Bluenose Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bluenose Lake |
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 Bluenose Lake
Location in Nunavut
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| Location | Kitikmeot, Nunavut |
| Coordinates | 68°28′N 119°45′W / 68.467°N 119.750°W |
| Primary outflows | Croker River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 33 mi (53 km) |
| Max. width | 12 mi (19 km) |
| Surface area | 155 sq mi (400 km2) |
| Surface elevation | 1,800 ft (550 m) |
| Settlements | uninhabited |
Bluenose Lake is a large lake located in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut, Canada. It sits far north, above the Arctic Circle. This means it's in a very cold, northern part of the world! The lake is found within the wide, shallow area of the Melville Hills.
Bluenose Lake is about 33 miles (53 km) long and 12 miles (19 km) wide. It is also quite high up, about 1,800 feet (549 meters) above sea level. The Croker River flows out of Bluenose Lake. It travels north all the way to the Arctic Ocean, entering at Dolphin and Union Strait. The lake was officially named in 1953 by John Kelsall and James Mitchell. They named it after studying the lake and its wildlife.
Animals of Bluenose Lake
The area around Bluenose Lake is home to many amazing animals. These creatures are well-adapted to the cold Arctic environment.
Mammals in the Bluenose Region
You can find several types of mammals living near the lake.
- Caribou: The barren-ground caribou in this area are special. They are divided into two main groups, or herds. These are called the Bluenose-east and Bluenose-west herds.
- Other Mammals: Other animals you might see include the Arctic fox and Arctic ground squirrel. There are also Arctic hares and small rodents like Back's lemming and collared lemming. Larger animals include the barren-ground grizzly bear and muskox. Smaller predators like the short-tailed weasel and wolf also live here. You might also spot the tundra vole.
Birds of the Bluenose Lake Area
Many different birds visit or live around Bluenose Lake. Some are here all year, while others migrate for the summer.
- Loons and Ducks: You can see different types of loons, like the Arctic loon and red-throated loon. Ducks such as the mallard, northern phalarope, and oldsquaw are also common. The king eider and pintail are also found here.
- Shorebirds and Gulls: Many shorebirds like Baird's sandpiper, buff-breasted sandpiper, and pectoral sandpiper feed by the water. You might also spot black-bellied plover, golden plover, and sanderling. Gulls like the glaucous gull and herring gull fly overhead.
- Birds of Prey: Large birds of prey, such as the golden eagle, rough-legged hawk, and short-eared owl, hunt in the area. The majestic snowy owl is also a resident.
- Other Birds: Other interesting birds include the Arctic tern, Canada goose, and raven. Smaller birds like the Lapland longspur, snow bunting, tree sparrow, and water pipit are also present. You might also see the whistling swan and willow ptarmigan.
