Pitsiulartok facts for kids
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 Pitsiulartok
(Formerly "Fairway Island") Location in Nunavut
Pitsiulartok
(Formerly "Fairway Island") Location in Canada
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Hudson Bay |
| Coordinates | 63°15′N 090°33′W / 63.250°N 90.550°W |
| Administration | |
| Nunavut | Nunavut |
| Region | Kivalliq |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Pitsiulartok (also called Pituilaktok) is a small island in Canada. It used to be known as Fairway Island. This island is located in Hudson Bay, which is a very large body of saltwater. Pitsiulartok is about 13 kilometers away from a community called Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut. No one lives on the island today.
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About Pitsiulartok Island
Pitsiulartok is a narrow island. It is about 3.5 kilometers long. At its widest point, it is barely 1 kilometer across. The island is part of a group of small islands. These islands run along the coast of Hudson Bay. Other islands in this group include Sakpik Island and Promise Island.
What is the Island's Name?
The name "Pituilaktok" comes from the Inuktitut language. This is the language spoken by the Inuit people. The name refers to a local bird. This bird is known in English as the black guillemot. Its scientific name is cepphus grylle. The Inuktitut word for this bird is "pitiula".
History and Importance
For a long time, Pitsiulartok Island was important to the local Inuit people. They used it as a place to hunt walrus. Walruses are large marine mammals with long tusks. The island was also a helpful landmark. It guided whalers who came from the south. Whalers are people who hunt whales.
Images for kids
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Fairway Island in the early 1920s. This photo was taken by Captain George Cleveland. He worked for the Hudson's Bay Company.
