Marble Island facts for kids
 Marble Island
Location in Nunavut
Marble Island
Location in Canada
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Hudson Bay |
| Coordinates | 62°41′N 91°15′W / 62.68°N 91.25°W |
| Archipelago | Canadian Arctic Archipelago |
| Administration | |
| Nunavut | Nunavut |
| Region | Kivalliq |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Marble Island is an amazing, uninhabited island in Nunavut, Canada. It is located in the western part of Hudson Bay. The closest community to the island is Rankin Inlet. Long ago, in the 1800s, sailors used Marble Island as a safe spot to stay during the winter.
Island Features and Wildlife
Marble Island is made of a special type of rock called wacke. It also has a lot of quartzite. This quartzite makes the island look white, almost like marble!
The island is mostly bare rock. It's so far north that no trees grow there. You'll only find small plants like lichens and mosses. Because of this, only a few land animals live there. These include the polar bear, Arctic fox, Arctic hare, and lemmings.
Many different birds visit the island. These include ducks, raptors, and other small birds. The waters around Marble Island are full of sea animals. You can find many kinds of whales, like bowhead whales, orcas, narwhals, and belugas. There are also many seals. Because there is so much sea life, Marble Island has been a traditional summer hunting ground for the Inuit people for a very long time.
A Difficult Expedition
In the early 1700s, an explorer named James Knight led an expedition. He worked for the Hudson's Bay Company. Knight and his two ships, led by Captains David Vaughan and George Berley, were trying to find the Northwest Passage. This was a sea route through the Arctic.
Sadly, their ships were wrecked near Marble Island. The crew had to take shelter on the island. Even with help from the local Inuit, all the explorers died. They suffered from starvation and diseases like scurvy. This happened by 1722 at the latest. Years later, in 1769, their remains were found by another explorer, Samuel Hearne.
Whaling History
Between 1870 and 1887, Marble Island was a very popular place for whaling ships. Whalers would hunt whales in the nearby waters. However, by 1890, the island was abandoned by whalers. There were not many whales left to hunt. Also, the ice conditions became very dangerous.
Before it was abandoned, a whaling ship called the Orray Taft sank near the island. The men from this ship are buried in graves on the island. This sad event helped give Marble Island its nickname: Deadman's Island.
A Sacred Place
Today, Marble Island is a very important and sacred site for the Inuit people. It is a place of deep spiritual meaning. Modern visitors are expected to show great respect when they arrive. There is even a traditional belief that if you don't crawl ashore, you might die exactly one year later. This shows how important and special the island is to the Inuit.
