Baffin Island

Baffin Island is a small and remote island situated in the Arctic Circle. Referred to as ‘The Kingdom of the Midnight Sun’, Baffin Island is home to rich biodiversity and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you are looking for a winter escape, this northern beauty will be your best bet. Barren desert, vast glaciers, and rich wildlife that comes alive during twilight hours – Baffin Island will let you unwind from the stress of the busy world.

History

Baffin Island first appeared on European maps in the late 1500s and was named after Dutch navigator Pieter Baffin. The island remained largely uninhabited until 1908 when a few Norwegian settlers started to explore it. With World War II looming and no available refuge from the Nazis, most of the Norwegians evacuated Baffin Island before they were captured by the occupying Nazi forces.

With little development taking place in Northern Canada, most of Baffin Island is inhabited by its indigenous people. Known as Inuit (the word used to refer to many Arctic Aboriginal cultures), their homes were close to nature and they lived off of hunting, fishing, and reindeer herding.

Caught unaware when Europeans started colonizing North America around the 1620s, virtually all wildlife on this island was hunted down for fur – mainly seals and polar bears during the winter season; and caribou and musk ox during the summer.

Climate

Baffin Island has a harsh Arctic climate with short, cool summers and long, cold winters. The average temperature ranges from -20 degrees Celsius in winter to 10 degrees Celsius in summer. In spite of the severe weather conditions, there is an enormous diversity of plants and animals that have adapted to this hostile environment.

Culture

Unlike many First Nations areas in Canada that have been heavily impacted by colonization, the Inuit culture of Baffin Island has remained largely unchanged for centuries. With their close relationship to nature, the Inuit are renowned for their skills in hunting and fishing. They also make extensive use of traditional garments made from caribou hair and seal skin which they wear during ceremonial ceremonies and everyday life.

Politics

The Nunavut Territory was formed in 1999 from the eastern half of Baffin Island. The territory has a population of around 55,000 people, most of whom are Inuit. It is governed by a governor appointed by Ottawa and an elected legislature.

Government Services

Baffin Island is serviced by the weather-beaten town of Iqaluit, on Ellesmere Island to the west. Iqaluit has a population of around 5,000 and services the surrounding area with hospitals, schools, and stores. Farming and fishing are the main industries on Baffin Island. Baffin Island is part of Nunavut, which also includes the Canadian Arctic islands of Ellesmere and Bylot.

The closest mainland town to Iqaluit by air is Rankin Inlet with a population density around 200 per square mile (114/km²). By land, Canada’s water transportation connections are via winter ice breakers through Hudson Strait between southern Quebec and northern Labrador; summer ships then launch further north to Churchill, Manitoba and Edmonton.

The Inuit are authorized to set up many of their communities according to both custom and law due solely to the fact they were removed from lands which would not accept them, regardless of how much better off they now live on Baffin Island in comparison with mainland life.

Tourism

Baffin Island is slowly emerging as a popular tourist destination. With the opening of airports on Ellesmere and Victoria Islands in the past few years, visitors are now able to explore the island from afar. There are several lodges and resorts available for tourists who want to experience the traditional Inuit culture firsthand.

Transport

The only way to reach Baffin Island is by air. Iqaluit Airport, on Ellesmere Island, is the main gateway for tourists. There are also airports in Baker Lake and Cambridge Bay which provide regular flights to more remote areas of the island. The ferry service that crosses between Oxford House on the east coast of Ellesmere Island and Cape Dorset on Baffin Island operates year-round.

Cuisine

The traditional Inuit cuisine is based on hunted and gathered foods. Hunters pursue caribou, seals, and whales through the vast wilderness while fishers navigate treacherous coastal waters in search of pollock, herring, mackerel, and salmon. In Iqaluit, tourists may be surprised to find grocery stores next door to artisan markets and art galleries.

Music

Traditional music is an important part of the Inuit culture. Singers perform songs in gatherings called qausiq (or quasisirpaaq), which are typically held outdoors in the summer. Singers of qausiq often sing together, but they can also specialize in certain songs and call themselves “singer,” “song leader,” or simply “artist.” There are several styles of traditional Inuit music, including throat singing (also known as puuliviik) and chanting.

Wildlife

Baffin Island is home to enormous herds of caribou, Arctic foxes, and polar bears. The arctic tundra attracts a multitude of other wildlife, including summering waterfowl and geese. The coastal waters of the island host polar cod, ringed seals and bearded seal pups.

The fur seal (agluk) and bearded seal are considered legitimate prey for humans but have been hunted by European settlers, making their numbers drastically declining. In some areas hunting is restricted for the purpose of boosting the seals’ population or when biologists feel that their numbers need to be controlled to prevent over-trapping in large fenced-off animal pens (“flipper farms”) elsewhere on Ellesmere Island.

Conclusion

Baffin Island is the largest of the Baffin-Arctic Islands situated in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is situated just north of Greenland in the Canadian territory. The island is a part of the Qikiqtani Region, which is also known as Nunavut. Baffin Island has no permanent streams, and it has a very small population, making it a rather small territory, which is mostly uninhabited! Justifiably, it was protected by law in 1987, with a park and a wildlife conservation area in its vicinity.

FAQs

Who Owns The Islands Near Baffin? 

The islands near Baffin are owned by the governments of Canada, Denmark, and Norway.

Are There Any Trees In Baffin Island? 

There are no trees in Baffin Island, except for a few stunted ones.

Does Anyone Live In The Northern Canadian Islands? 

Only a few people live in the northern Canadian islands, mainly members of the Inuit and Nunavut communities.

Can I Colonize Devon Island And Declare For Independence?

No, you cannot colonize Devon Island or declare for independence from Canada.

Can I Go Easily From Greenland To Canada? 

No, it is not easy from Greenland to Canada. You need a plane, a boat or an icebreaker to move between the two countries.