John Barrow Island facts for kids
 John Barrow Island
Location in Nunavut
John Barrow Island
Location in Canada
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Northern Canada |
| Coordinates | 76°36′N 097°09′W / 76.600°N 97.150°W |
| Archipelago | Queen Elizabeth Islands Canadian Arctic Archipelago |
| Administration | |
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Canada
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| Territory | Nunavut |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
John Barrow Island is a small, long island located in the far north of Canada. It is part of a large group of islands known as the Queen Elizabeth Islands. These islands are also part of the even bigger Canadian Arctic Archipelago. John Barrow Island is found in Nunavut, which is Canada's largest and northernmost territory.
You can find John Barrow Island in the middle of the Penny Strait. This strait is a narrow waterway that separates two much larger islands: Bathurst Island and Devon Island. The island is very remote and no people live there.
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Naming the Island
John Barrow Island was named to honor a very important person from history. This person was Sir John Barrow, 1st Baronet. He was a British statesman and explorer.
Who Was Sir John Barrow?
Sir John Barrow lived a long time ago, from 1764 to 1848. He was a key figure in the British government. He held an important job called Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty. This meant he was in charge of running the British Navy's daily business. He worked for many years under different leaders.
His Role in Government
As Permanent Secretary, Sir John Barrow helped guide many important decisions. He supported many voyages of exploration. These voyages helped map unknown parts of the world. He was especially interested in exploring the Arctic regions. Because of his work, many places in the Arctic were named after him. This includes John Barrow Island.
Naming by a Prime Minister
The island was named during the time of a British prime minister named Lord Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey. A prime minister is the main leader of the government in countries like the United Kingdom. Lord Grey was prime minister from 1830 to 1834. He is famous for helping to pass important laws.
Location and Geography
John Barrow Island is located in a very cold and icy part of the world. This area is known as the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is a vast collection of islands in the Arctic Ocean.
The Queen Elizabeth Islands
John Barrow Island is one of the many islands that make up the Queen Elizabeth Islands. This group of islands is the northernmost part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. They are known for their harsh climate and icy landscapes. Many of these islands are uninhabited, just like John Barrow Island.
Penny Strait
The island sits in the middle of the Penny Strait. A strait is a narrow passage of water that connects two larger bodies of water. The Penny Strait connects different parts of the Arctic Ocean. It is often covered in ice for much of the year. This makes travel to and from John Barrow Island very difficult.
