Tuktoyaktuk Winter Road facts for kids
The Tuktoyaktuk Winter Road was a special road made of ice. It was an extension of the Dempster Highway in Canada's Northwest Territories. This unique road was built each winter on the frozen channels of the Mackenzie River delta and parts of the frozen Arctic Ocean.
It connected the towns of Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. The road was very important for these northern communities. It helped transport supplies and equipment during the cold winter months.
The Tuktoyaktuk Winter Road closed for good on April 29, 2017. This happened because a new, all-season highway was built. This new road connects Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk and can be used all year round. Construction on the new highway started in April 2013 and it opened on November 15, 2017.
Why Was This Ice Road Important?
The ice road was a vital supply route for the community of Tuktoyaktuk. It allowed large trucks to bring in food, building materials, and other important goods. Without the ice road, supplies would have to be flown in, which is much more expensive.
The road also helped with exploring for natural resources. It provided access to areas where companies were looking for gas. Special barges, like the Wurmlinger and Arctic Star, were used as bases for workers. These barges would get frozen into the ice and serve as temporary homes.
The Ice Road on TV: Ice Road Truckers
The Tuktoyaktuk Winter Road became famous because of a TV show. The show is called Ice Road Truckers and it airs on the History channel. It follows the lives of truck drivers who haul goods over dangerous ice roads.
The second season of Ice Road Truckers was filmed on this very road. It showed the challenges drivers faced while transporting supplies between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. Four drivers from the first season, Alex Debogorski, Hugh Rowland, Drew Sherwood, and Rick Yemm, were featured.
The show returned to the Tuktoyaktuk Winter Road for its sixth season in 2012. This time, only Alex Debogorski was shown driving on this specific ice road. Other ice roads, like the Dalton Highway in Alaska, were also part of that season.
See also
In Spanish: Carretera invernal Tuktoyaktuk para niños