Qikiqtaaluk

Qikiqtaaluk is the Inuit name for the eastern administrative and geographic region of Nunavut in northern Canada, covering Baffin Island and many surrounding Arctic islands. The region includes major high-Arctic islands and long stretches of Arctic coastline.

The area contains varied Arctic environments from coastal lowlands and tidal flats to deep fjords and glaciated highlands, and supports Inuit communities with regional administrative centres. Maritime routes and air transport provide the principal connections between settlements.

Historically and today the region is home to Inuit communities and traditional land uses; it also contains federally administered protected areas and sites of geological and biological interest. The modern administrative framework places the regional capital and services within the community of Iqaluit.

Geographically the region occupies the eastern part of Nunavut in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, stretching from Baffin Island northwards into the high Arctic and bordering the Labrador Sea, Baffin Bay and the Arctic Ocean.

• Remoteness and transport: The region encompasses huge islands and a long Arctic coastline, with sea-ice dominated waters and little road connectivity between communities.

What to See#

• Baffin Island: Baffin Island is the largest island in the Canadian Arctic and forms the bulk of the region’s landmass; it contains fjords, deep inlets and major inland ice features.
• Ellesmere Island: Ellesmere Island lies at the northern edge of the region and contains some of the highest Arctic peaks and extensive glaciation.
• Iqaluit: Iqaluit is the largest community and administrative centre for the region, serving as the location of the territorial government offices and regional services.

Access requires an Antarctic expedition or research program. Logistics are coordinated through national Antarctic programs and depend on weather windows, ice conditions and ship or aircraft availability.