Friday, 12 August 2022

Akpatok Island and Killiniq, Nunavut

The morning of the 28th we cruised over to Alpatok Island where we spent the afternoon exploring by zodiac.  Alpatok Island is at the north end of Ungava Bay in Hudson Strait and is named for the thousands of akpats or thick billed murres that nest on its vertical cliffs.  When the fledglings are ready to make their death defying leap from their nest to learn to fly there are polar bears waiting on the beach below to catch the unsuccessful ones.  The seas were calm and we saw thousands of birds and a couple of polar bears on shore though they were a long way off.  A ring seal popped up close to our zodiac and gave us a good look as well.  Evening provided another spectacular sunset.
On the 29 th we arose bright and early for an excursion into Killniq .  This is an abandoned Inuit village on Killniq Island which is separated from mainland North America by the McLelan Strait.  Originally started as a meteorological Station in 1885 and then an HBC trading post in 1904 which left in the 1920’s the Inuit village grew around this port.  In 1978 it was decided by the government that this village would no longer receive support and all the residents were re-settled in other host communities of Nunavut.  We came ashore in a picturesque bay where an abandoned freezer house stood like it was still waiting for the residents to bring and store their meat and fish for the year.  The houses still stand ,though in bad state of repair and the workshop still has a tractor in it.  Old boats lie abandoned on the grass, though they definitely would not be sea worthy.  There was a power station and it was interesting to se how all the wires ran along the ground and were held down by rocks placed every couple of feet.  Quite a hilly village and was a bright sunny morning so a very pleasant morning.  Our wildlife sighting consisted of a very large Arctic hare.  Back on the ship we set sail on our longest crossing, that of Davis Strait as we head towards Greenland.


Approaching the bird sanctuary and on the outlook for polar bears.  We did see some but one needed binoculars to get a good view.

Cruising towards the island.  Thousands of birds surrounded us and a ring seal popped up beside us.

The murins resembled small penguins 

Every night presented us with magnificent sunsets

Approaching the deserted village of Killiniq

The village definitely had a picturesque setting though it was set far from any other civilization 

Remains of boats strewn on the land were telltale of how the inhabitants used the ocean for their source of food

Ocean Endeavour sits in the distance waiting for our return

We were visited by a large Arctic hare

Waterfront properties sit slowly falling apart

Equipment was just left and sits rusting where it was last used

Beautiful Arctic flowers grow amongst the decaying homes







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