O'Reilly Island facts for kids
 O'Reilly Island
Location in Nunavut
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Queen Maud Gulf |
| Coordinates | 68°02′13″N 98°58′53″W / 68.03694°N 98.98139°W |
| Archipelago | Canadian Arctic Archipelago |
| Area | 34.6 km2 (13.4 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
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Canada
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| Territory | Nunavut |
O'Reilly Island is a quiet island in Canada. It is located in the Nunavut territory, where no one lives. You can find it in the eastern part of the Queen Maud Gulf. The island is south of King William Island. It is also west of the Klutschak and Adelaide Peninsulas.
Island History
For a long time, O'Reilly Island was an important place. The Thule and later the Inuit peoples used it. They would visit the island, especially a small islet nearby. Here, they hunted animals like seals and caribou for food.
Franklin's Lost Ship
In September 2014, something amazing was found near O'Reilly Island. It was the wreck of a ship called HMS Erebus. This ship was part of Franklin's lost expedition. That was a famous journey in the 1840s that went missing. The wreck was discovered just west of O'Reilly Island in the Queen Maud Gulf.
To protect this important historical site, special rules are in place. Nancy Anilniliak, who works for the Nunavut Field Unit, has limited access to an area. This area is in Wilmot and Crampton Bay, about 25 kilometers northeast of O'Reilly Island. This helps keep the shipwreck safe for future study. The protected area is marked by these points:
- Point A (68°14′44.8″N 98°52′22.3″W / 68.245778°N 98.872861°W)
- Point B (68°17′44.2″N 98°40′17.9″W / 68.295611°N 98.671639°W)
- Point C (68°13′15.4″N 98°32′16.2″W / 68.220944°N 98.537833°W)
- Point D (68°10′16.5″N 98°44′19.3″W / 68.171250°N 98.738694°W)
