Minto Inlet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minto Inlet
Minto Inlet Location in Northwest Territories
Location	Victoria Island
Coordinates	71°15′N 117°0′W / 71.250°N 117.000°W / 71.250; -117.000
Ocean/sea sources	Amundsen Gulf
Basin countries	Northwest Territories, Canada
Max. length	121 km (75 mi)
Max. width	19 km (12 mi)

Minto Inlet is a long, narrow arm of the sea. It is found in the Northwest Territories of Canada. This inlet is on the western side of Victoria Island. It connects to the large Amundsen Gulf.

Discovering Minto Inlet

Minto Inlet stretches for about 121 km (75 mi). Its width changes from about 8 mi (13 km) to 25 mi (40 km). It is located at the southern end of the Prince of Wales Strait. This strait is a waterway that separates two large islands.

A Home for Wildlife

Minto Inlet is a very important place for wildlife. It is especially known for its caribou. A large herd of caribou uses this area. They come here to have their babies. This is called a calving ground. Protecting these areas helps the caribou population grow.

People of the Past

For a very long time, Minto Inlet has been part of the land of the Copper Inuit. The Copper Inuit are an Indigenous group. They have lived in this Arctic region for thousands of years. They are known for using copper found in the area. They used it to make tools.

Early Explorers

In the past, explorers visited Minto Inlet. One famous explorer was Richard Collinson. He was a British naval officer. Collinson spent the winter here in 1851 and 1852. He was exploring the Arctic. He was looking for the Northwest Passage. This was a sea route through the Arctic Ocean.

Map of the Minto Inlet area