Baffin Island

Baffin Island is Canada’s largest island, located in the territory of Nunavut in the high Arctic and noted for its extensive fjords, glaciers and Arctic ecosystems. The island is sparsely populated, with the territorial capital, Iqaluit, as its main settlement and administrative centre.

Key attractions include dramatic ice-scoured mountain scenery, deep fjords and protected areas such as Auyuittuq National Park that draw experienced hikers, mountaineers and Inuit cultural tourism. Wildlife viewing for species adapted to Arctic conditions and opportunities for polar photography are important visitor draws.

The island’s geological and glacial landscapes have been inhabited and used by Inuit peoples for millennia and continue to support traditional activities alongside modern administration and tourism. Contemporary infrastructure is limited outside the main settlements and travel usually requires air or sea transport with specialist guides for interior journeys.

Baffin Island lies off the northeastern coast of mainland Canada within the Canadian Arctic Archipelago; its nearest regional centre is Iqaluit on the island’s southeastern coast.

• Size: Covers roughly 507,451 square kilometres, making it the largest island in Canada and the fifth-largest island in the world.
• Access: Access is typically by air to Iqaluit or by seasonal coastal vessels; much of the island is remote tundra and polar terrain requiring specialist equipment and planning.

What to See #

• Iqaluit: The territorial capital and largest community on the island, serving as the administrative and transport hub for Nunavut with ferry and air links.
• Auyuittuq National Park: A protected area of rugged fjords, granite peaks and polar icefields offering multi-day trekking and mountaineering; the park contains extensive glacial scenery on the island's east coast.
• Baffin Mountains: A northern mountain chain of Precambrian rock with steep fjords and icefields that dominate the island's interior and western coastline.