Baffin Island

Introduction: The Fifth Largest Island on Earth

Baffin Island, known in the Inuit language as Qikiqtaaluk, stands as one of Earth’s most majestic and enigmatic landmasses. Covering an immense area of about 507,451 square kilometres, it is the largest island in Canada and the fifth largest island in the world. Situated in the far reaches of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, this remote island lies between the northern reaches of the Canadian mainland and the western shores of Greenland, bordered by the chilling waters of Baffin Bay, the Davis Strait, and the Hudson Strait. From soaring fjords to ancient icecaps, from Inuit communities with deep-rooted traditions to ecosystems uniquely adapted to one of the harshest climates on the planet, Baffin Island represents a microcosm of Arctic life, history, and contemporary challenges.

Geographical Magnitude and Physical Features

Baffin Island’s geography is defined by extremes – vast, stark, yet hauntingly beautiful. Its rugged terrain includes towering mountains, sprawling tundra, deep fjords, and glacial expanses carved by the relentless forces of ice throughout millennia. The island stretches over approximately 950 miles (1,500 kilometres) in length, with a landscape that varies dramatically from coast to interior.

The island’s topography features a glacier-laden mountainous backbone that runs much of its length. Peaks soar to heights above 7,000 feet (2,147 metres), with Mount Odin among the most prominent summits in the Arctic region. These mountains are indented by an intricate network of fjords — deep sea inlets formed by ancient glaciers — which give the coastline a dramatic, serrated appearance. Many of these fjords, such as the famed Sam Ford Fjord, feature sheer granite cliffs rising precipitously from the ocean’s edge, creating landscapes that awe scientists, explorers, and adventure seekers alike.

The interior of the island also hosts vast lakes, including Amadjuak Lake — one of Baffin Island’s largest. This lake and others like it emerged from beneath ancient waters during the retreat of glacial ice following the last Ice Age. Much of the terrain consists of arctic tundra, characterized by permafrost — ground that remains frozen year-round — and only a thin active layer that thaws during a brief summer season.

Climate: Harsh Winters and Transient Summers

Baffin Island endures one of Earth’s most formidable climates. Encompassing much of its landmass above the Arctic Circle, the island experiences long, bitter winters and short, cool summers. Winter temperatures can plummet well below −40°C, while summer highs rarely exceed 7°C. The seasonal rhythm of light and dark is equally extreme: in the northern coastal communities, such as Clyde River, the sun can remain above the horizon for nearly three months in summer and remain absent for similar stretches in winter, a phenomenon known as the midnight sun and polar night, respectively.

Baffin Bay and Marine Influence

The cold waters surrounding Baffin Island — particularly Baffin Bay to the north and east — play a critical role in shaping the island’s climate and ecology. This bay is subject to dramatic tidal variations and thick ice cover for much of the year, influenced by winds and ocean currents. The interaction between sea ice, ocean currents, and atmospheric forces creates a unique marine environment that supports a surprising diversity of life, despite the harsh conditions.

Within Baffin Bay, especially toward the northern region known as North Water, a seasonal opening of sea ice fosters one of the highest concentrations of marine biodiversity in the area, including plankton, fish, and marine mammals like beluga whales, narwhal, and harp seals. The bay’s marine ecosystems are fundamental not only to wildlife but also to the traditional lifestyles of the island’s indigenous communities.

Deep Time and Human Presence: History on the Edge

Long before European explorers reached the Arctic, Baffin Island was home to indigenous peoples whose presence here dates back thousands of years. Inuit ancestors, and earlier cultures such as the Dorset, left archaeological legacies that testify to their adaptation in one of Earth’s most demanding environments.

The first known Europeans to reach Baffin Bay were explorers searching for the legendary Northwest Passage, a maritime route that might link the Atlantic and Pacific. In 1576, English navigator Sir Martin Frobisher landed in what is now known as Frobisher Bay, marking one of the earliest recorded European contacts with the island. The island was later named after William Baffin, a 17th-century English explorer noted for his Arctic voyages. There is also compelling speculation, based on Norse sagas and archaeological hints, that Norse explorers from Greenland may have reached parts of Baffin Island around AD 1000, referring to it as Helluland or “Flat-Rock Land”.

Despite these early contacts with outsiders, much of Baffin Island remained beyond the reach of sustained external influence until the 20th century. Inuit communities continued to thrive here, their cultures and lifeways shaped by seasonal cycles, intricate knowledge of the land, sea, and ice, and a resilient spirit of adaptation.

Indigenous Cultures and Contemporary Life

Today, Inuit culture remains central to the identity of Baffin Island. The island falls within the Qikiqtaaluk Region of the Canadian territory of Nunavut, created in 1999 as part of a land claim agreement aimed at recognizing Inuit self-determination and cultural preservation.

The vast majority of the island’s approximately 11,000 residents are Inuit, with small populations living in scattered coastal settlements, including Iqaluit — the territorial capital — along with communities such as Pangnirtung, Arctic Bay, and Pond Inlet. These communities are centers of rich cultural expression, where traditional practices — from carving and printmaking to sewing and storytelling — continue to thrive alongside contemporary life.

Older generations maintain a deep connection to the land through hunting and fishing, drawing on ancestral knowledge to sustainably harvest caribou, seals, fish, and whales. Younger generations often navigate both the preservation of cultural heritage and integration into a modern, globalized world. Research indicates that climate change has significantly influenced traditional patterns of hunting and movement — for example, altering the distribution of animals like caribou and narwhal and impacting sea ice patterns that support hunting practices. This dynamic interplay of tradition and adaptation continues to define Inuit life on Baffin Island.

Biodiversity: Life in Extreme Conditions

Baffin Island’s ecosystems are home to remarkable arrays of wildlife uniquely adapted to the Arctic’s extremes. The island supports both resident species that endure the long Arctic winters and migratory visitors that arrive during the short summer months.

Terrestrial Species

Across tundra plains and rocky coastal edges, animals such as polar bears, barren-ground caribou, Arctic foxes, Arctic hares, and lemmings make their home. The caribou of Baffin Island undertake seasonal migrations between calving grounds, wintering sites, and summer foraging areas. Polar bears are most abundant along the sea ice where they hunt seals, their primary prey, but also roam inland in search of denning sites or food sources. Smaller mammals like Arctic foxes and hares have evolved specialized adaptations such as seasonal changes in fur colour and extraordinary resilience to cold.

Birds and Marine Life

Baffin Island plays a pivotal role in the life cycles of numerous bird species. Huge colonies of geese, including snow geese and brant, nest along coastal plains and river valleys during the Arctic summer. In addition, seabirds such as gulls, murres, and terns find nesting sites on cliffs and rocky outcrops, taking advantage of abundant marine resources. Marine mammals — including beluga whales, narwhal, seals, and walrus — thrive in the waters around the island, especially where nutrient-rich currents and seasonal openings in sea ice fuel plankton blooms and rich food webs.

Protection efforts such as the Dewey Soper Migratory Bird Sanctuary and the Bowman Bay Wildlife Sanctuary underscore the global importance of Baffin Island’s ecosystems, offering vital habitat for migratory birds and the conservation of Arctic biodiversity.

Protected Landscapes and National Parks

Recognizing the ecological and cultural importance of its Arctic landscapes, Canada has established several protected areas on Baffin Island. One of the most notable is Auyuittuq National Park, whose name in Inuktitut means “the land that never melts.” This park encompasses spectacular fjords, glaciers, and towering peaks, offering opportunities for scientific research, backcountry trekking, and a profound wilderness experience.

In the island’s northern reaches, Sirmilik National Park protects a rich array of marine and terrestrial habitats, including extensive seabird colonies and crucial habitats for marine mammals. These protected regions not only conserve biodiversity but also provide spaces where Inuit people maintain cultural connections to land and wildlife.

Economic Activities and Modern Challenges

Historically, Baffin Island’s isolation limited large-scale economic development. However, the island does hold natural resources, including deposits of iron, lead, zinc, and other minerals. The northern settlement of Nanisivik was once the site of one of the world’s northernmost mines, producing silver, lead, and zinc before its closure. Today, exploration for resources continues, and decisions about development increasingly involve considerations of environmental protection, Inuit land rights, and cultural preservation.

At the same time, climate change represents a profound challenge for Baffin Island’s ecosystems and human communities. The warming Arctic is altering patterns of sea ice, permafrost, and the distribution of plant and animal species. These changes affect traditional hunting routes, travel safety, and community infrastructure. Research and local observations alike underscore that climate change is not a distant threat but a present reality for those who call Baffin Island home.