Pingo Canadian Landmark (also known as Pingo National Landmark) is a protected natural area located adjacent to the hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada, on the shore of Kugmallit Bay in the Arctic Ocean. It is managed by Parks Canada under the Canada National Parks Act and is the only National Landmark in Canada.
Overview
The landmark encompasses approximately 16.4 km² (6.2 sq mi) of land and water and protects eight pingos—ice-cored hills that rise from the flat tundra. These pingos are part of the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula region, which contains roughly 1,350 pingos, representing approximately one-quarter of the world's total. The most prominent feature is Ibyuk Pingo, Canada's tallest pingo at 49 metres (161 ft) in height and 300 metres (984 ft) across its base, and the second-tallest in the world after Kadleroshilik Pingo in Alaska. Ibyuk continues to grow at a rate of about 2 cm (0.79 in) per year and is estimated to be at least 1,000 years old.
History and Designation
The area was first identified as a site of national significance in 1978. It was formally established in 1984 as part of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement (the Western Arctic (Inuvialuit) Claims Settlement Act). The landmark is cooperatively managed by the Pingo Working Group, which includes representatives from Parks Canada, the Inuvialuit Land Administration, the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, the Tuktoyaktuk Hunters and Trappers Committee, the Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation, and the Tuktoyaktuk Elders Committee.
Although a nationwide National Landmark program was envisioned at the time of its creation, Pingo remains Canada's only designated National Landmark.
Geology
Pingos in this region form primarily through a hydrostatic (closed-system) process. When a lake drains, the unfrozen ground beneath the lakebed (called "talik") becomes exposed. As the surrounding permafrost encapsulates the water-saturated sediment, the freezing water expands, creating pressure that pushes the ground upward into a dome. The pingo stops growing once its entire core has frozen solid into nearly pure ice.
The landmark also protects an excellent example of massive ice—a section of frozen groundwater exposed by an eroded hillside that is over 500 m (1,600 ft) long and 10 m (33 ft) high. Wedge ice and tundra polygons are also present.
Ecology
Flora: Approximately 1,200 plant species are found in the area, including arctic willow, white heather, Labrador tea, dwarf birch, cranberries, cloudberries, blueberries, sphagnum moss, and leaf lichen. Trees, where present, occur in stunted krummholz form due to permafrost and the short growing season.
Fauna: Mammals include grizzly bears, polar bears, wolves, Arctic foxes, red foxes, and Arctic ground squirrels. Bird species include brant geese, tundra swans, lesser snow geese, loons, greater white-fronted geese, mallards, green-winged teal, king eiders, common eiders, long-tailed ducks, and various gulls and shorebirds.
Visiting
The landmark is accessible year-round via the Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk Highway, approximately 138 km (86 mi) north of Inuvik. The day-use area is open from June to September. Access is easiest by boat (approximately 20 minutes from Tuktoyaktuk), though hiking from the highway is discouraged due to the sensitivity of the terrain. A boardwalk trail with a boat launch, dock, and viewing platforms was completed in August 2010. Hiking on a pingo from base to summit is prohibited from April 15 to October 31 to protect the fragile vegetation and ice core. The recreational use of drones is also prohibited.
Cultural Significance
For centuries, pingos have served as navigational aids for the Inuvialuit when travelling by land and water. They provide elevated vantage points for spotting caribou on the tundra and whales offshore. The area continues to be used by Inuvialuit for hunting and harvesting.
