Traversing the Northwest Passage 1 - 27 September 2025
15 September 2025: Day 15
Cruise Day 8: Pond Inlet
Introduction
During the night we sailed south across Lancaster Sound, then east around Bylot Island to the settlement of Pond Inlet an hamlet of around 1,500 inhabitants.
We were welcomed by the Inuit, who have recently gained sovereignty over a large are of the Arctic. Clear weather revealed the mountains of Sirmilik National Park across Eclipse Sound.
Although the town has had a long history of Canadian Goverment investment, the town still has a frontier appearance and in dire need of infrastructure investment. We were
accompanied by local guides who showed us traditional firelighting and a sod house before taking us on a walking tour, commenting on buildings and daily life. We visited the
visitor centre and then the cultural centre, where locals demonstrated traditional dancing and games of skill: one foot kick, two feet kick, finger wrestling, musk ox wrestling
and throat singing. It was clear that, unlike other Inuit settlements we visited, Pond inlet is host to many Arctic cruise ships each year.
The last freighter of the summer to visit Pond Inlet
Heading to shore
So that's where the kayaks go...
Approaching Pond Inlet
Welcome to Pond Inlet
Our first time at a jetty - no waves or icebergs
No use as soon as the sea freezes over.
Walking up the main street.
Satellite dishes pointing at the horizon.
School buses are always yellow
They have bus stops?
The Anglican Church
Moss used to light fires..
to boil water...
at the turf house.
Model turf house with whale bone rafters.
Winter transport
Summer transport.
Visitor Centre and Library
Fantastic view across the inlet.
New sport centre under construction.
Pond Inlet Secondary School (fence to keep the wildlife out).
Welcome to the cultural display
Videos of the performances
More of Pond Inlet<.h3>
New lookout above the town.
Flight from the local airport
South Pole - 18,071km
Maybe the direction of the arrows was not accurate..
Walking back down the main street.
Containers from the freighter making their way into the town...
followed by the loader to lift it off the truck.
Back for the last container.
Departing into the sunset,,
being followed by that freighter.
Time-lapse video of our passage
I set up a camera on the deck of our cabin to record a photo every 30 seconds. The photos have been compressed into a short video
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