Geography of Banks Island (Canada)

The Canadian Arctic Archipelago's Banks Island is the westernmost island. It is the fourth largest island in the archipelago and is situated in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The Prince of Wales Strait divides the island from Victoria Island, its neighbour to the east, while the Amundsen Gulf, to the south, divides it from the continental mainland. To the west of the island is the Beaufort Sea. The island is divided from Prince Patrick Island and Melville Island to the northeast by McClure Strait.

The Inuvialuit hamlet of Sachs Harbour on the island's southwest coast is the only permanent habitation. It was identified as an island in 1851 by the British explorer Sir Robert McClure. Vilhjalmur Stefansson, a Canadian adventurer, spent a lot of time there (1914–17) and explored the interior.

Physical Features

With a surface size of 70,028 km2 (27,038 sq. mi), Banks Island is the fifth-largest island in Canada and the 24th-largest island in the world. It measures roughly 380 km (240 mi) in length and 290 km (180 mi) width at its widest point at the northern end. The island's highest point, Durham Heights, is located in the south and rises to a height of around 730 meters (2,400 feet). From 1,100-foot (335-meter) cliffs along the northern shore to Durham Heights (2,500 feet [760 meters]) to the southern point, the rugged landscape of the area is varied.

The archipelago stretches 2,400 kilometres (1,491 miles) longitudinally and 1,900 kilometres (1,180.6 miles) from the mainland to Cape Columbia, Ellesmere Island's farthest north. The North-western Passages are a group of waterways that divide the numerous islands of the archipelago from one another and the continental mainland. There are 36,469 minor islands and 94 big islands, each measuring more than 130 km2 (50 sq mi). Administratively speaking, it belongs to the Northwest Territories.

Climate

Banks Island experiences lengthy, harsh winters and brief, mild summers typical of the tundra environment of the Canadian Arctic. Many community members have extensive understanding of weather patterns, permafrost, and even erosion patterns because they spend a lot of time travelling, fishing, and hunting.

The island is located in the Arctic tundra climate zone, which is known for its protracted, bitterly cold winters. While the island's west coast is flat, sandy, and frequently shrouded in fog, the island's north is covered in snow and ice. During the brief summer months, parts of the island's protected interior valleys are remarkably lush and temperate, resembling the sheep region of northern Scotland. Due to recent climate change, sea ice has been breaking up earlier than usual, which has caused seals to migrate farther south during the summer. Changes spurred on by global warming include the first appearance of salmon in the adjacent seas between 1999 and 2001. They have now started to worry that recent climatic changes may cause their understanding of weather patterns to fail.

Flora And Fauna

The largest plant on the island, the Arctic willow, rarely grows higher than a person's knee but is rarely taller than 10 cm (3.9 in). The island is devoid of trees. Lesser snow geese, which migrate from the mainland across the Amundsen Gulf, have a significant colony on Banks Island. Every year, a goose hunt departs from Sachs Harbour in the spring. The island is located in the world biome of the tundra, which has exceptionally chilly winters. At least fourteen different kinds of mammals live there, including polar bears, Peary caribou, and barren-ground caribou. The majority of the world's muskoxen, approximately 68,000 of them, once dwelt on the island. Among the several bird species are robins and swallows. Estimates place the number of muskoxen on the island at 68,000 to 80,000, 20 percent of which are thought to live in the northwest region's Aulavik National Park.

Biodiversity

On the island, two federal migratory bird sanctuaries were established in 1961. At the northern extremity of the island, Canada's fly-in Aulavik National Park safeguards approximately 12,274 km2 (4,739 sq. mi) of Arctic lowlands. The Park is home to the endangered Peary caribou and contains the largest density of muskoxen on the planet. The Park is traversed by the Thomsen River, which is North America's most northern river that can be navigated by canoe. Although 43 species of birds utilize the region seasonally, ptarmigan and ravens are thought to be the only year-round birds in the park. Aulavik means "place where people travel" in Inuvialuktun, and "aboriginal peoples have sustained the land and wildlife for more than 3,400 years, from Pre-Dorset cultures to modern Inuvialuit."

At the northern extremity of the island, the Aulavik National Park is a fly-in park that safeguards over 12,274 km (7,626.71 mi) of Arctic lowlands. As a polar desert, Aulavik frequently receives strong winds. A sparsely vegetated upland plateau rises to a height of 450 meters (1,500 feet) above sea level in the southern parts of the park. The park is located south of the McClure Strait and features two significant bays: Mercy Bay and Castel Bay. Arctic Foxes, brown and Northern Collared Lemmings, Arctic Hares, and wolves traverse the rocky ground in this entirely treeless park. Snowy Owls, rough-legged hawks, gyrfalcons, and peregrine falcons are among the birds of prey found in the area that eat lemmings.

Conclusion

The Canadian Arctic Archipelago's westernmost island, Banks Island, is a rocky and sizable landmass situated in the Northwest Territories' Inuvik Region. It has a diversified topography and a fluctuating temperature, with long, harsh winters and brief, mild summers typical of the tundra habitat. Arctic willow, snow geese, polar bears, Peary caribou, and muskoxen are just a few of the unusual plants and animals that call the island home. The Peary caribou, an endangered species, is protected at Aulavik National Park, which also has the highest concentration of muskoxen on earth. The island's biodiversity and natural beauty continue to be crucial elements in environmental conservation despite the difficult circumstances.

FAQs

1. Where exactly is Banks Island?

In the Canadian Northwest Territories' Inuvik Region, Banks Island, the westernmost island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, is located.

2. What is the size of Banks Island?

Banks Island is the fifth-largest island in Canada and the 24th-largest island in the world, with a surface area of roughly 70,028 km.

3. How would you describe the weather on Banks Island?

Banks Island experiences the short, pleasant summers and harsh, prolonged winters typical of the Arctic tundra. The west coast is sandy, flat, and foggy, whereas the north is covered in snow and ice.

4. What kinds of animals can you find on Banks Island?

Snow geese, polar bears, Peary caribou, muskoxen, Arctic foxes, lemmings, and Arctic hares are just a few of the animals that may be found on Banks Island. The island is also home to a variety of bird species, including ravens and ptarmigan.

5. What role does Aulavik National Park play?

The Arctic lowlands are protected in Aulavik National Park, which is also home to the world's biggest concentration of muskoxen and the endangered Peary caribou. It is situated near the northern tip of Banks Island. The arctic desert topography of the park is significant for conservation efforts and is home to a variety of wildlife species.