| Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik Research Station |
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 Primary Contact Secondary Contact Longitude: 77° 45' W Description of Facility: This site has been a hub for CEN research in the North since 1968 and the present station built in the early 1980s is the main CEN research facility for studies on geosystems and ecosystems in northern Quebec. It is operated throughout the year with a fulltime station manager. The station consists of 7 buildings renovated in 2007, 2009 and 2010 which can accommodate up to 25 people throughout the year. In 2010, a Community Training Centre will be built to serve needs of the circumpolar science community for research planning, coordination and information exchange, the Canadian research community for national research workshops and coordination of field operations, and the local Cree and Inuit communities for information exchange, identification of northern research needs, science training of northerners, exchange of traditional knowledge, the formulation of research goals, and outreach activities (e.g. to Kativik schools). This facility will also include a display area open to schools. Research installations comprise a dry and a wet lab, an experimental greenhouse, a growing tunnel, and a climatological station operated by the CEN SILA Network. Leisure areas include bedrooms, lounge, and a cafeteria. The cafeteria can accommodate up to 40 people. In summertime, a cook prepares meals for lunch and dinner. Cafeteria users prepare their own breakfast with a variety of items available. The station also has a workshop and warehouses. Laboratory: yes Availability: CEN's research station and services are available year round to researchers from all sectors (university, collegiate, government, private), whether they are working in the immediate region, or in transit to other northern locations. Researchers can use the laboratories, the greenhouse and have storage space. Internet, a fax and a photocopier are also available. It is possible to rent camping equipment, communication equipment (radio and satellite phone), and other field equipment. CEN welcomes students from high school, college, or university levels, conducting northern internships. The station can also accommodate small groups for workshops of a few days whose focus are on research or education. Make prior arrangements. Natural and human environment: This bicultural community represents the ancestral limit of the Cree and Inuit territories. It is both the northernmost Cree community and the southernmost Inuit community in Quebec. In the past, the English name Great Whale and the French name Poste-de-la-Baleine have been used to designate this community. The Hudson Bay Company established the first fur trade post here in 1750. In 1940-50, the establishment of a military base and a radar station at this site was the foundation for settlement of the two cultural groups. Granites covered by a thick layer of sand characterize the soils of the region. South of the Great Whale River is found the taiga zone, while north of the river, the forest tundra zone progressively dominates the landscape. The Manitounuk Islands, located just a little to the north along the coast, are part of the Hudsonian cuestas found on the eastern shore of Hudson Bay. Rocky beaches on the side facing the open sea and vertiginous cliffs on the coastal side characterize these islands. Current Projects: Useful links |