VY0ZOO/VE2

My DX'Pedition to Kangiqsualujjuaq, Ungava Bay, Quebec 

Zone 2 Dec 7-14, 2025   VY0ZOO/VE2

The English name is George River. The traditional Inuit name is a mouthful...

Kangiqsualujjuaq (/kænˌdʒɪksuˈæluːdʒuæk/ kan-JIK-soo-AL-oo-joo-ak; Inuktitut: [kaŋiqsu.alujːu.ˈaq]; French:  is an Inuit village located at the mouth of the George River on the east coast of Ungava Bay in Nunavik, Quebec, Canada. Its population was 956 as of the 2021 census. 

 The settlement's original name, Fort Severight, honoured John Severight, a North West Company man who had headed Fort Coulonge during McLean's time there. After its re-establishment, it was variously known from its location as Fort George, George's River, George River, George River Post, and Fort George River. It was also sometimes known as Port-Nouveau-Québec (French for "Port New Quebec"). 

The name "Kangiqsualujjuaq" (Inuktitut: ᑲᖏᖅᓱᐊᓗᔾᔪᐊᖅ) is Inuktitut for "the very large bay". It is also sometimes spelled "Kangirsualujjuaq" (ᑲᖏᕐᓱᐊᓗᔾᔪᐊᖅ). 
 Kangiqsualujjuaq is an Inuit village in Nunavik, located in northern Quebec, Canada. It is situated on the east coast of Ungava Bay at the mouth of the George River, approximately 160 km northeast of Kuujjuaq. The community is a gateway to the Torngat Mountains and is known for outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and exploring the surrounding natural landscapes. 
 

Location: Nunavik, northern Quebec

Geographical features: On the east coast of Ungava Bay, at the mouth of the George River

Proximity: About 160 km northeast of Kuujjuaq

Surroundings: Nestled at the end of a cove called Akilasakalluq, surrounded by mountains

Access: The village is remote and typically accessed by air, though it is sometimes reached by snowmobile in winter or boat in summer. 

Where is George River that runs through Kangiqsualujjuaq?  The George River is in the Nord-du-Québec region of Quebec, flowing north from its source in Lake Jannière to Ungava Bay. It is located in northeastern Quebec, near the border with Labrador, and its basin covers a massive area of over 41,000 square kilometers. The river runs primarily through tundra, with one of its most notable features being the village of Kangiqsualujjuaq at its mouth. 

• Location: Nord-du-Québec region, northeastern Quebec.
• Source: Lake Jannière.
• Mouth: Ungava Bay.
• Nearby settlements: The village of Kangiqsualujjuaq is located at the mouth of the river.
• Landforms: The river flows through the George River Plateau and is known for its numerous falls and rapids. 

 Significance and Features

• Naming: The river was named in 1811 by Moravian missionaries in honor of King George III. In local Indigenous languages, it is called Kangirsualujjuap Kuunga (Inuktitut for "River of the Great Bay") or Mushuan Shipu (Naskapi for "River without Trees").
• Environment: The river's basin spans areas ranging from boreal forest in the south to a largely treeless tundra in the north and east.
• Wildlife: The George River region is known for its significant migratory caribou herd (the George River caribou herd), once the largest in the world, and supports a healthy Atlantic salmon sport fishery.
• Recreation: The powerful, wide river is a popular destination for experienced canoeists and anglers, though it presents significant challenges including strong rapids and tidal effects near its mouth. 

Kangiqsualujjuaq is an Inuit village located in the Nunavik region of Northern Quebec, Canada, on the east coast of Ungava Bay. 

Key location details:

• Region: It is the easternmost Inuit village in Nunavik, which is part of the Nord-du-Québec administrative region.
• Specific site: The community is situated in a cove on the George River, approximately 25 km from Ungava Bay.
• Distance: It is located about 1,688 km northeast of Montreal.
• Geography: The village is surrounded by mountains and serves as a gateway to natural attractions like the Torngat Mountains, Kuururjuaq National Park, and the George River. 
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The name Kangiqsualujjuaq means "the very large bay" in Inuktitut. Access to the village is typically by air, primarily via Air Inuit, with daily flights available from Kuujjuaq, the administrative capital of the region. 

Journeys across the Torngat Mountains by snowmobile to the Labrador settlements Nain and Nachvak are rarely embarked upon these days, but were commonplace when dog teams were used. Cargo ships from Becancour deliver cumbersome supplies and equipment to the community every summer. 

I am bringing my skis to try the mountains in lovely George River/Kangiqsualujjuaq and in the summer, I will return with my high tech fiberglass Kayak that my lovely wife, a physician surgeon, got me along with the Elecraft K3 and amp..

Industries in Kangiqsualujjuaq include hunting of caribou, seal and beluga whale, Arctic char fishing, and the production of Inuit art. The town is also the main terminus of the George River canoeing expeditions (e.g. one of Chewonki Foundation's canoe trips).

Government: The police services are provided by the 

Kativik Regional Police Force.. The Kativik School Board formerly operated the Ulluriaq School, previously the Satuumavik School. 
And of course, we look forward to Dr Mike who visits us and takes care of our health needs and his wife, PJ is a physician surgeon (Vascular and hand surgeon) who also tags along sometimes...when she finishes her stints in Muscat, Oman. It's quite a drop in temperature from Oman of 35 C to -35 C!!!

QSL information:

PLEASE qsl via VE2xb ok on qrz.com and send SAE with 2 IRCs or $4USD and thanks,
Dr Mike,VY0ZOO

Info about Kang:

John McLean established Fort Severight for the Hudson's Bay Company in 1838. It was a bit south of the present-day town, at 58°31′43.03″N 65°53′34.58″W (now marked as Illutaliviniq on topographic maps). It served as a salmon and seal fishery, supplying Fort Chimo to the west and Fort Trial and Fort Nascopie to the south. It was abandoned in 1842 after Fort Chimo turned out to be an unprofitable station and a path was found to supply Nascopie from Fort Smith to the southeast. The Inuit of the area never settled around the post, preferring to live along the coast in summer and setting their camps about 50 km (31 mi) inland in winter. 

The site was taken up again in September 1876, mostly to capture the local indigenous peoples' trade which had been going to the Moravians. The new buildings were built from the old. The site was abandoned again in the summer of 1878 before reopening again in 1883. It again functioned as a salmon and seal fishery for Fort Chimo, although it carried on some local trading until that was removed to Port Burwell in 1917. HBC shuttered its office in June 1952.

In 1959, local Inuit established, on their own initiative, the first co-operative in Northern Quebec for the purpose of marketing Arctic char. Construction of the village began in 1962 and Inuit began to settle there permanently. In 1963 a school, a co-operative store, and government buildings were built. In 1980, Kangiqsualujjuaq was legally established as a municipality. 

The community was struck by an avalanche in the early morning of January 1, 1999, which destroyed the Satuumavik School gymnasium during New Year celebrations, killing nine. Another 25 people were injured, 12 of them seriously enough to have to be airlifted 1,500 km (930 mi) to Montreal for treatment. Some speculated that it may have been triggered by lively dancing at the party. The school was rebuilt on the new, safer location and renamed to Ulluriaq School.