Crescent Island (Nunavut) facts for kids
Geography | |
---|---|
Location | Northern Canada |
Coordinates | 76°58′59″N 097°19′59″W / 76.98306°N 97.33306°W |
Archipelago | Queen Elizabeth Islands Canadian Arctic Archipelago |
Area | 39 km2 (15 sq mi) |
Administration | |
Canada
|
|
Territory | Nunavut |
Demographics | |
Population | Uninhabited |
Crescent Island is a small, uninhabited island located far north in Canada. It's part of a huge group of islands known as the Queen Elizabeth Islands and the larger Canadian Arctic Archipelago. This island is found in the territory of Nunavut, which is Canada's largest and newest territory.
Contents
What is Crescent Island?
Crescent Island is a landmass that doesn't have a regular shape. It covers an area of about 39 square kilometers (about 15 square miles). To give you an idea, that's roughly the size of a small city. No people live on Crescent Island, making it a wild and untouched place.
Where is Crescent Island Located?
This island is situated in the very northern part of Canada. It sits at the entrance of a body of water called the Penny Strait. To its west, you'll find Napier Bay, which is part of a much larger island named Devon Island. These locations are all within the vast, icy region of the Canadian Arctic.
Part of a Bigger Group
Crescent Island is a member of two important island groups:
- The Queen Elizabeth Islands are a collection of many islands in the Canadian Arctic. They are named after Queen Elizabeth II.
- The Canadian Arctic Archipelago is an even larger group. It includes all the islands in the Canadian Arctic. This archipelago is one of the biggest in the world.
Crescent Island is part of Nunavut. Nunavut is a huge territory in Canada's north. It was created in 1999 for the Inuit people, who are the Indigenous people of the Arctic. Most of Nunavut is covered by tundra and ice. It has a very cold climate.
The Arctic Environment
Life on Crescent Island and in the surrounding Arctic is very challenging. The winters are long, dark, and extremely cold. Temperatures can drop very low. The summers are short and cool, with continuous daylight for weeks.
Wildlife in the Arctic
Even though Crescent Island itself is uninhabited by humans, the Canadian Arctic is home to amazing wildlife. Animals like polar bears, seals, and various seabirds live in this harsh environment. They are specially adapted to survive the cold. The waters around the island are often covered in sea ice for much of the year.