Baffin Island

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Image:Map indicating Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada.png Baffin Island (Inuktitut: Qikiqtaaluk, French: Île de Baffin; Template:Coor dm) is one of the Canadian Arctic islands in the territory of Nunavut. It is the largest island in Canada and is 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 (2004). It is named for British explorer William Baffin and was known to the Norse as Helluland.

1 Geography
2 Politics
- 2.1 Largest communities (2001 population)
3 Wildlife
4 Climate
5 External links

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Geography

The capital of Nunavut, Iqaluit, is located on the southern coast. Until 1987, the town shared the name Frobisher Bay with the bay in which it is located.

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.

The island itself contains a rocky mountainous region, the highest peak being Mount Blanche (2,146 m). Another peak of note is the semi-famous Mount Asgard (2011 m) which is located in Auyuittuq National Park.

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Politics

Baffin is part of the Qikiqtaaluk Region.

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Largest communities (2001 population)

Iqaluit	5,236
Pangnirtung	1,243
Pond Inlet	1,220
Clyde River	785
Arctic Bay	646
Kimmirut	433

Additionally, the communities of Qikiqtarjuaq and Cape Dorset are located on offshore islands.

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Wildlife

Image:Wfm baffin island.jpg

Baffin Island is noted for the Arctic hare, harp seal, and the beluga that surface around Eardley Bay (Template:Coor dm). Other wildlife that may be encountered in the area include the Jar Seal, the Square Flipper Seal, the Hood Seal, the Narwhal, the Arctic Fox, the Polar Bear, Caribou, and Codfish, among others.

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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 14th to July 28th, a period of 2½ months. In addition the long period from April 26th until May 13th and from July 29th until August 16th when twilight would be the darkest part of the day means the community would have just over 3½ months of light. In the winter the sun would set November 22nd and not rise again until January 19th of the next year. However, unlike places such as Alert, twilight would occur for at least 4 hours a day.

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