Vinland: America Discovered

Kangerlussuaq is a settlement on the west coast of Greenland near the end of a fjord of the same name. A former U.S. military base, the settlement serves as the international gateway for the majority of travel to and from Greenland today. Kangerlussuaq is the transportation hub for the country today, connecting travelers and locals with other towns in Greenland to international destinations like Copenhagen, Denmark and Iceland. The town is also surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and wildlife. Thousands of musk oxen roam the mountains and valleys near the town, which are accessible by hiking trails.

Sisimiut is the capital and largest city of the Qeqqata municipality, and the second-largest city in Greenland. It is located in central-western Greenland, on the coast of Davis Strait. It has been inhabited for the last 4,500 years, first by the Inuit peoples of the Saqqaq culture, Dorset culture, and then the Thule people, whose descendants form the majority of the current population. Artifacts from the early settlement era can be found throughout the region, favored in the past for its plentiful fauna, particularly the marine mammals providing subsistence for the early hunting societies. The population of modern Greenlanders in Sisimiut is a mix of the Inuit and Danish peoples, who first settled in the area in the 1720s, under the leadership of the Danish missionary, Hans Egede.

Iqaluit is Canada’s youngest and smallest capital city. When you arrive in Iqaluit you truly feel like you are in a different world – the northern lights, endless tundra, and the clear water of Frobisher Bay. The area is filled with opportunities for wildlife including polar bears and the elusive narwhal. Add to this natural beauty the deep-rooted Inuit culture and rich diversity of experiences, and you know this place is special. Enjoy a performance as provided by the local community.

Grinnell Glacier is located on Meta Incognita Peninsula on the southern Baffin Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Frobisher Bay is a relatively large inlet of the Labrador Sea in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada. Scope out marine life and mammals: whale, seals, and seabirds.

Aktapok Island is an uninhabited island located approximately 70 km from the mainland of northern Quebec near the center of Ungava Bay. Steep cliffs rise from the sea to a mostly flat-topped plain that is vegetated by sparse upland tundra. The bedrock is mostly limestone of Ordovician origin. In addition to being important for colonial seabirds, the waters surrounding the island are important for many marine mammals including walruses and seals. The island is also thought to be an important summer retreat and possible maternity denning area for polar bears.

Nachvak is a deep fjord in northern Labrador. The fjord is divided in two arms on the western end called Tallek and Tasiuyak. The mountains that surround the Nachvak are the highest in Labrador, where both Mount Razorback to the north and Mount Caubvick to the south are located.

There are few places on earth where such an array of geological features and processes can be observed in a single landscape. The limited vegetation cover, high mountains, coastal cliffs, deeply incised fjords, and sheer cliffs that cut perpendicular to the rock fabric provide some of the best exposures of the earth’s geologic history. These fjords provide some of the most breathtaking views in the park. Deep within Nachvak and Saglek fiords, cliffs rise abruptly out of the sea. Some cliffs are more than 900 m high.

At the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula of the island of Newfoundland, the remains of an 11th-century Viking settlement are evidence of the first European presence in North America. Learn more as you explore the excavated remains of wood-framed peat-turf buildings similar to those found in Norse Greenland and Iceland.

From Woody Point on the Southside of Gros Morne National Park, board a local school bus for the 10-minute drive to Gros Morne’s Discovery Centre. From here you start your challenging 5 kms / 3-mile hike to Lookout Hills, taking in some of Gros Morne's most dramatic scenery. After a short briefing and hike overview, embark on your 2-hour hike. This trail rises steeply up the forested hillside to the wet meadow and barrens of the plateau. The boardwalk leads to the summit of Partridgeberry Hill and has the best panoramic view in the park. It gives great views of the Tablelands, Bonne Bay, and Gros Morne mountain. The trail climbs steadily through the trees and then part way up breaks into the open. There are boardwalks across wet areas and numerous pitcher plants in places. At the top there is a lookout platform with some benches to relax and enjoy the view. After completion, return to the Discovery Center where you have some time to view the exhibits before taking the bus back to the dock in Woody Point.

The Havre-Saint-Pierre port of call welcomes you to its chain of islands and islets whose beauty take your breath away. The Mingan Archipelago inspires you with its mysteriously-shaped and unique monoliths. You are sure to be charmed by the unique accent that is characteristic of the region, and which eloquently speaks of its Acadian roots.

Tadoussac is a village in Quebec, Canada, at the confluence of the Saguenay and Saint Lawrence Rivers. Established at an Innu settlement, it was France's first trading post on the mainland of New France. By the 17th century it became an important trading post and was the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in Canada, and the oldest surviving French settlement in the Americas. The indigenous Innu called the place Totouskak meaning "bosom", probably in reference to the two round and sandy hills located on the west side of the village.

The city of Saguenay is nestled in a valley through which flows the Saguenay River, one of the region’s treasures. As it joins the Saint-Lawrence, the Saguenay River forms a spectacular fjord complete with extraordinary landscapes. From Saguenay, you can explore the attractive Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, which is a paradise for those who love the great outdoors. You can combine country walks with boat trips within the various national parks studded throughout this extraordinary natural kingdom.

The capital of La Belle Province sits at the confluence of the St. Charles River and the Gulf of St. Lawrence in southeast Canada. Founded in the 17th century, the city still has an encircling wall, a historic civil engineering work and the only one of its kind remaining in North America. Admire the postcard-perfect stone houses of Old Quebec, the historic district listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shopping is a pleasure in pedestrian streets such as Petit-Champlain Street, or you can relax over a spruce beer, seasoned with pine buds. Dufferin Boardwalk, an esplanade near the emblematic Château Frontenac, is the perfect place for views of the river and old city.