Monumental Island facts for kids
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Native name:
Oomienwa
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 Monumental Island
Location in Nunavut
Monumental Island
Location in Canada
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| Geography | |
| Location | Davis Strait |
| Coordinates | 62°45′30″N 63°51′25″W / 62.75833°N 63.85694°W |
| Archipelago | Canadian Arctic Archipelago |
| Administration | |
| Nunavut | Nunavut |
| Region | Qikiqtaaluk |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Monumental Island, also known as Oomienwa in the Inuktitut language, is a small island located in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It's found in Nunavut, Canada's northernmost territory. This island sits in the Davis Strait, which is a body of water between Baffin Island and Greenland. It's almost exactly halfway between two other islands, Lady Franklin Island and Little Hall Island.
Contents
Discovering Monumental Island
Location and Geography
Monumental Island is part of the vast Canadian Arctic Archipelago, a group of many islands in northern Canada. It is considered an "offshore island" of Baffin Island, meaning it's a smaller island located near the coast of a much larger one. The island is found in the Davis Strait, a wide channel of water that connects the Arctic Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean.
How Monumental Island Got Its Name
The island was given its name by an Arctic explorer named Charles Francis Hall. He explored the Arctic regions in the mid-1800s. Hall named the island as a way to honor the memory of Sir John Franklin. Sir John Franklin was another famous Arctic explorer who disappeared with his entire crew during an expedition to find the Northwest Passage. Naming the island "Monumental" was a way to create a lasting tribute to him.
Life on the Island
Monumental Island is currently uninhabited, meaning no people live there permanently. Like many islands in the Arctic, it has a harsh climate with very cold winters. Despite this, Arctic islands often serve as important habitats for wildlife, especially marine animals and birds.
