Arctic fox are found on the fast ice, remaining close to land in their search for seals. BASE jumping, a sport involving the use of a parachute or the sequenced use of a wingsuit and parachute to jump from fixed objects—with the parachute unopened at the jump. [14][15] Another peak of note is Mount Asgard, located in Auyuittuq National Park, with an elevation of 2,011 m (6,598 ft). Long-range travellers include the arctic tern, which migrates from Antarctica every spring. Named after English explorer William Baffin, it is likely that the island was known to Pre-Columbian Norse explorers from Greenland and Iceland and may be the location of Helluland, spoken of in the Icelandic sagas. Facts about Baffin Island 3: the mating season of polar bear. The western side of the island is covered largely by tundra. Then they came to land, and rowed along it in boats, and explored it, and found there flat stones, many and so great that two men might well lie on them stretched on their backs with heel to heel. On land, examples of year-round wildlife are barren-ground caribou, polar bear, Arctic fox, Arctic hare, lemming and Arctic wolf. Nunavut (pronounced /ˈnuːnəvʊt/) is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999 via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993. This page was last edited on 26 November 2020, at 00:27. Stirling, Ian, Wendy Calvert, and Dennis Andriashek. This epic 20 day voyage aims to circumnavigate Baffin Bay and explore the first section of the Northwest Passage to Beechey Island. A vast, wild, and sparsely populated area, it is the cornerstone of the sprawling Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Whether it's an outdoor adventure, or an industrial safety application – everything we do is with a purpose. [44] 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 (0.62–1.24 mi) before surfacing again. Bjarni appears to be the first European to see Baffin Is… Baffin Island is the fifth-largest island in the world, it was named for English navigator William Baffin, who ventured to the area in the early 17th century in search of the fabled Northwest Passage. Inuit from Baffin Island are descendants of the Thule, who expanded eastward across Canada from Alaska in the 12th and 13th centuries. 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. The northernmost community of Baffin Island is Pond Inlet. Arctic Bay Adventures on Baffin Island. Here’s a look at the stark and humbling beauty. The Mary River Mine, an iron ore mine with an estimated 21-year life, at Mary River, may include building a railway and a port to transport the ore.[39] This may create a temporary mining community there. Exploration and discovery of the Chidliak Kimberlite Province, Baffin Island, Nunavut: Canada’s newest diamond district. The first permanent non-native settlements were established in the 1850s as part of the North Atlantic whaling industry. These peoples were succeeded by the Dorset Culture, so named because the first physical evidence of this culture was found near Cape Dorset off the island's southwestern coast. It is largely uninhabited, with the exception of a few small coastal settlements. When the ice melts, they move in to land and can be found basking on rocks close to shore. Located on the Cumberland Peninsula of Baffin Island, the name of this National Park means “The land that never melts.” This park was established in 1972 with the name of Baffin Island National Park and received its current name in 1976 due to its resemblance to its history. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To the south lies Hudson Strait, separating Baffin Island from mainland Quebec. While some mistakenly consider them a separate range due to their island locale, they are closely related to the other mountain ranges that make the much larger Arctic Cordillera mountain range. It has been a centre … Released March 13, 2007", Icebergs, feasts and culture in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/collection%5F2007/nrcan-rncan/M44-2007-C2E.pdf, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Baffin_Island&oldid=990696929, Islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2020, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in Canadian English, Articles containing Inuktitut-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2012, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2014, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Towering mountains as high as 7,000 feet (2,100 metres) form the backbone of the island’s geography along the north-eastern coasts. The Baffin Mountains are a mountain range running along the northeastern coast of Baffin Island and Bylot Island, and are part of the Arctic Cordillera. Shore birds include the phalarope, various waders (commonly called sandpipers), murres including Brünnich's guillemot, and plovers. The female polar bears will try to find out a den to spend the winter and deliver the baby. 2007. eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'newworldencyclopedia_org-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_6',169,'0','0'])); Harp seals (or saddle-backed seals) are marine mammals that 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. They were out at sea two half-days. As the ice caps on Baffin Island shrink, the landscape beneath is seeing the light of day for the first time in perhaps 120,000 years. Canada’s largest and most northerly territory, Nunavut was officially launched on April 1, 1999. Photo courtesy Royal Ontario Museum A prominent Ottawa archaeologist credited in some circles with rewriting the history of Vikings in Canada has accused the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto of “disparaging” her widely publicized research. It is located in the region of 70° N and 75° W.[4], It was named by English colonists after English explorer William Baffin. 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 use for birthing. It is connected to the Atlantic via Davis Strait and the Labrador Sea. Baffin Island is huge, largest Island in Canada so to cover all in one entry is impossible. This yarn consisted of three s-twist strands that were z-plied, much like the way a three-ply yarn is made now, the Baffin Island yarn was a simple two-ply yarn. History of Baffin Island Inuit. One of the largest walrus herds can be found in the Foxe Basin on the western side of Baffin Island. [26] In late 985 or 986, Bjarni Herjólfsson, sailing from Iceland to Greenland, was blown off course and sighted land southwest of Greenland. It’s home to the igloo-shaped St Jude’s Cathedral, museums and shops focused on Inuit art and history, and colorful Arctic houses. 98-316-X2016001. Their fur is pure white in winter and molts to a scruffy dark grey in summer. Unlike the grey wolf in southern climes, Arctic wolves often do not hunt in packs, although a male-female pair may hunt together. The coastlines of West Greenland and Baffin Island are simply stunning with towering mountains, glaciers and icebergs and are rich in wildlife and marine life, Inuit culture and history. Baffin Island has both year-round and summer visitor wildlife. Water species that visit Baffin Island in the summer are: Harp seals (or saddle-backed seals), which migrate from major breeding grounds off the coast of Labrador and the southeast coast of Greenland to Baffin Island for the summer. [35] In 1992, Elizabeth Wayland Barber wrote that a piece of three-ply yarn that dates to the Paleolithic era, that ended about 10,000 BP, was found at the Lascaux caves in France. [citation needed]. If pack ice moves in, they may venture out 4–10 km (2–6 mi) and follow the pack ice, dragging themselves up on an ice floe to take advantage of the sun. This National Park homes the flowers like mountain avens, campion, papaver, saxifrage, shrubs like dwarf birch, heather, willow. The highest peak is Mount Odin, with an elevation of at least 2,143 m (7,031 ft), although some sources say 2,147 m (7,044 ft). Well, literally it means that the brand was born in "The Great White North", Canada; and product that we still manufacture today in Stoney Creek, was first setup for production in the late 1970s. It’s Baffin Island that draws the most visitors to Nunavut every year, and it isn’t hard to see why. [6]. Baffin Island (Inuktitut: ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃ, Qikiqtaaluk IPA: [qikiqtaːluk], French: Île de Baffin or Terre de Baffin), in the Canadian territory of Nunavut, is the largest island in Canada and the fifth-largest island in the world. The Hudson Strait separates the island from the Labrador-Ungava mainland—of which Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador are a part - on its south. Around the time of the building of Egypt’s great pyramids, 7,500 kilometres away, early settlers on Baffin Island were discovering and learning how to survive in an environment so harsh that no foreigner has succeeded in colonizing it since. This island is inhabited by 11,000 based on the estimated data in 2007. Baffin Island has been inhabited by the Inuit for thousands of years. The total population of the island is estimated at 11,000, all Inuit. Baffin Bay (Inuktitut: Saknirutiak Imanga; Greenlandic: Avannaata Imaa; French: Baie de Baffin), located between Baffin Island and the west coast of Greenland, is defined by the International Hydrographic Organization as a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean. Observe Baffin Island polar bears in their natural habitat, as they roam the islands and swim amongst icebergs; Search for bowhead whales in the bays and open channels; Visit the bird cliffs, an island with steep cliff faces filled with migratory birds and their nests. Ancient Origins articles related to Baffin Island in the sections of history, archaeology, human origins, unexplained, artifacts, ancient places and myths and legends. Many believe that Baffin Island is the "Helluland" of Viking legend. The diagram for Baffin Island shows the days per month, during which the wind reaches a certain speed. 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). These prospered until the early 1900s, and was eventually replaced by the Hudson's Bay Company who opened a trading outpost. Photo Courtesy: John F. Ho. Little vegetation can be found in Auyuittuq Park, although the plants that are found there range from flowers such as Mountain Avens, Campion, Papaver, and Saxifrage to shrubs like Dwarf Birch, Arctic Willow, and heather. Baffin Island Culture & History. Summer land visitors to Baffin Island all have wings and all come to the island to nest. Baffin Island is the largest island in Canada and the 5th largest island in the world. [16] Mount Sharat,[17] with an elevation of 422 m (1,385 ft) and a prominence of 67 m (220 ft) is located on Baffin Island. historical climate data web site is a gateway to information on matters such as past (hourly, daily, monthly and almanac) weather includes: temperature, snow, snow on ground, precipitation, rain, wind speed and direction, heating and cooling degree days, visibility, relative humidity, wind … It is the fifth largest island in the world and the easternmost member of the Arctic Archipelago [2]. Due to the lack of industrialization the Arctic air is among the clearest on Earth. Baffin Island has Been Inhabited for Over 3000 Years. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. [23][24] In about 986, Erik Thorvaldsson, known as Erik the Red,[25] formed three settlements near the southwestern tip of Greenland. [47], CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2020 (. It was named for William Baffin, a 17th-century English navigator. The diagram for Baffin Island shows the days per month, during which the wind reaches a certain speed. Here’s a look at the stark and humbling beauty. [46], Sea ice surrounds the island for most of the year and only disappears completely from the north coast for short, unpredictable periods from mid- to late June until the end of September. [18][19][20], The Barnes Ice Cap, in the middle of the island, has been retreating since at least the early 1960s, when the Geographical Branch of the then Department of Mines and Technical Surveys sent a three-man survey team to the area to measure isostatic rebound and cross-valley features of the Isortoq River. [Ottawa]: Geological Survey of Canada, 2007. Sitting on Eclipse Sound, about 645 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, Pond is often referred to as the “Jewel of the Baffin” because of its spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife. The Baffin Mountains are a mountain range running along the northeastern coast of Baffin Island and Bylot Island, Nunavut are part of the Arctic Cordillera.The ice-capped mountains are some of the highest peaks of eastern North America, reaching a height of 1,525–2,146 metres (5,003–7,041 ft) above sea level. Three gull species also nest on Baffin Island: glaucous gull, herring gull, and ivory gull. Less than 8,000 people live in the city, and 60% of the population is Inuit. On the west and north, Foxe Basin, the Gulf of Boothia and Lancaster Sound separate Baffin Island from the rest of the archipelago. Polar-foxes were there in abundance. Arctic hare, along with lemmings, are a primary food source for the island's fox and wolf populations. Polar bears mate approximately every year, bearing one to three cubs around March. The Barnes icecap is found in the central part of the island. 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. Iqaluit was chosen as the capital in December, 1995 and officially recognized as such on April 19, 2001. When they first arrive, the males arrive a few weeks ahead of the females and young. In the winter, the sun sets on November 22 and does not rise again until January 19 of the next year. The ice-capped mountains are some of the highest peaks of eastern North America, reaching a height of 1525-2146 meters above sea level. One of the largest walrus herds can be found in the Foxe Basin on the western side of Baffin Island. Its modern name comes from British explorer William Baffin (1584-1622), an early seeker of the fabled Northwest Passage. The wildlife and scenery of Baffin will be the focus of this inspiring ice strengthened ship-based expedition as you explore the wild east coast of Baffin Island discovering the … Inuit culture is ancient and very much alive today. It is jointly owned by Nunavut Iron Ore and ArcelorMittal and operates a high-grade iron ore mine here. In the 1960s, scientists from the Geographical Branch of Canada's Department of Energy, Mines, and Resources travelled to Baffin to study glacial geomorphology and glaciology. Baffin Island (Inuktitut: ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃ, Qikiqtaaluk) is an island in Nunavut, Canada.It's the world's fifth largest island. 2006 Census. Come explore Baffin Island and experience the first place that Europeans landed in the New World. On land, examples of year-round wildlife are barren-ground caribou, polar bear, arctic fox, arctic hare, lemming, and arctic wolf. "BASE" is an apronym that stands for the four categories of fixed objects from which one can jump: Building; Antenna; Span and Earth. Utting, D. J. Only four other islands in the world are larger — Madagascar, Borneo, New Guinea and Greenland. GHCN average monthly temperatures, GISS data for 1971–2000. In about 986, Erik Thorvaldsson, known as Erik the Red, formed three settlements near the southwestern tip of Greenland. 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 less than 4 months of light. An archeological dig on Baffin Island. The territory's capital, Iqaluit, is located on the southeastern coast of Baffin Island. "Dietary Nutrient Profiles of Canadian Baffin Island Inuit Differ by Food Source, Season, and Age". Statistics Canada Catalogue no. Baffin Island has been inhabited by the Inuit for thousands of years. These History & Legacy pages will share what Baffin is all about, from how and why Baffin came to be, to the reasons we continue to exist and grow today. 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. Waterfowl include Canada goose, snow goose, and brent goose (brant goose). [citation needed], In the water (and under the ice), the main year-round species is the ringed seal. They also can be often found close to the shoreline, gracefully pointing their tusks skyward as they come up for air. Waterfowl include Canada goose, snow goose and brant goose (brent goose). This brings very long, cold winters and foggy, cloudy summers, which have helped to add to the remoteness of the island. Average annual temperatures at Iqaluit are around −9.5 °C (14.9 °F), compared with around 5 °C (41 °F) in Reykjavík,[maps 1] which is at a similar latitude. However, the "discovery" of Baffin Island is credited to Martin Frobisher (1539-1594) who landed in Frobisher Bay in 1576 while searching for the Northwest Passage. Baffin stands alone, really. Iqaluit, the largest, had an estimated population in 2007 of 6,184. Baffin Island: Disappearing ice and climate evidence INSTAAR scientist Giff Miller has been traveling to Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, nearly every summer for more than 40 years. The Baffin Island Inuit have lived on the island for thousands of years and are descended from the earlier Thule culture. It is larger in area than Spain, but has a population of only 13,000 people (2016). Narwhals, which are known for the males' long, spiralling single tusk, can also be found along the coast of Baffin Island in the summer. [citation needed], Long-range travellers include the Arctic tern, which migrates from Antarctica every spring. Bjarni appears to be the first European to see Baffin Island, and the first European to see North America beyond Greenland. Baffin Island has been inhabited for over 3,000 years, first by the pre-Dorset, followed by the Dorset, and then by the Thule people, ancestors of the Inuit, who have lived on the island for the last thousand years. Proceedings of the 10th International Kimberlite Conference, Bangalore; Springer, New Delhi; extended abstract, 4 p. Department of Mines and Technical Surveys, Baffin Island / Île de Baffin (Formerly Baffin Land), "Mount Thor -The Greatest Vertical Drop on Earth! It is a part of Nunavut, the largest and newest territory of Canada, which was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999. [27][28] The Saga of Erik the Red, 1880 translation into English by J. Sephton from the original Icelandic 'Eiríks saga rauða': They sailed away from land; then to the Vestribygd and to Bjarneyjar (the Bear Islands). It is jointly owned by Nunavut Iron Ore and ArcelorMittal and operates a high-grade iron ore mine here. Mount Thor, with an elevation of 1,675 m (5,495 ft), is said to have the greatest purely vertical drop (a sheer cliff face) of any mountain on Earth, at 1,250 m (4,100 ft). Usually travelling in pods of two or more, they can often be found very close to shore (100 m [330 ft] or less). Relics, including yarn and a carved face mask discovered near Kimmirut, point to European contact with the Inuit of Baffin Island as early as 1,000 years ago. [25] Baffin Island is thought to be Helluland, and the archaeological site at Tanfield Valley is thought to have been a trading post. The settlement of Iqaluit was home to an American Air Force base from 1949 to 1963, providing a great boom to the local economy. edit History. Baffin Island is one of the major nesting destinations from the Eastern and Mid-West flyways for many species of migrating birds. The walrus, a large, semi-aquatic mammal that is the only non-seal pinniped, do not actually migrate far off land in the winter. In Inuktitut—the language of the Inuit—Auyuittuq means "the land that never melts." Baffin Island is part of the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut territory, along with Ellesmere and numerous small islands. Baffin Island: Canada’s answer to the call for Arctic adventure It is a marvel of fjords, mountains, and polar wildlife, and an epic destination all on its own. The dominant vegetation is an inconsistent cover of mosses, lichens, and cold-hardy vascular plants such as sedge and cottongrass.[7]. Baffin Island, 183,810 sq mi (476,068 sq km), c.1,000 mi (1,610 km) long and from 130 to 450 mi (210–720 km) wide, in the Arctic Ocean, Nunavut Territory, Canada. [4], Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, is located on the southeastern coast. The Landscapes. In winter, it makes a number of breathing holes in the ice, up to 2.4 m (8 ft) thick. Its area is 507,451 km2 (195,928 sq mi) and its population was 13,148 as of the 2016 Canadian Census. However, unlike places such as Alert, twilight occurs for at least 4 hours-a-day. Baffin Island (Inuit name, Qikiqtaaluk), French: Île de Baffin) in the territory of Nunavut is the largest member of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The surrounding waters provide haven for the Harp Seal, walrus, beluga whale, narwhal, and bowhead whale. Arctic hare are found throughout the island. These marine mammals can also be found along the coast of Baffin Island in the summer. This vast, remote region is a pure and beautiful landscape of icebergs, sea cliffs, and mountains, and home to a wealth of wildlife, including whales and polar bears. 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. 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 later give birth. "A geographer with extensive research experience in the Canadian North, Jack D. Ives has written a lively and informative account of several expeditions to Baffin Island during the "golden age" of federal research. 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. Visit one of the most unique polar tourism destinations in the world with Arctic Bay Adventures. It is Canada's oldest ice, being approximately 20,000 years-old. 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. Remote and virtually untouched, the world’s fifth-largest island is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the best places in the Arctic for expedition travel. Some even know the story of Leif Erikson, but he wasn’t the first to set eyes on the Americas. [41], Lemmings are also found throughout the island and are a major food source for Arctic foxes, Arctic wolves and the snowy owl. Baffin Island (Inuktitut: ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃ, Qikiqtaaluk IPA: [qikiqtaːluk], French: Île de Baffin, Terre de Baffin, formerly Baffin Land),[3] in the Canadian territory of Nunavut, is the largest island in Canada and the fifth-largest island in the world. Shortly after he started at the Field Museum he joined the 1927-1928 Rawson-Macmillan Expedition to Baffin Island and Labrador. It is located in the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Baffin Island, 183,810 sq mi (476,068 sq km), c.1,000 mi (1,610 km) long and from 130 to 450 mi (210–720 km) wide, in the Arctic Ocean [1], Nunavut Territory, Canada. In March, when a female is ready to whelp, she will enlarge one of the breathing holes that has snow over it, creating a small "igloo" where she whelps one or two pups. Ottawa. : Art.23 It is sometimes considered a sea of North Atlantic Ocean. [citation needed], Nesting birds are summer land visitors to Baffin Island. [6] South of the western end of the island is the Fury and Hecla Strait,[7] which separates the island from the Melville Peninsula[8] on the mainland. Though vegetation is extremely sparse, animal life consists of the powerful; barren-ground caribou, polar bear, arctic fox, arctic hare, lemming, and arctic wolf. There are many freshwater lakes, including Nettilling (1,956 sq mi/5,066 sq km) and Amadjuak. 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). Our locally run company is part of the Inuit owned and operated community of Arctic Bay, located on Baffin Island, in Nunavut. The varieties of water birds that nest here include coots, loons, mallards, and many other duck species. Why go to Baffin Island? Kimmirut, Baffin Island. [2] The Dorset people were replaced by the Thule People, a paleo-Eskimo culture and a predecessor of modern Inuit Greenlanders as early as the eighth century C.E..[3] Beluga or white whales migrate along the coast of Baffin Island; 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. In Baffin Island, polar bear mate every year. Baffin Island (Inuktitut: ᕿᑭᖅᑖᓗᒃ, Qikiqtaaluk IPA: [qikiqtaːluk], French: Île de Baffin or Terre de Baffin), in the Canadian territory of Nunavut, is the largest island in Canada and the fifth-largest island in the world. During the summer, ringed seals keep to a narrow territory approximately 3 km (2 mi) along the shoreline. Chances to visit cultural sites and learn about the local animals and vegetation An interesting example is the Tibetan Plateau, where the monsoon creates steady strong winds from December to April, and calm winds from June to October. in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. Explore In The Footsteps of History. Baffin Island has become popular among the BASE jumping community due to a wide array of 900 to 1,200 m (3,000 to 4,000 ft) tall cliffs scattered around the island. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'newworldencyclopedia_org-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',162,'0','0'])); It is generally accepted that the "Helluland" of Viking legend could be Baffin Island, and that the Vikings visited here in the tenth and eleventh centuries. It is larger in area than Spain, but has a population of only 13,000 people (2016). Hours per day, unlike places such as fjords, glaciers, and Andriashek... Are a part - on its south people of the Arctic Archipelago just west Greenland. 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