| 1. | Archaeologists believe the Churchill area has seen human habitation come and go for over 4,000 years. | |
| 2. | TRUE: Churchill is known throughout the world as the "Polar Bear Capital of the World. | |
| 3. | TRUE: Many of Churchill's people still live on their ancestral turf. | |
| 4. | FALSE: Samuel Hearne opened the gates of Prince of Wales Fort and surrendered after being confronted with four hundred men three days after La Perouse anchored four miles north of the Fort. No shots were fired! | |
| 5. | TRUE: The largest joint Canada-U.S. military installation was set up at Churchill (Fort Churchill) and 41 years later was almost completely leveled. | |
| 6. | Weather can range from a summertime high of 33.9°C (93°F) to a bone chilling low -45.6°C (-50.1°F). | |
| 7. | TRUE: Churchill is located in the zone where the greatest incidence of northern lights occurs. | |
| 8. | TRUE: Many people believe that the Lindbergh ransom ($20,000 in U.S. gold certificates), is buried in the Churchill area in the vicinity of Prince of Wales Fort . | |
| 9. | Over 150 species of birds congregate at Churchill in the summer and fall - tundra swan,horned grebe, snowy and short-eared owls, golden plover, arctic loon, snow goose, and several species of the sandpiper family, to mention a few. | |
| 10. | FALSE: The Boreal Gardens is an example of the "never-say-never" attitude that is so prevalent in "Churchillites" today. The Gardens experiment with the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and bedding plants that will thrive and mature in a climate where frost can arrive in September. There has not been a great deal of success as of yet. | |
| 11. | FALSE: Ringed seals swim in the Churchill River in the Spring and sun themselves on the ice flows. Beluga whales congregate in the Hudson Bay and as many as 3,000 will visit the Churchill River to feed on the small fish and give birth in the warmer water. Both stay throughout the summer but travel farther out into the Bay. | |
| 12. | TRUE: Hog farming came to a standstill in Churchill when the polar bears learned to climb the chain link fence housing the 'smorgasbord'. | |
| 13. | TRUE: The true home of the "Polar Bear Dip" is in Churchill. Part of the July 1st celebrations is the relay race requiring each team to plunge in the 5°C (40°F) water and complete a designated course. | |
| 14. | FALSE: The Tundra Buggy was invented in Churchill by a local resident. Both National Geographic and Life magazines have featured these unique vehicles in stories. From a height of nearly 5 metre (15 feet), they provide the best possible view of the polar bear in their natural habitat. | |
| 15. | FALSE: The Eskimo Museum in Churchill constructed in 1948 preserves the Inuit culture and houses an exquisite collection of contemporary Inuit Art giving a true picture of life in the Arctic. | |
AURORA BOREALIS © Copyright 1997 All Rights Reserved C.A.A.E. Churchill, Manitoba, Canada Phone: (204) 885-3330 Fax: (204) 831-5348 Email: aurora@cancom.net | ||