Churchill, Manitoba

Every autumn, hundreds of polar bears gather along Hudson Bay's shores, waiting for ice to form so they can hunt seals again. Churchill earned its title as polar bear capital through geography - the first place where bay ice forms, drawing the world's largest land predators to congregate in numbers found nowhere else. Tundra vehicles designed like tanks on giant tires carry visitors safely among bears that haven't eaten for months. Summer transforms the bay into a marine mammal playground where 60,000 beluga whales chase capelin in the Churchill River estuary. These 'canaries of the sea' chirp and whistle in waters so clear you can see their expressions. From January to March, the subarctic sky explodes in northern lights displays ranked among Earth's finest. Former hunters now guide tourists, sharing Inuit knowledge passed down through generations. Every bear has a story, every whale a personality. Climate change threatens the ice that defines this ecosystem, making each encounter more precious. Tourism dollars fund research into how these Arctic giants will adapt to a warming world.

Water Features

Hudson Bay, Churchill River

Ecosystem

This destination features a polar & tundra ecosystem.