Towns of the Arctic Trivia Quiz

Answer: golf

Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, Canada.
70 degrees, 44 minutes North.

The Billy Joss Golf Club has fairways covered with shale and artificial greens but is open for golf from June through September each year. The course has nine holes and woven mats are used for teeing off. During the third week of June, the course holds the Billy Joss Celebrity Golf Tournament. It begins at hours that would normally be nighttime in much of the world but is daytime during the summertime "Midnight Sun" of the Arctic world. When playing on the course, wild muskox will sometimes cross your path. It is suggested to allow them to pass through before continuing.

The picture shows a flag marking the first hole of the golf course.

Answer: blue

Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Greenland.
66 degrees, 56 minutes north.

The Bethel Church (Bethel-kirken) or Blue Church (Bla-Kirke) dates to 1775. The church was moved to its current location from the original location of the Danish settlement of Holsteinsborg. The church is located near the Sisimiut Museum. The outer walls of the church are sky blue and the roof is a dark red.

The picture shows a sad face, which could be described as being "blue".

Answer: coal

Longyearbyen (Longyear City), Svalbard, Norway.
78 degrees, 13 minutes north.

The town was founded in 1906 as Longyear City by John Longyear of the United States, founder of the Arctic Coal Company. Although the company operating the mines changed, coal mining continued in the area until 2017. The town changed its name to Longyearbyen in 1926. Because of its extremely northerly location, burial in the town cemetery of a non-cremated body is largely forbidden. Because of extremely cold temperature of the permafrost ground, corpses of people who died of communicable diseases (including the 1918 flu) are thought to maybe still contain live strains of the virus.

The picture shows a snowman with his eyes made of coal.

Answer: iron

Kiruna, Lapland, Sweden.
67 degrees, 51 minutes north.

The city of Kiruna dates to about 1900. The mine has produced large amounts of iron ore (measured in millions of tons per year) since the 20th century. A railroad is used to transport the ore to the Norwegian port of Narvik. The railroad actually connected Kiruna to outside world before standard roads did. In more recent times, tourism and space research have played increasing roles in the economy of Kiruna.

The picture shows a frying pan or skillet which may be made of iron.

Answer: fishing

Nuorgam, Lappland, Finland.
70 degrees, 18 minutes north.

Nuorgam is not only the northernmost settlement in Finland, but also the northernmost settlement in the European Union. The village lies on the Tano River. Arctic char and salmon are among the most common fish caught by visitors to Nuorgam. To fish there, a license from the local authorities is required. Some sources suggest because the village lies near the border to Norway, relatively cheap alcohol prices may also bring some visitors from Norway.

The picture shows a fishing pole.

Answer: navy

Tiksi, Sakha Republic, Russian Federation.
71 degrees, 38 minutes north.

Tiksi is the northernmost port in the Russian Federation. Founded in 1933, its was a thriving port for the shipping of coal during the Soviet era. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Tikisi suffered a major decline of population as a large number of apartment blocks and other buildings have been abandoned. The Russian navy is the most important employer as a base used for defense of the Russian Arctic.

The picture shows an anchor, which might be used by a naval vessel.

Answer: nuclear

Pevek, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russian Federation.
69 degrees, 42 minutes north.

Pevek was founded shortly after World War One. During the Soviet era, prisoners in nearby gulags mined for uranium. As the mines became less profitable, the population of Pevek declined. Built between 2007 and 2010, the "Akademik Lomonosov" arrived at Pevek in 2019. The two nuclear generators on the barge each generate 35 megawatts of electricity. The barge is considered the northernmost nuclear power plant in the world.

The picture shows a symbol of an atom.

Answer: northwest

Kotzebue, Alaska, United States.
66 degrees, 53 minutes north.

The town is the largest settlement in the Northwest Arctic Borough. Kotzebue (Qikiqtaġruk), Alaska is located on a peninsula that extends into Kotzebue Sound of the coast of northwestern Alaska. Traditionally, the settlement was a regional trade center. It is also the home of the northernmost wind farm in the United States. The local airport has flights to Nome and Anchorage.

The picture shows a compass with the arrow pointing towards the northwest.

Answer: football

Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska, United States.
71 degrees, 17 minutes north.

The 2015 Barrow High School Miners football team season was covered in the television show "Football Town: Barrow, Alaska." The former name of Utqiagvik came from nearby Point Barrow, the northernmost point of the United States. The graphic novel and movie "30 Days of Night" are both set in Utqiagvik.

The picture shows a goal post that might be found on a football field.

Answer: copper

Kugluktuk (Coppermine), Nunavut, Canada.
67 degrees, 49 minutes north.

The hamlet lies at the mouth of the Coppermine River and was often known as Coppermine until 1996. Kugluktuk is the westernmost settlement in Nunavut and actually voted against separating Nunavut from the Northwest Territory. The 2018 film "The Grizzlies" was set in Kugluktuk. The hamlet is located on the coast of the Arctic Ocean and cold, dry winters.

The picture shows a coin marked "one penny". The penny was traditionally made from copper.