Borden Island facts for kids
Borden Island, NWT/Nunavut
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 Borden Island
Location in Northwest Territories
Borden Island
Location in Nunavut
Borden Island
Location in Canada
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Northern Canada |
| Coordinates | 78°30′03″N 111°13′12″W / 78.50083°N 111.22000°W |
| Archipelago | Queen Elizabeth Islands Canadian Arctic Archipelago |
| Area | 2,795 km2 (1,079 sq mi) |
| Length | 94 km (58.4 mi) |
| Width | 82 km (51 mi) |
| Administration | |
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Canada
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| Territory | Nunavut; Northwest Territories |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Borden Island is a quiet, uninhabited island located in the far north of Canada. It is part of the Queen Elizabeth Islands, a group of islands in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. This flat island is a fascinating part of Canada's vast northern landscape.
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Exploring Borden Island's Features
Borden Island is quite large! It covers an area of about 2,795 square kilometers (1,079 square miles). To give you an idea, that's bigger than some small countries. The island is about 94 kilometers (58 miles) long and 82 kilometers (51 miles) wide.
Where is Borden Island Located?
This island is the 171st largest island in the world. It is also Canada's 30th largest island. Borden Island sits north of another island called Mackenzie King Island. It is unique because it is split between two Canadian territories. A larger part of the island belongs to the Northwest Territories. The smaller part is in Nunavut. The border between these two territories runs right through the island.
The History of Borden Island's Discovery
The first time anyone officially saw Borden Island was in 1916. An explorer named Vilhjalmur Stefansson discovered it. At first, he thought it was just one big piece of land.
How We Learned It Was Two Islands
Years later, in 1947, something interesting happened. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was flying over the area. During their aerial survey, they made an important discovery. They found that what Stefansson thought was one island was actually two! A narrow waterway, called Wilkins Strait, divides them. This means Borden Island is technically two islands very close together.
Who Was Borden Island Named After?
Borden Island is named after a very important person in Canadian history. His name was Robert Borden. He served as the Prime Minister of Canada from 1911 to 1920. A Prime Minister is the leader of the government in Canada. Naming the island after him was a way to honor his contributions to the country.
