Bathurst Inlet facts for kids
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Bathurst Inlet, also known as Kiluhiqtuq, is a long, narrow arm of the sea. It is located on the northern coast of Canada, in a territory called Nunavut. This inlet is at the eastern end of Coronation Gulf. Two rivers, the Burnside and Western rivers, flow into it.
The name Bathurst Inlet, or its local name Kingoak (meaning nose mountain), also refers to a small community. This community, called Bathurst Inlet, is found right on the shore of the inlet. Another body of water, Melville Sound, connects to the eastern side of the inlet.
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Plans for a Deep-Water Port
For many years, there have been plans to build a large port in Bathurst Inlet. This port would be a "deep-water" port, meaning it could handle very big ships. Several mining companies worked together on these plans.
Their main idea was to build a port that could serve ships carrying up to 25,000 tonnes. They also planned to build a road about 211 km (131 mi) long. This road would connect the port to their mines.
Why a Port is Needed
The mining companies needed a way to transport their valuable minerals. They also needed to bring supplies to their mines. A deep-water port would make it easier and cheaper to move these goods.
An early plan from 2004 suggested the port could handle even larger ships, up to 50,000 tonnes. At first, the road to the port was planned to be an ice road. This is a road built on frozen ice, like the one used near Yellowknife. However, ice roads depend on very cold weather. If the ice doesn't freeze early enough, it can cause problems for transporting supplies. Because of this, later plans changed the road to an all-weather road.
Companies Involved
Many companies have been part of the plans for the port over the years. Some of these companies mine for valuable resources like silver, zinc, copper, and diamonds.
| Company | What They Mine |
|---|---|
| Xstrata | Silver and Zinc |
| Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. | Gold and Silver |
| Zinifex | Copper and Zinc |
| Rio Tinto Incorporated | Diamonds |
| BHP Billiton | Diamonds |
Some companies left the project in 2008. However, in 2013, a new group called Bathurst Inlet Port & Road (BIPR) Project continued the plans. This group included GlencoreXstrata and Sabina Gold and Silver Corporation. They planned for a dock, storage buildings, and fuel facilities at a place called Grays Bay Port.
Environmental Concerns
Building a port and a road in this area can affect the environment. Environmental groups have worried about how the road might impact the animals living there. One major concern is the annual migration of the Bathurst Caribou herd.
Caribou are a type of deer that live in the Arctic. They travel long distances each year to find food and raise their young. There are several caribou herds in the Northwest Territories. Sadly, some of these herds have seen their numbers drop a lot since the 1980s and 1990s. For example, three herds declined by 84-93% from their biggest sizes.
However, one herd, the Bluenose East caribou herd, has started to recover. Its population was about 122,000 in 2010. This recovery is partly due to the creation of Tuktut Nogait National Park. Parks like this help protect the caribou's habitat and migration routes.
Bathurst Inlet in Stories
The idea of a deep-water port in Bathurst Inlet has even inspired fiction. It is used as a setting in a short story by Don Bassingthwaite. The story is called "Too Much Is Never Enough" and is part of a science fiction book called Foreshadows: The Ghosts of Zero.
