Okay, I admit it, I only had a stopover here, but a stopover is pretty much all you need. And the prospect of being trapped in a tiny little town like this for a few days waiting for the next flight out did not appeal to me. And aside from that, you can see the entire town, smack in the middle of white, from the plane as you're landing, and one glance down the main street from the airport and you've seen the entire town.
The geography here, on the western shore of Hudson Bay, is flatter than that of Iqaluit so you get a better view of the nothing all around you. According to the city map in the airport, there is nothing of interest in the actual town; the best point of interest is the visitor's museum in the airport, which has a little display regarding the way of life of the coastal inuit settlements and some pictures as well. And a souvenir stand with a few knick knacks if you feel so inclined.




The only point of interest near the town is Marble Island, about 50 kilometres east into the bay, which is the sight of several shipwrecks. Apparently you are made to crawl onto the island when you first reach it, as the Inuit consider it a sacred island.
Perhaps you're wondering if you need more than 30 minutes in Rankin Inlet? I certainly don't think so, unless you want to visit Marble Island, or you're here in summer and want to try some fishing. But consider the cost of a hotel that would be expensive in New York, a meal that wouldn't be a deal in Tokyo, the cost of actually getting to the island, and you may be content with the pictures of it at the visitor's centre in the airport.
-February 2000







Yellowknife
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