IN THE MIDST of ancient tundra, Labrador City is a mining town that shows the modern, industrial face of Canada. The town is home to the largest open-pit iron mine in the world and the community has largely grown up around it since the late 1950s.

The historic building that once held the town’s first bank is now the Height of Land Heritage Centre, a museum of photographs, artifacts, and displays dedicated to preserving the history of the development of Labrador.

The vast open wilderness surrounding Labrador City, with its myriad pristine lakes and rivers, is renowned as a sportsman’s paradise that attracts hunters and anglers from around the world.

Every March, this region sponsors the Labrador 150 Dogsled Race, which has become one of the world’s top dogsledding competitions. The western Labrador wilderness is also home to the 700,000 caribou of the George River herd.

The herd moves freely through the area for most of the year, grazing the tundra in small bands. Professional outfitters take groups of visitors out to track the herd through the region. Many tourists make the trip to admire the animals.