Rowley Island facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rowley Island

Rowley Island, Nunavut.
Rowley Island Location in Nunavut Show map of Nunavut Rowley Island Location in Canada Show map of Canada
Geography
Location	Foxe Basin
Coordinates	69°06′N 78°52′W / 69.100°N 78.867°W / 69.100; -78.867 (Rowley Island)
Archipelago	Canadian Arctic Archipelago
Area	1,090 km2 (420 sq mi)
Administration
Canada
Nunavut	Nunavut
Region	Qikiqtaaluk
Demographics
Population	62 (2016)

Rowley Island is a fascinating island located in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is part of the Qikiqtaaluk Region in Nunavut, Canada. This island sits in the Foxe Basin and covers an area of about 1,090 square kilometers (420 square miles). That's a pretty big piece of land!

Exploring Rowley Island's Features

Rowley Island is unique because it is currently uninhabited. This means no people live there permanently. However, it still plays an important role.

Unmanned Stations on the Island

Even though no one lives on Rowley Island, it has some important equipment.

• Distant Early Warning Line Base: There is an unmanned base called FOX-1. This base was once part of the Distant Early Warning Line, or DEW Line. The DEW Line was a chain of radar stations built during the Cold War. Their job was to detect if any aircraft were coming over the North Pole. This helped protect North America.
• Automated Weather Station: The island also has an Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS). This is like a robot weather reporter! It automatically collects weather information, such as temperature, wind speed, and air pressure. This data is very helpful for weather forecasts and understanding the Arctic climate.

How Rowley Island Got Its Name

Rowley Island is named after a brave Arctic explorer. His name was Graham Westbrook Rowley. Explorers like him helped map out and understand the vast and icy lands of the Arctic.