Stone Landmarks of the Arctic

An inuksuk is a stone landmark built by Inuit peoples across northern Canada, Greenland and Alaska. Acting as a human substitute.

Historically they marked travel routes, fishing places or food caches. The simplest type is just one upright stone.

The Iñupiat in northern Alaska used them to herd caribou into contained areas for slaughter. Middle management, but with more caribou.

At Inuksuk Point on Baffin Island there are more than 100 inuksuit. It became historic in 1969.

A similar structure meant to represent a human figure is called an inunnguaq. It is not the most common type.

According to Guinness World Records the tallest inuksuk is in Schomberg, Ontario. Built in 2007 it stands 11.377 metres tall.

One Ontario inuksuk stands over eleven metres tall.

Officials in wilderness parks routinely dismantle inuksuit built by hikers because they could misdirect visitors. Hikers are not great at reading rocks.