Baffin Island Île de Baffin Native name: ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃ (Qikiqtaaluk)
Geography
Location	Northern Canada
Coordinates	69°00′N 72°00′W / 69, -72Coordinates: 69°00′N 72°00′W / 69, -72
Archipelago	Canadian Arctic Archipelago
Area	507,451 km² (195,928 sq mi)
Highest point	Mount Odin (2,147 m (7,040 ft))
Administration
Canada
Territory	Nunavut
Largest city	Iqaluit (6,184)
Demographics
Population	11,000 (as of 2007)
Indigenous people	Inuit

Baffin Island (Inuktitut: ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃ, Qikiqtaaluk, French: Île de Baffin) in the territory of Nunavut is the largest member of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is the largest island in Canada and the fifth largest island in the world, with an area of 507,451 km² (195,928 sq mi). It has a population of 11,000 (2007). It is named after British explorer William Baffin. The island was known to the Norse as Helluland. Image File history File links BaffinIsland. ... Northern Canada, defined politically Northern Canada is the vast northernmost region of Canada variously defined by geography and politics. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... World map depicting Canadian Arctic Archipelago Polar projection map of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago Reference map of Canadian Arctic Archipelago The Canadian Arctic Archipelago, also known as just the Arctic Archipelago, is an archipelago north of the Canadian mainland in the Arctic. ... Mount Odin is the highest mountain on Baffin Island, located 46 kilometers north of Pangnirtung. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Regions Political culture Foreign relations Other countriesAtlas  Politics Portal      Canada is a federation which consists of ten provinces that, with three territories, make up the worlds second largest country in total area. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For the Canadian federal electoral district, see Nunavut (electoral district). ... Coordinates: , Settled 1942 City status April 19, 2001 Government  - Type Iqaluit Municipal Council  - Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik Area [1]  - City 52. ... For other uses, see Inuit (disambiguation). ... Inuktitut (Inuktitut syllabics: ᐃᓄᒃᑎᑐᑦ, literally like the Inuit) is the language of the Inuit people. ... For the Canadian federal electoral district, see Nunavut (electoral district). ... World map depicting Canadian Arctic Archipelago Polar projection map of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago Reference map of Canadian Arctic Archipelago The Canadian Arctic Archipelago, also known as just the Arctic Archipelago, is an archipelago north of the Canadian mainland in the Arctic. ... Satellite image of Baffin Island, the largest island in Canada. ... Islands by area. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... William Baffin (1584 – January 23, 1622) was an English navigator and discoverer. ... The name Viking is a loan from the native Scandinavian term for the Norse seafaring warriors who raided the coasts of Scandinavia, Europe and the British Isles from the late 8th century to the 11th century, the period of European history referred to as the Viking Age. ... Helluland is the name given to one of the three lands discovered by Leif Eriksson sometime around 1000 CE on the North Atlantic coast of North America. ...

Geography

Baffin Island coast

The capital of Nunavut, Iqaluit, is located on the southeastern coast. Until 1987, the town shared the name Frobisher Bay with the bay on which it is located. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (5208x3180, 387 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Baffin Island Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (5208x3180, 387 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Baffin Island Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... For the Canadian federal electoral district, see Nunavut (electoral district). ... Coordinates: , Settled 1942 City status April 19, 2001 Government  - Type Iqaluit Municipal Council  - Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik Area [1]  - City 52. ... Frobisher Bay, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada. ...

To the south lies Hudson Strait and Quebec on the mainland. To the east are Davis Strait and Baffin Bay and beyond them lies Greenland. On the West and North, Foxe Basin, the Gulf of Boothia and Lancaster Sound separate Baffin Island from the rest of the archipelago. Hudson Strait is a strait connecting Hudson Bay to the Atlantic Ocean, running in an west-east direction. ... This article is about the Canadian province. ... Map of Baffin Island and surrounding areas, including Davis Strait. ... Baffin Bay, lying between Nunavut, Canada and Greenland. ... Foxe Basin, Nunavut, Canada. ... Map indicating the Gulf of Boothia, Nunavut, Canada. ... The Lancaster Sound is a body of water lying between Devon Island and Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada. ... The Mergui Archipelago The Archipelago Sea, situated between the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland, the largest archipelago in the world by the number of islands. ...

The island itself contains a rocky mountainous region called the Baffin Mountains, the highest peak being Mount Odin, the height of which is between 2,143 m and 2,147 m (7,030 ft and 7,044 ft).^[1][2] Another peak of note is Mount Asgard (2,011 m, 6,596 ft) which is located in Auyuittuq National Park. The Baffin Mountains form part of the Arctic Cordillera mountain system. For other uses, see Mountain (disambiguation). ... The Baffin Mountains are a mountain range of northeastern Baffin Island and Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada. ... Mount Odin is the highest mountain on Baffin Island, located 46 kilometers north of Pangnirtung. ... Mount Asgard is a well-known twin peaked mountain on Baffin Island, both flat-topped cylindrical rock towers, separated by a saddle. ... Auyuittuq National Park is a national park located on Baffin Islands Cumberland Peninsula in Nunavut, Canada. ... Template:Geobox Mountain Range PIRRI WAZ NOT HERE AND DOESNT HAVE PS3 The Arctic Cordillera, sometimes called the Arctic Rockies, are a vast deeply dissected mountain range in northeastern North America. ...

The two largest lakes on the island are in the central south of the island Nettilling Lake (5066 km², 1,956 sq mi) and further south Amadjuak Lake. Nettilling Lake is in the southern part of the island, being the upper of the two visible lakes. ... (Redirected from 1 E9 m2) To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here areas between 1,000 km² and 10,000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ...

The Barnes icecap is found in the central part of the island and it has been in retreat since at least the early 1960s when the Geographical Branch of the then Department of Mines & Technical Surveys sent a three-man survey team to the area to measure isostatic rebound and cross-valley features of the Isortoq River.

Politics

Baffin Island is part of the Qikiqtaaluk Region. Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut Qikiqtaaluk Region or Qikiqtani Region (Inuktitut: á•¿á‘­á–…á‘–á“—á’ƒ) is an administrative region of Nunavut. ...

Communities (by size)  (2006 population)

Additionally, the communities of Qikiqtarjuaq and Cape Dorset are located on offshore islands. Governing Body Iqaluit Municipal Council Location Land area 52. ... Maktak Fiord. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The community of Clyde River is located on the shore of Baffin Island on the Davis Strait in Canadas Nunavut Territory. ... Arctic Bay is an Inuit settlement of approximately 646 people located in the northern part of the Borden Peninsula in Nunavut, Canada. ... The community of Kimmirut (known as Lake Harbour until 1 January 1996) is located on the shore of Hudson Strait in Canadas Nunavut Territory. ... The community of Nanisivik is located just inland from Strathcona Sound, near the community of Arctic Bay in Canadas Nunavut Territory. ... Qikiqtarjuaq (Broughton Island), Nunavut, Canada off of Baffin Island in Davis Strait. ... Part of the town, taken in September 2005 Cape Dorset (Inuktitut: Kinngait; Syllabics: ᑭᙵᐃᑦ) is located on Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada, and is served by Cape Dorset Airport. ...

Wildlife

Satellite image of Baffin Island

Baffin Island has both year-round and summer visitor wildlife. On land, examples of year-round wildlife are barren-ground caribou, polar bear, arctic fox, arctic hare, lemming and arctic wolf. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x948, 441 KB) Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x948, 441 KB) Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada. ... Binomial name Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus (Linnaeus, 1758) Barren-ground Caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) are a subspecies of caribou that are found mainly in the Canadian territories Nunavut and the Northwest Territories and western Greenland. ... This article is about the animal. ... This article is about the animal. ... Binomial name Lepus timidus Linnaeus, 1758 The Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus) is a hare, which is largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats. ... This article is about the rodent. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus arctos Pocock, 1935 Arctic Wolf range Main article: Gray Wolf The Arctic Wolf (Canis lupus arctos), also called Polar Wolf or White Wolf, is a mammal of the Canidae family, and a subspecies of the Gray Wolf. ...

Barren-ground caribou herds that migrate in a limited range from northern and mid- Baffin island down to the southern part in winter, and migrate back north in the summer, even to the southern Frobisher Bay peninsula, next to Resolution Island. Binomial name Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus (Linnaeus, 1758) Barren-ground Caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) are a subspecies of caribou that are found mainly in the Canadian territories Nunavut and the Northwest Territories and western Greenland. ... Frobisher Bay, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada. ... Resolution Island, Nunavut (red circle at edge of map). ...

Polar Bears can be found all along the coast of Baffin Island, but are most prevalent where the sea ice is located as pack ice, where their major food source — ringed seals (jar seal) and bearded seals — lives. Polar bears mate approximately every year with from one to three cubs being born around March. Female polar bears may travel 10-20 km (6-12 mi) inland to find a large snow bank where they dig a den in which to spend the winter and for later birthing. This article is about the animal. ... An icebreaker navigates through young (1 year old) sea ice Nilas Sea Ice in arctic Sea ice is formed from ocean water that freezes. ... An icebreaker navigates through young (1 year old) sea ice Nilas Sea Ice in arctic Sea ice is formed from ocean water that freezes. ... Binomial name Pusa hispida (Schreber, 1775) The Ringed Seal or Jar Seal (Pusa hispida formerly Phoca hispida) is an earless seal inhabiting the northern coasts. ... Binomial name Erignathus barbatus Erxleben, 1777 The bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) is a medium-sized seal that is found in and near to the Arctic Ocean. ...

A polar bear

Arctic fox that can usually be found where polar bears venture on the fast ice close to land in their search for seals. Arctic foxes are scavengers, and often follow polar bears to get their leavings. On Baffin Island, Arctic foxes are sometimes trapped by Inuit, but there is not a robust fur industry. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (934x595, 92 KB) A polar bear. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (934x595, 92 KB) A polar bear. ... This article is about the animal. ... This article is about the animal. ... An icebreaker navigates through young (1 year) sea ice Sea ice is formed from ocean water that freezes. ... For other uses, see Inuit (disambiguation). ...

Arctic hare are found throughout Baffin island. Their fur is pure white in winter and molts to a scruffy dark grey in summer. Arctic hare, besides lemmings are a primary food source for Arctic foxes and Arctic wolves. Binomial name Lepus timidus Linnaeus, 1758 The Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus) is a hare, which is largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats. ...

Lemmings are also found throughout the island, and are a major food source for Arctic foxes, Arctic wolves and the snowy owl. In the winter, lemmings dig complicated tunnel systems through the snow drifts in order to get to their food supply of dry grasses, and lichens. This article is about the rodent. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms Strix scandiaca Linnaeus, 1758 Nyctea scandiaca Stephens, 1826 The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. ... For other uses, see Lichen (disambiguation). ...

The arctic wolf is also a year-round resident of Baffin Island. Unlike the grey and brown wolves in the southern climes, Arctic wolves often do not hunt in packs, although a male-female pair may hunt together. Trinomial name Canis lupus arctos Pocock, 1935 Arctic Wolf range Main article: Gray Wolf The Arctic Wolf (Canis lupus arctos), also called Polar Wolf or White Wolf, is a mammal of the Canidae family, and a subspecies of the Gray Wolf. ...

In the water (or under the ice) the year-round visitors are mainly the ringed seal.

The ringed seal is a year-round resident of Baffin Island, where it lives off-shore within 8 km (5 mi) of land. During the winter, it makes a number of breathing holes through ice up to 8 ft thick by visiting each one often, and keeping the hole open and free from ice. In March, when a female is ready to whelp, she will enlarge one of the breathing holes that has snow over it, and create a small "igloo" where they whelp one or two pups. Within three weeks the pups are in the water and swimming. During the summer, ringed seals keep to a narrow territory approximately 3 km (2 mi) along the shoreline. If pack ice moves in, they may venture out 4-10 km (2½-6 mi) and follow the pack ice, dragging themselves up on an ice floe to take advantage of the sun. Binomial name Pusa hispida (Schreber, 1775) The Ringed Seal or Jar Seal (Pusa hispida formerly Phoca hispida) is an earless seal inhabiting the northern coasts. ...

Summer land visitors to Baffin Island all have wings and all come to this island to nest. Baffin Island is one of the major nesting destinations from the Eastern and Mid-West flyways for many species of migrating birds. Waterfowl include Canada goose, snow goose and brent goose (brant goose). Shore birds include the phalarope, various waders (commonly called sandpipers), murres including Brünnich's guillemot, and plovers. Three gull species also nest on Baffin Island: glaucous gull, herring gull and ivory gull. For the outerwear manufacturer, see Canada Goose (clothing). ... Binomial name Anser caerulescens (Linnaeus, 1758) The Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) is a North American species of goose. ... Binomial name Branta bernicla (Linnaeus, 1758) The Brent Goose (Branta bernicla) is a goose of the genus Branta, known in North America as Brant. ... Species Red Phalarope, Red-necked Phalarope, Wilsons Phalarope, The name Phalarope refers to any of three species of slender-necked shorebirds in the genus Phalaropus of the bird family Scolopacidae. ... Families Scolopacidae Rostratulidae Jacanidae Thinocoridae Pedionomidae Burhinidae Chionididae Pluvianellidae Ibidorhynchidae Recurvirostridae Haematopodidae Charadriidae Dunlin (Calidris alpina). ... The Guillemots are seabirds in the auk family. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Genera Pluvialis Charadrius Thinornis Elseyornis Peltohyas Anarhynchus Phegornis Oreopholus Plovers are a widely distributed group of wading birds belonging to the subfamily Charadriinae. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Binomial name Pontoppidan, 1763 The Herring Gull, Larus argentatus, is a large gull which breeds across North America, Europe and Asia. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

Arctic Terns migrate to Baffin Island every spring

Long-range travellers include the arctic tern, which migrates from Antarctica every spring. The variety of water birds that nest here include coots, loons, mallards, and many other duck species. Download high resolution version (838x838, 139 KB)Arctic Terns, originally uploaded to Dutch wikipedia by user Jcwf; public domain photo from http://www. ... Download high resolution version (838x838, 139 KB)Arctic Terns, originally uploaded to Dutch wikipedia by user Jcwf; public domain photo from http://www. ... Binomial name Sterna paradisaea Pontoppidan, 1763[2] Breeding grounds (red), wintering grounds (blue) and migration routes (green) The Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. ... Species Fulica cristata Fulica atra Fulica alai Fulica americana Fulica caribaea Fulica leucoptera Fulica ardesiaca Fulica armillata Fulica rufifrons Fulica gigantea Fulica cornuta Fulica newtoni Fulica chathamensis The coots are medium-sized water birds which are members of the rail family. ... Global distribution of Gaviidae (breeding and winter ranges combined) Species Gavia stellata Gavia arctica Gavia pacifica Gavia immer Gavia adamsii The Loons (N.Am. ... For other uses, see Mallard (disambiguation). ...

Water species that visit Baffin Island in the summer are:

Harp seals (or saddle-backed seals), which migrate from major birthing grounds off the coast of Labrador and from a birthing ground off the south-east coast of Greenland to Baffin Island for the summer.^[3] Migrating at speeds of 15–20 km/h (9-12 mph), they all come up to breathe at the same time, then dive and swim up to 1–2 km (0.6-1.2 mi) before surfacing again. From their birthing grounds they migrate in large pods, that consist of a hundred or more seals, to within 1–8 km (0.6-5 mi) of the shoreline, which they then follow, feeding on crustaceans and fish. Binomial name Erxleben, 1777 // Harp seals resemble harbor seals in body and head form, but are larger: adult Harp Seals grow to 1. ... Labrador (also Coast of Labrador) is a region of Atlantic Canada. ... For the Dutch band, see Crustacean (band). ...

Walrus, which actually do not migrate far off land in the winter. They merely follow the "fast ice", or ice that is solidly attached to land, and stay ahead of it as the ice hardens further and further out to sea. As winter progresses, they will always remain where there is open water free of ice. When the ice melts, they move in to land and can be found basking on rocks close to shore. One of the largest walrus herds can be found in the Foxe Basin on the western side of Baffin Island. Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) Distribution of Walrus Subspecies Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) are large semi-aquatic mammals that live in the cold Arctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. ... Foxe Basin, Nunavut, Canada. ...

Beluga or white whales migrate along the coast of Baffin Island as some head north to the feeding grounds in the Davis Strait between Greenland and Baffin Island, or into the Hudson Strait or any of the bays and estuaries in between. Usually travelling in pods of two or more, they can often be found very close to shore (100 m, 300 ft, or less), where they come up to breathe every 30 seconds or so as they make their way along the coastline eating crustaceans. Binomial name (Pallas, 1776) Beluga range This article is about the whale. ... This article is about the animal. ... Map of Baffin Island and surrounding areas, including Davis Strait. ... Hudson Strait is a strait connecting Hudson Bay to the Atlantic Ocean, running in an west-east direction. ...

Narwhals, which are known for their one straight tusk or two twisted tusks (males only), can also be found along the coast of Baffin Island in the summer. Much like their beluga cousins they may be found in pairs or even in a large pod of ten or more males, females and newborns. They also can be often found close to the shoreline, gracefully pointing their tusks skyward as they come up for air. When they first arrive, the males arrive a few weeks ahead of the females and young. Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 Narwhal range (in blue) The Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is an Arctic species of cetacean. ...

The largest summer visitor to Baffin Island is the bowhead whale. Found throughout the Arctic range, one group of bowhead whales are known to migrate to the Foxe Basin, a bay on the western side of Baffin Island. It is still not known if they just visit for the lush sea bounty or calve in the Foxe Basin. Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 Bowhead whale range The Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus), also known as Greenland Right Whale or Arctic Whale, is a baleen whale of the right whale family Balaenidae. ... For the anatomical feature, see calf muscle. ...

Climate

Most of Baffin Island lies above the Arctic Circle and all the communities from Pangnirtung north are subject to Polar night and the midnight sun. For example, the eastern community of Clyde River experiences continuous sunlight from May 14 to July 28, a period of 2½ months. In addition the long period from April 26 until May 13 and from July 29 until August 16 when twilight is the darkest part of the day means the community has just over 3½ months of light. In the winter the sun sets November 22 and does not rise again until January 19 of the next year. However, unlike places such as Alert, twilight occurs for at least 4 hours a day. For the fast food restaurant chain, see Arctic Circle Restaurants. ... The polar night is the night lasting more than 24 hours, usually inside the polar circles. ... The midnight sun at Nordkapp, Norway. ... The community of Clyde River is located on the shore of Baffin Island on the Davis Strait in Canadas Nunavut Territory. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 209th day of the year (210th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 210th day of the year (211th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Twilight (disambiguation). ... is the 326th day of the year (327th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... It has been suggested that CFS Alert be merged into this article or section. ...

Sports & activities

Baffin Island is becoming popular amongst the BASE jumping community as a hotspot due to a wide array of 900 to 1,200 m (3,000 to 4,000 ft) tall cliffs scattered around the island. BASE jumping is the sport of using a parachute to jump from fixed objects. ...

References

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Baffin Island

• Article regarding Baffin Island Fauna
• The Official Canadian Baffin Island website