10 Fun and Interesting Facts About Churchill Manitoba That Will Blow Your Mind!
Fun and Interesting Facts About Churchill Manitoba
Churchill Manitoba is a remarkable travel destination with plenty of incredible things to see. During our bucket list trip to this unique town, we were blown away by its history, natural wonders, wildlife, and of course, the amazing outdoor adventures that could be had. So we decided to put together a short list of fun and interesting facts about Churchill Manitoba that may get other families interested in seeing this amazing place firsthand.
Where is Churchill Located?
The town of Churchill is located in northeastern Manitoba. It lies on the west coast of Hudson Bay at the mouth of the Churchill River, on the 58th parallel north, and south of the Arctic Circle.
Although the community was originally founded in 1931, due to the remote location, Churchill, Manitoba still only has a population of about 900 people.
10 Fun and Interesting Facts About Churchill Manitoba
Most people have heard Churchill referred to as the “Polar Bear Capital of the World”. But that is usually where their knowledge of this northern Canadian town ends. Here is a list of ten fun and interesting facts that you probably don’t know about Churchill.
1. Churchill Manitoba is Known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World
Churchill Manitoba has definitely earned its nickname of being the Polar Bear Capital of the World. With more than one thousand polar bears migrating through the area annually in search of sea ice, it’s not difficult to see why.
Since the 1980s, many tourists have begun to flock to Churchill to view polar bears from a safe distance. Nowadays, tour operators in specialized tundra safari vehicles conduct polar bear tours to give visitors an up-close view of these incredible animals.
Fun Fact: Residents of Churchill actually have a year-round task force called the Polar Bear Alert Program, that operates a 24-hour hotline (204 675-2327 or as locals know it 675-Bear). Whenever a polar bear is spotted in or around the town that may cause a dangerous situation, residents are encouraged to phone in and report the bear’s location.
📷 Looking for the perfect Instagram caption for your Polar Bear pictures? We have you covered!
2. Churchill Manitoba is Named After a Governor
Churchill is actually considered Canada’s northernmost seaport. In fact, the first permanent settlement was built here in 1717 by the Hudson’s Bay Company.
A log fort was built near the Churchill River so that the Hudson’s Bay Company could capitalize on the North American fur trade.
As a result, both the town of Churchill and the nearby river were named after John Churchill, the 1st duke of Marlborough, and governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company.
3. Churchill Manitoba is Also Known as the Beluga Capital of the World
Although Churchill is mostly known for its polar bears, one of the lesser-known interesting facts about Churchill Manitoba, is that the area also becomes home to thousands of beluga whales during the summer. Every year, close to 3,000 of these gorgeous white whales move into the warmer waters of the Churchill River estuary during the summer to give birth to calves.
But the Churchill River is not the only place you will find Belugas in Churchill. Tens of thousands of them find their way into Hudson Bay as well. In fact, during the summer, Beluga whales outnumber Churchill’s human population three to one!
Fun Fact: Not only are belugas one of the most vocal aquatic mammals (early whalers referred to them as sea canaries), but they are also the only whales with flexible necks. So because the Beluga’s seven neck vertebrae aren’t fused, they are actually able to turn their heads, or even nod!
4. Churchill Manitoba is a Birder’s Haven
If you are an avid birdwatcher, then Churchill should definitely be on your must-see list. During the spring and fall, over 250 species of birds either nest or pass through the Churchill area during their annual migrations
From Arctic Tern to Ptarmigan, Sandhill Cranes, Tundra Swans, Bald Eagles, Pacific Loon, Red-necked Phalarope, Snow Geese, and Common Eider, many of these species choose Churchill as their nesting grounds in the spring.
5. Churchill Manitoba is One of the Best Places in the World to See the Northern Lights
Most travellers will agree, that seeing the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, is definitely a bucket list item for them. This spectacular natural phenomenon usually occurs in high-latitude regions and is caused by disturbances in the magnetosphere from solar winds.
Unfortunately, conditions have to be just right in order for the Auroras to occur. But due to Churchill’s optimal location, it is considered one of the most popular places in Canada to see the Northern Lights.
In fact, second only to the popularity of the polar bears, many people travel here just to take expeditions in search of the phenomenon. And with an incredible rocky foreground on the coast, not only do visitors have the perfect viewing platform, the potential for amazing night-sky photography is huge!
6. No Roads Lead to Churchill Manitoba
Most people don’t realize that Churchill is not accessible by road. In fact, many consider Churchill to be one of the most unreachable places in the world.
There are only two ways to travel to Churchill. The first, and easiest, is via a 3-hour flight from Winnipeg. You will only find a handful of charter companies, including Calm Air, that flies to Churchill.
You can also reach Churchill by train. This trek will take you 2 days, and over 1,700 kilometres. Sit back and enjoy the incredibly changing landscape, as you go from lush boreal forests to sub-artic tundra.
Fun Fact: Although no roads LEAD to Churchill, you can still explore Churchill on Google Streetview!
7. Churchill Manitoba is Home to a Rocket Testing Site
Located 24 kilometres east of Churchill, you will find the Churchill Rocket Research Range National Historic Site of Canada. Originally built in 1954 as an atmosphere research centre and weather-sounding facility, it was later used by both the Canadian and US military for their rocket programs.
The site was in operation from 1955 until 1985 and provided the working base for launching and tracking rockets for research into the upper atmosphere. The Rocket Research Range was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1988.
Fun Fact: The Churchill Rocket Research Range was originally opened to research the effects of the Auroras (Northern Lights) on long-distance communications.
8. Churchill is Home to Manitoba’s Oldest Mason Symbol
The oldest Masonic symbol in Manitoba can be seen etched in a wall at Fort Prince of Wales. Located near the mouth of the Churchill River, the fort was built by the Hudson’s Bay Company stonemasons between 1731 and 1772.
9. Churchill Manitoba is Home to a World-Class Collection of Inuit Carvings
When you are visiting Churchill, be sure to head to the Itsanitaq Museum. This is where you will find one of the world’s best collections of Inuit carvings.
What makes this collection so incredible, is that not only do the carvings have incredibly delicate and intricate details, but the artwork dates back to 1700 BC (Pre-Dorset).
10. Churchill Manitoba Has a Local Mystery
The biggest local mystery and source of much folklore in Churchill surrounds the Miss Piggy plane wreck. Ask any local, and you’re likely to get a different dramatic story every time!
What we do know is that on November 13th, 1979, at approximately 9:30 am, a Curtiss C-46 “Commando” twin-prop cargo plane that was widely used in WWII crashed while making its way into the Churchill Airport. We also know that although the plane was heavily damaged, the crew members only sustained minor injuries.
What we don’t know, is why the plane crashed in the first place, and what happened to the crew afterwards. Rumour has it, they hitchhiked into town to drink at the local tavern!
Churchill Manitoba FAQs
We have included just a few additional facts about Churchill Manitoba that may interest you.
YES! Churchill Manitoba is definitely worth visiting. With its unique location and excellent wildlife-spotting opportunities, it is definitely a bucket-list adventure.
That being said, because it is not easy to get to, and the town is quite small and isolated, it can be quite expensive to travel to Churchill.
Churchill is definitely most known for being the “Polar Bear Capital of the World”. With its many polar bears that migrate through the area annually, Churchill has built a booming tourism industry around these incredible animals.
Yes! But there are only about 900 people living in Churchill on a permanent basis. However, the area sees a slight increase in population during tourist season, as many tour guides and operators, and other temporary workers move into the area for a few months.
In Canada, there are approximately 13 populations of polar bears, totalling approximately 15,000 bears. Of those, Churchill Manitoba sees approximately 1,000 bears during the migratory season.
Yes! Grizzly bears have been spotted in this area. In fact, Grizzly bears are being spotted so often in northern Manitoba, especially along the coast of Hudson Bay, that many conservationists have concluded that they are now “regular residents” of this province.
Churchill, Manitoba is situated at 58 degrees of latitude and has a subarctic continental climate. This means that their climate is characterized by long, cold winters and short, cool summers.
Final Thoughts on Fun and Interesting Facts About Churchill Manitoba
We hope that you have enjoyed reading about the many fun and interesting facts about Churchill Manitoba. Hopefully, our post has even sparked some wanderlust, and you may even be considering a trip to Churchill Manitoba for your family.
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- 10 Fun and Interesting Facts About Churchill Manitoba That Will Blow Your Mind!
