largest land carnivore.

There is SO much more to know, discover, and most certainly love about Nunavut, Canada, and you will find much of it at this link and this link. (Images from Canada.ca)