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Location Overview |
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| Called âqikiqtaruk," or island, by the local Inuvialuit peoples, Herschel Island lies off the coast of mainland Yukon territory in Canada. Historically, Herschel Island served as the site for both ancestral Inuvialuit settlements and more recent commercial whaling enterprises, including the Pauline Cove whaling settlement in the late 19th century. In fact, the Pacific Steam Whaling Company's Community House, built in 1893 in Pauline Cove and thought to be Yukon's oldest frame building, now houses a visitor's center for today's adventurous tourists.
In 1987, the Inuvialuit and the Canadian government officially designated Herschel Island as Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park, and the Inuvialuit, researchers, and tourists continue to roam this Arctic island. The stunning glaciers, tundra, and coastal shores attract a variety of natural wildlife, including numerous species of fish, arctic birds, polar bears, caribou, and foxes. Herschel Island also houses the largest colony of black guillemots in the region. Visitors will be dazzled by the array of colorful wildflowers that dot the coastal plains during the summer season. |
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