Ivvavik National Park ( ) is a national park of Canada located in the Yukon. Initially named "Northern Yukon National Park", the park was renamed Ivvavik in 1992 for the Inuvialuktun word meaning "nursery" or "birthplace", in reference to the importance of the area as a calving ground for Porcupine caribou. About 100 people visit the park each year.
Geography and climate
Ivvavik contains the British Mountains which run east to west, parallel to the Arctic coast, and merge into the Brooks Range in Alaska.
Draining north through the Park from the British Mountains is the Firth River, the oldest river in Canada
Ecology
The park contains many cultural sites of continuing importance to the local indigenous people.
Protecting a portion of the calving grounds of the caribou herd, the park allows only a minimal number of people to visit per year.
alt=Mountain informally named Stegosaurus Ridge for its resemblance to the dinosaur, above the Firth River, in Canada's Ivvavik National Park.|thumb|Mountain informally named "Stegosaurus Ridge" for its resemblance to [[Stegosaurus|the dinosaur, above the Firth River, in Canada's Ivvavik National Park]]
On the shore of Beaufort Sea, abundant Yukon wolves, grizzly bears, and black bears inhabit the area. Other animals that inhabit this park include two species of fox, Yukon moose, lemmings, Dall sheep, gyrfalcons, muskoxen, and wolverines. The area around Sheep Creek is the northernmost extension of Dall sheep habitat in Canada. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge lies just across the border in Alaska. The Firth River holds some of the longest stocks of Dolly Varden char in western Canada.
Activities and access
The most practical way to enter Ivvavik National Park is via charter aircraft from Inuvik, which is from the park. Activities such as rafting, fishing, wildlife viewing, camping, and hiking are available in the park. Rafting is available in late June to early August and rafting on the Firth River is a popular activity. A permit is required to fish in the park. There is a daily catch and possession limit of one Dolly Varden char with a restriction of three fish total. Camping is allowed in all areas of the park except archaeological sites and the park does not have any marked hiking trails.