Things To Do
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Autumn foliage along the banks of JenneJohn Lake |
Wildlife
Flora and fauna
Birding
Insect tips
Flora and fauna
Our wide open skies are the first thing people notice about Northern Frontier. Next you'll notice our small trees. But look under foot! Tiny flowering plants, wild roses, edible berries, mosses, lichens and wide selection of grasses and sedges grow in Northern Frontier.
In spring and autumn the variety of birds is remarkable, just a short walk from downtown Yellowknife. One of North America's great migratory bird flyways passes close by. Through the winter, huge, saucy ravens gather in Yellowknife. You'll come eye to eye, too, with ptarmigan, and cheeky snow buntings and redpolls, on frost-covered branches.
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In spring, the barrenland caribou herds approach our communities in their northward migration. In autumn, you can travel out on the tundra to one of our first class hunting camps - space is booked years in advance.
Wood bison laze by the highway near Fort Providence. Red foxes and hares raise their families in wild spaces right in every community. Beaver and muskrat keep busy in our ponds. Black bears still rule the forests, here, and mink and marten can be spotted near lakes or winter roads.
Birding (back to top)
Yellowknife, Great Slave Lake, and the surrounding woodlands host some 184 bird species, 124 of which visit only in the summer months. Birding is at its peak in early summer (as early as March for bald eagles, through mid-May). The optimum time of day is first light (which is early, this time of year). With a bird list from Northern Frontier Visitors Centre and perhaps an experienced birder to guide you, you'll soon catch the birding excitement.
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Some good places for bird watching within the city limits are the Niven Lake area, Yellowknife Bay near the Dettah ice road entrance, Back Bay and Frame Lake.
Insect tips (back to top)
Mosquitos and black flies are sometimes the downside of an almost perfect summer day in the North. Their tiny bites can cause itching and discomfort. They are part of the natural environment, and do not carry disease here. Although they can be controlled to some extent, the best defence is personal protection. Here are some tips to help you live more comfortably with our tiny summer pests.
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Personal protection:
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Wear light-coloured clothing. It appears to be less attractive to mosquitoes than dark clothing. Long-sleeved shirts, pants rather than shorts, socks, and a hat will keep you more comfortable.
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Apply repellents. Protection may last up to three hours, but more frequent application may be required if a person is perspiring or the repellent is rubbed or washed off. Apply repellent to all exposed skin and treat clothing, particularly around the collar and cuffs. Keep spray away from your eyes. Solvents found in most repellents can damage synthetic fibres and plastics. The use of repellents on infants is not recommended.
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Avoid using perfume, or scented aftershaves, hairspray, baby lotions etc. outdoors. The scent attracts biting insects.
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Bug jackets and insect-proof clothing are available in stores throughout the region in various sizes and styles, including infant protection. Northern Frontier Visitors Centre sells bug jackets, too.
Tiny black flies crawl into your hairline or through openings in your clothes. Their bites occur behind your ears, around your neck and belt line, and on the lower parts of your legs and arms. Scratching the bites should be avoided.
Some people are highly sensitive to insect bites. To soothe itching and swelling, antihistamines and mild anaesthetics are available at local pharmacies, supermarkets and general stores. A solution of baking soda and water applied to the bite helps reduce itching and swelling. A little baking soda added to bath water will assist in a scratch-free sleep.
Black flies or “no see ums” , like mosquitos, can be encountered throughout the summer. They can be plentiful during daylight hours, particularly on cloudy, warm days in sheltered areas. In open areas, especially during clear, hot weather, there are two daily peaks in biting activity. The first occurs in early morning, while the second and more severe peak occurs in the late afternoon. Black fly activity increases at the approach of storms and on humid, cloudy days. Rain and cold inhibit their activity.
Photos by Ronne Heming (Outcrop), GNWT, Tessa Macintosh and Jeff Hipfner
