Prince of Wales Island (Nunavut) facts for kids
Prince of Wales Island is a big island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, a group of islands in northern Canada. It is an Arctic island found in Nunavut, Canada. It sits between Victoria Island and Somerset Island, and it's south of the Queen Elizabeth Islands.
Prince of Wales Island is mostly flat and covered in tundra, which is a type of treeless plain found in cold regions. Its coastline is very uneven, with two large bays: Ommanney Bay on the west side and Browne Bay on the east. The island covers about 33,339 square kilometers (about 12,872 square miles). This makes it the 40th largest island in the world and the 10th largest in Canada. The highest point on the island is an unnamed spot in the far northeastern part. It is about 320 meters (1,050 feet) high and looks over the Baring Channel, which separates the island from nearby Russell Island.
Prince of Wales Island is an uninhabited island, meaning no people live there permanently. However, it is home to various Arctic animals.
Wildlife on the Island
The island's cold, tundra environment supports several types of Arctic wildlife. Animals like polar bears, caribou, and Arctic foxes can be found here. These animals are adapted to survive the harsh, cold conditions of the Arctic.
Polar Bears
Polar bears are powerful hunters that live in the Arctic. They often hunt seals on the sea ice. You might see their tracks or even the bears themselves near the coast or on ice floes around Prince of Wales Island. They are very important to the Arctic ecosystem.
Other Animals
Besides polar bears, other animals like Arctic hares and various birds also live on the island during the warmer months. Many birds migrate to the Arctic for the summer to nest and raise their young.
Images for kids
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Polar bear on an ice floe in Franklin Strait east of Prince of Wales Island in September 2019; the bloody trail shows its prey was dragged over the floe.
See also
In Spanish: Isla del Príncipe de Gales (Nunavut) para niños
