Churchill, with about 1,300 inhabitants, is on the western shore of Hudson Bay about 650 air miles (1,000 kilometers) north of Winnipeg, at the mouth of the Churchill River. The town is surrounded by unspoiled landscape, unpolluted water, clean air and a panorama of colour that has to be seen to be believed! The area is known by the Inuit (Eskimos) as the "Land of Nanuk" - the polar bear.

Churchill's climate is one of extremes in temperature: Hudson Bay and the Churchill River freeze up in late October; spring break-up usually occurs in June. Your visit to Churchill can include many unique adventures, at various times of the year. Bring clothes that can be layered and hiking boots or good walking shoes. A light parka, wool toque and cotton or light wool gloves may be needed for spring and fall.
The airport, approximately 8 km (5 miles) south of town, has one of the longest runways in North America. Calm Air flights depart from Winnipeg for Churchill five times a week, with a flight time of about 2 1/2 hours.

Via Rail services Churchill three times a week; it's a 35 hour trip from Winnipeg. The trip takes two nights and a day, and is a rare experience as it jogs past hundred of miles of boreal forest and tundra.

Churchill is much more than bears. Yet it is the polar bear that represents the spirit of the tiny community. The strong independent animal relies upon its instinct and intelligence to survive in the North. So too the people of Churchill have pitted their wit and strength and endurance against the elements to prosper in this bleak and beautiful land.

Polar bears were once thought to be solitary animals that would avoid contact with other beasts except for mating. In the Churchill region, however, many alliances between bears are made in the fall. These friendships last only until the ice forms, then its every bear for himself as they hunt the seals. Churchill has earned the nickname "Polar Bear Capital of the World" because of the annual convergence of hundreds of bears on a point of land just outside of town.

Churchill is known by many names:

Long before the 1700's when Europeans made their first landings in the area on quests for the elusive Northwest Passage to the Orient, native Inuit and Indian tribes often made camp where the Churchill River flows into Hudson Bay.

In the past 400 years the area around Churchill has been the site of a:
Churchill is a place tempered by extremes and characterized by contrast:


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