This weeks videos of the 2014 Quest are in anticipation of the Hudson Bay Quest start in Gillam ,MB on March 13th. The race has become a tradition for Churchill mushers and residents celebrating the winter and culture in the north. Dog sledding truly embodies the lifestyle of the remote regions of the sub Arctic. The Hudson Bay Quest has galvanized the mushing community of the region and involved the residents of Gillam and Churchill in the event.
Year after year the Quest draws some of the most accomplished mushers from North America. This year’s race will finish in Churchill around the 15th of March for most teams and there will be quite the extensive celebration!
As northern lights season for Natural Habitat Adventures gets underway in Churchill, this seems like the perfect time to break out some of the best photos and videos of aurora borealis. Enjoy these images from Churchill!
Aurora in the night sky at the Tundra Lodge. Colby Brokvist photo.
Charged particles projected from the sun’s surface collide with gaseous particles in the earth’s atmosphere and develop into what we know as Aurora borealis. Color Variations result from the various types of gas particles colliding. Most commonly occurring colors are a pale yellowish-green. These hues are produced by oxygen molecules located nearly 60 miles above the earth. High-altitude oxygen, up to 200 miles above the earth’s surface, produce rare all-red auroras. Blue or purplish-red aurora are produced by Nitrogen particles colliding with particles from the sun.
Because the temperature above the sun’s surface is millions of degrees Celsius, explosive collisions between gas molecules constantly occur. As the sun rotates, free protons and electrons are ejected through the surrounding atmosphere. Solar winds feeding off the rotation blow towards Earth and these charged particles are deflected by the earth’s magnetic field. Since the earth’s atmosphere is weaker at the poles, particles enter and then collide with gas particles. Dancing lights are produced and have captivated our imaginations for centuries!
This humorous look at some highlights of Churchill, the polar bear capitol of the world, from Canadian personality Rick Mercer gives a different perspective on the serious work done by Manitoba Conservation officers in controlling the polar bear population around the town. We actually met Rick one night at the Seaport Hotel and had some good laughs. Enjoy the show!
With the northern lights season drawing near, these two videos of aurora borealis offer a glimpse into the mystical lights that often appear in the heart of winter in Churchill. The second of the two videos is from Churchill and has some unique views capturing the feel of the landscape. Both videos highlight the affect of landscape merged into the footage. The difference between a video of the northern lights in the sky an one with interesting scenery incorporated into the foreground is profound. Whether trees, rocky ledges, houses or igloos, the video’s scenes are transformed when the scenes have more depth. Enjoy these two inspiring videos!
In the late 1720’s peace between England and France was on edge, and in 1730 the Hudson Bay Company initiated construction on Fort Prince of Wales at the mouth of the Churchill River (650 meters across at that point) at Eskimo Point. The strategic location – the peninsula at the mouth of the Churchill River and Button Bay to the west – affords an ideal location for defense and spotting ships on the horizon. The availability of raw material, quartzite and limestone for building, and a natural harbor just upriver at Sloops Cove added to the prime location. Severe weather conditions slowed construction considerably to say the least.
Looking for polar bears from inside fort Prince of Wales. Steve Selden photo.
Twenty-four tradesmen and laborers were sent from England in 1731 and the first large, shaped stone was laid on June 3, 1732. It was estimated that construction would take six or seven years to complete using four team of oxen and 84 men. Forty years later in 1771, the fort was completed. In 1782 Jean Francois de la Perouse and his three French warships sailed into Hudson Bay and captured the fort and the 39 non – military men inside without a single shot fired from either side. The men “maintaining” the fort were untrained in cannon operation. The forged steel cannons needed six to eight men to fire them efficiently and accurately.
Fort Governor at the time, Samuel Hearne, realized the mismatch in military strength and surrendered peacefully. In 1783, Fort Prince of Wales was returned to the Hudson Bay Company in a partially destroyed state. With the decline of the fur trade the importance of the fort waned and a downsized post was reestablished farther inland on the Churchill River.
Summer in Churchill is the optimal time to get a walking tour of Fort Prince of Wales. Visit nathab.com for travel options to Churchill!
When you visualize snorkeling you usually think about the Caribbean and warm water lapping your tanning skin. Well, Churchill snorkeling is slightly different….about 30 degrees cooler in water temperature to be frank.
However, Sea North Tours in Churchill has all the insulated dry suits and gear to facilitate jumping into the Churchill River to mingle with the “canaries of the sea”, as beluga whales are known. This video has some amazing sound captured from the hydrophone equipment on the accompanying zodiac.
I can tell you first-hand this surely is an incredible experience you will remember forever!
