Richards Island

Richards Island is a large island in the Mackenzie River delta in the Northwest Territories of Canada. It is part of Canada’s Arctic river-delta landscape and is predominantly tundra and wetland.

The island is valued for its remote Arctic environment and wildlife habitat rather than developed attractions; naturalists and some guided wildlife tours visit for birdlife and the wide riverine landscapes. There are extensive wetlands and channels typical of the Mackenzie delta that support seasonal birds and other Arctic species.

The island has long been within the traditional territory of Indigenous peoples of the Mackenzie delta and was later charted during exploration of the Arctic waterways; it has not been the site of permanent large-scale settlement. Use has been mainly seasonal and related to subsistence activities and river transport.

Located in the outer Mackenzie River delta near the Beaufort Sea coast, Richards Island sits in the far northwestern part of the Northwest Territories; the nearest regional communities are on the delta and mainland shores to the east and southeast.

• Access note: Remote and sparsely inhabited, best accessed with careful planning and local guidance during the short Arctic summer season.