by Steve Selden | Oct 29, 2015 | Tour News
With so much happening in Churchill we are posting more amazing photos that Natural Habitat Adventures guides have submitted from some pretty spectacular trips! Aggressive polar bear sparring seems to be the theme thus far as the 2015 polar bear season settles in. Aurora borealis has also been more visible in the northern sky in vivid reds and greens. A recent Tundra Lodge group viewed shimmering ribbons across the ink black sky deep in the CWMA. Last week my son and I experienced the northern lights with a few Natural Habitat groups by the inukshuk behind the town complex. My son’s eyes lit up with wonder as he viewed them over the placid and glimmering Hudson Bay. Priceless memories for sure.
Natural Habitat travelers on the tundra lodge under amazing northern lights. Drew Hamilton photo.
The tundra lodge has enjoyed abundant bear population from the start of the season. Sparring in and out of the willows surrounding the lodge has kept travelers in awe throughout the day. This will be hard to sustain though some new exciting phenomena out in the Churchill Wildlife Management Area (CWMA) will surely arise. Every year a new and interesting behavior emerges from the polar bear population in Churchill. A cycle of other species seems to revolve from year to year as well. This season numerous snowy owls have been sighted all over the area. Last season red foxes were all over the tundra and the previous year the Arctic fox population was prolific.Every year is a new adventure!
Polar bears engaging in mock fighting on the tundra in Churchill. Drew Hamilton photo.
Snowy owls have been prolific this polar bear season. Colby Brokvist photo.
Polar bears engaged in some pre sparring jawing. Drew Hamilton photo.
by Steve Selden | Sep 22, 2015 | Churchill Photography
Alex De Vries – Magnifico took this “outstanding”,(see what I did there?), northern lights photograph in Churchill last evening. The aurora borealis continues to impress into September. These spectacular sights we have been seeing bode well for polar bear season which is just a couple of weeks away. With some clear nights throughout the fall season travelers should get some special evenings with the northern lights glowing in the sky above Churchill. Enjoy!
Northern lights above Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
by Steve Selden | Aug 26, 2015 | Churchill Photography
This past year has been stellar for northern lights in Churchill. Although peak season for aurora borealis viewing in the region is typically February and March, the end of summer in Churchill can be a perfect time to see the lights. These photographs from just a couple of nights ago by local photographer and guide Alex De Vries – Magnifico are the best of the season so far. The images may be the grande finale until polar bear season in October or even northern lights season in February. Whenever lights appear in the northern sky it’s truly a unique experience!
Spectacular northern lights over the Hudson Bay by Inukshuk in town. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Swirling aurora borealis over a thermakarst in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Subtle yet vibrant northern lights in a pale blue sky. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Northern lights above a thermakarst in Churchill. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
by Steve Selden | Apr 10, 2015 | Churchill News
The Churchill Rocket Range at Fort Churchill has been an integral part of Canadian rocket research within the sub – orbital atmosphere. Located just east of Churchill, the site has been used since the 1950’s for multiple launches of various rockets such as the Nike-Orion and Black Brant. Closed today, the range has gone through many transitions over the years.
Black Brant rocket at the Churchill rocket Range. Courtesy Natural Habitat
Churchill’s unique proximity in the “western hemisphere” coupled with its wide open range firing northwards made it optimal not only for incredible polar bear viewing but for rocket launching as well. Test rockets are still being discovered today in the vast, wide open tundra.
1. – The rocket range was built in 1954 by the Canadian Army to study long distance communication capabilities and the affects the aurora borealis has on them.
2. – The site was closed in 1955 then reopened and refurbished and expanded in 1956 for the International Geophysical Year (IGY) in 1957. The site was then closed again in December 1958 when the IGY ended.
3. – In 1959 the U. S. Army reopened the rocket range as a sounding rocket test station. It was used to test rockets which evolved into the Black Brant utilizing new solid fuel propellant. Fire destroyed much of the facility in 1960 and 12 additional test launches of the black Brant were scheduled at NASA’s Wallops Island in 1961-62 while the Churchill site was rebuilt. In 1970 the U. S. Army ended operations at the site.
Churchill rocket range from the air. Steve Selden photo.
4. – In 1970 the Churchill site was acquired by the Canadian Research Council to contribute to the Canadian Upper Atmosphere Research Program. The range was used intermittently during the 70’s and 80’s and shut down by 1990.
5. – Rumors surfaced in the mid 1990’s when Akjuit Aerospace announced development of the site aat a $300 million price tag was imminent. A Russian company named STC Complex signed a deal with Akjuit to launch polar – orbiting rockets carrying loads on surplus, re-purposed ICBM’s as part of the START treaty negotiations. In May 1998 Akjuit Aerospace closed down operations from financing problems as well as the collapse of the space exploration market in 2000.
A closer look at the Churchill Rocket Range today. Steve Selden photo.
Today the Churchill Rocket Range stands as a reminder of the frenetic past in Churchill as well as what might have been had Akjuit launched the ambitious new venture at the site. The buildings near the Churchill Northern Studies Center seem frozen in time, suspended in anticipation of what the future could have been.
by Steve Selden | Mar 20, 2015 | Churchill Photography
We can’t get enough of these incredible northern lights images taken by Natural Habitat guides and staff in Churchill. Guide Kurt Johnson was in town this past week with a group of travelers and they were fortunate to hit a jackpot of aurora borealis oval displays. The season is winding down and the viewing just keeps getting better and better!
Incredible northern lights in Churchill. Kurt Johnson photo.
Shimmering veil of northern lights over the boreal forest in Churchill. Kurt Johnson photo.
Natural Habitat Aurora Pod in Churchill, Manitoba. Alex De Vries – Magnifico photo.
Want to see the amazing northern lights? come to Churchill in 2016.
