Putulik facts for kids
 Putulik
Location in Nunavut
Putulik
Location in Canada
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Northern Canada |
| Coordinates | 68°19′14″N 100°07′18″W / 68.32056°N 100.12167°W |
| Archipelago | Arctic Archipelago |
| Area | 32 km2 (12 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
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Canada
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| Nunavut | Nunavut |
| Region | Kitikmeot Region |
| Demographics | |
| Population | uninhabited |
Putulik is a small island in northern Canada. It used to be called Hat Island. This island is located in Nunavut, a territory in Canada's Arctic.
Putulik is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) wide and 8 kilometers (5 miles) long. No people live on the island. It is found in a body of water called Victoria Strait. This strait is part of the Queen Maud Gulf.
Contents
Where is Putulik Island?
Putulik is in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. It is about 110 kilometers (68 miles) southeast of Victoria Island. It is also about 80 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of King William Island.
A narrow waterway called the Requisite Channel separates Putulik from Amundsen Island. Amundsen Island is one of the larger Nordenskiöld Islands.
What Was Hat Island Used For?
Putulik, when it was called Hat Island, was once an important site. It was part of the Distant Early Warning Line. This was a line of radar stations built during the Cold War. Their job was to detect if planes were coming from far away.
Today, it is part of the North Warning System. This system still uses radar to watch for aircraft. It helps protect North America.
Environmental Concerns
The Canadian government has looked at Putulik Island. They found that it is a "contaminated site." This means that there are harmful substances on the island. These substances might be left over from its past use as a radar station.
The government plans to clean up the island in the future. This process is called "remediation." It means making the land safe and healthy again.
Other Hat Islands
There is another, smaller island also named Hat Island in Nunavut. It is located in a different part of the territory.
