Circumpolar News
3 fuel trucks broke through ice road near Aklavik, N.W.T. 
(CBC News, 17 April 2012) -- Three fuel trucks broke through the ice on the Tuktoyaktuk–Aklavik ice road in the Northwest Territories Monday night. No fuel leaked from the trucks, which were full, and no one was hurt. The incident backed up traffic for hours, affecting dozens of people who were travelling from the Tuktoyaktuk Beluga Jamboree. Barbara Archie, an elder from Aklavik, was on the ice road behind the trucks. "The trucks fell through, so we all had to stay back and wait," she said. A secondary road had to be cleared to allow people to make it back to shore. Crews worked for most of the day Tuesday to remove the trucks, which were partially submerged in the Arctic waters. Officials with the Department of Transportation said it’s the first time in recent memory that this many trucks have gone through the ice at once. The department is now investigating.
Posted 17 April 2012; 11:59:32 PM. Permalink
Tagged: April12, Canada, Circumpolar News, Disasters, etc., Infrastructure, transportation, NWT
Canada's military divers to explore Franklin-era wreck
(CBC News via Eye on the Arctic, 16 April 2102) -- Divers with the Canadian military will make their way under the sea ice to explore a Franklin-era shipwreck. The exercise is part of the annual Operation Nunalivut, which takes place in the High Arctic near Resolute. Divers from three provinces will head down with remote-operated vehicles to look at the HMS Breadalbane. In 1853, the ship sank off Beechey Island in Lancaster Sound. It had been part of the search for John Franklin's lost ships, the Erebus and Terror, and their crews. The Breadalbane's crew had to abandon ship when it became trapped in an ice floe, and the crew was later rescued by another ship. "We don't think anybody's conducted any dive operations on it in about 10 years, and the last time that they did it looked to be in really good shape," said Lt. Col. Glen MacNeil, who is leading the operation. "You could clearly see the outline of the ship and the masts were still there on it with sails so it'll be interesting to see what type of images we get." The Breadalbane is now a national historic site of Canada. Operation Nunalivut ends May 1.
Posted 17 April 2012; 11:01:19 AM. Permalink
Tagged: April12, Canada, Circumpolar News, Expeditions, field trips, tours, Nunavut, Research
email to: agra...@yukoncollege.yk.ca
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