Arctic Lands
Geography
The Arctic Lands is located at the most northern part of Canada. The coordinates are 90 degree West to 65 degrees West near Quebec. It also ranges from Hudson Bay (60 degrees North) past the Arctic Circle and up to 75 degrees North.
The Arctic Islands were formed by melting ice in the Arctic region creating smaller islands ice sheets, which have drifted closer together to create Canada's Arctic.
The Arctic Lands is located at the most northern part of Canada. The coordinates are 90 degree West to 65 degrees West near Quebec. It also ranges from Hudson Bay (60 degrees North) past the Arctic Circle and up to 75 degrees North.
The Arctic Islands were formed by melting ice in the Arctic region creating smaller islands ice sheets, which have drifted closer together to create Canada's Arctic.
Climate
The average temperature can be −20°C in the north to −6°C in southern Baffin Islands and can have insanely low temperatures of −50°C. Yearly precipitation is 400 mm on southern Baffin Island to less than 100 mm on central Ellesmere Island. Also the polar desert, (Queen Elizabeth Islands) get less than 150 mm a year.
The average temperature can be −20°C in the north to −6°C in southern Baffin Islands and can have insanely low temperatures of −50°C. Yearly precipitation is 400 mm on southern Baffin Island to less than 100 mm on central Ellesmere Island. Also the polar desert, (Queen Elizabeth Islands) get less than 150 mm a year.
![Picture](/uploads/8/1/3/6/81361318/1040135.gif?1464796749)
Baffin Island Climate Graph
![Picture](/uploads/8/1/3/6/81361318/480548.png?1464797110)
Arviat Climate Graph
![Picture](/uploads/8/1/3/6/81361318/3588755.gif?1464797222)
Iqaluit Climate Graph
![Picture](/uploads/8/1/3/6/81361318/8963936.jpg?250)
Soil Profile.
The Arctic's soil is covered in permafrost due to the cold climate. Most of it is above the treeline, the climate is harsh, and the waterways are frozen almost all the time. The winters are dark cold and long.
Causal Climate Factors and Impact of Climate Change.
Climate change will affect this region immensely, such as global warming and the rising temperatures. The rising temperatures already is starting to melt the ice in this region and the yearly temperatures are supposed to be 4-7 degrees and a possible 12 degrees in the winter. The rising temperatures could also increase the amount of rain etc. All of this could force people to move out, animals like the polar bears to die, and the Arctic to possibly completely melt.
Flora and Fauna of the Region
The flora of this region is very limited when comparing it to diversity of flora in B.C etc. The tundra plants there are forbs and sedges, grasses, dwarf shrubs, mosses, and lichens. There are about 100 liverwort species, 550-600 lichen species, 270 vascular plant species, little vegetation in lakes except algae and 325 moss species in the Arctic islands.
The fauna of the region is limited when compared to other places. Mostly in small numbers and restricted to certain areas,there are only around 20 species of land mammals. Some of these mammals are the peary caribou, muskox , arctic wolf and fox, and lemming and Arctic hare. There are 60 different species of birds present in this region as well, and only 6 stay during the winter there. This region is also home to polar bears, the walrus, seal, whale (narwhal, beluga) and 700 different species of insects.
These plants and animals adapt to the region in multiple ways. Some land mammals have a very thick coat of fur to keep them warm, others stay or go during the harsh winter. The animals living in the sea have a very thick layer of fat under there skin (blubber). The fish that live there survive by producing a sort of "anti-freeze" protein that keeps there blood from being as cold as ice. The plants have a very short growing season, and only the plants with shallow root systems are able to grow. Most tundra plants are perennials, which helps there long life, and they also create small micro-climates where the temperature is higher than the surrounding air.
Human Geography
The Arctic islands largest cities are Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, and Cambridge Bay. Iqaluit is the largest and the capital city of the Arctic islands (Nunavut) and has the population of 6,699. Rankin Inlet has the population of 2,577, and Cambridge bay has 1,477.
The population density of the Arctic islands (Nunavut) as of 2011 is 0.02/km2 (0.052/sq mi), and The population in total is 31,906. Also it has 1.9 million square kilometres ( 733,594 sq. miles) of land and water.
The Arctic islands have been occupied by the Inuit for most of the past 4,000 years and still are today. The people in the Arctic have a very harsh cold life, they have to build shelter and find their own food. The can ice fish on the frozen lakes etc, hunt for the small things that exist such as peary caribou, muskox , Arctic hare, etc. The people their could spend a lot of money on wood since there is none to be cut for housing or firewood there. The people trapped, hunted, and fished for their survival. Early contact was based on fir trade and on sealing and whaling etc.
Economy of the Region
Some of the current industries the Arctic islands (Nunavut) are whaling (which is Nunavuts biggest), fishing, mining, fur trading, and hunting. These all bring the most profit and economy to the Arctic Islands. Some of the past industries were in 1970's/80's artificial islands were created by oil companies on Beaufort Sea so drilling platforms could be constructed to drill for oil. Another was the discovery of gold, copper, radium, silver, zinc deposits, and Kimberlite. The Ekati mine was created in 1998 and cost $800 million and employed 800 people. This mine which was mining Kimberlite was supposed to produce 4 million carats of diamonds a year for 17 years.
Environmental Concerns
One major environmental problem is Iqaluit's landfill problems. There are multiple landfills there that have a 3 week old fire that are still burning. This fire which was burning construction debris, has produced toxic smoke that ended up drifting into the capital city forcing Nunavut government offices and schools to close for about a week. The solution to this could cost more than the government has to spend on all of its other needs. It could cost $600 million, which is way over budget. This could ruin the lakes, ocean, soil etc. The confusion is if they should spend all that money and borrow money to fix it or to just leave it be. I personally think they should put at least some money into it to help the environment and not pollute or ruin anything. I think that would be the right decision.
Comparison to another location outside of Canada
I am comparing the Canadian Arctic Islands to Alaska in the US. The people and natives in Alaska are fairly similar to the people and natives in the Canadian Arctic Islands. It gets very cold at times and the winters are long and dark. But there is a big city in Alaska called Anchorage, which would make finding food and shopping and all the necessary living needs easier to get. Anchorage has a population of 300,950, and Nunavut (Arctic Islands) of about 31,906. So Alaska is definitely more popular and an easier way of life when comparing the two.
Alaska has a GDP of $49,120,000,000. The major economic activities in Alaska include seafood, mostly salmon, Pollock, crab, and cod. Oil and natural gas were another way for money but agriculture is another. The agriculture includes nursery stock, dairy products, vegetables, and live stock. Most employment is in government or shipping, transportation, natural resource extraction. One last thing for economic activities is some of the industrial locations mining, goal, very good metals, gold, zinc, and also timber and wood products are apart of the economy as well.
The Arctic's soil is covered in permafrost due to the cold climate. Most of it is above the treeline, the climate is harsh, and the waterways are frozen almost all the time. The winters are dark cold and long.
Causal Climate Factors and Impact of Climate Change.
Climate change will affect this region immensely, such as global warming and the rising temperatures. The rising temperatures already is starting to melt the ice in this region and the yearly temperatures are supposed to be 4-7 degrees and a possible 12 degrees in the winter. The rising temperatures could also increase the amount of rain etc. All of this could force people to move out, animals like the polar bears to die, and the Arctic to possibly completely melt.
Flora and Fauna of the Region
The flora of this region is very limited when comparing it to diversity of flora in B.C etc. The tundra plants there are forbs and sedges, grasses, dwarf shrubs, mosses, and lichens. There are about 100 liverwort species, 550-600 lichen species, 270 vascular plant species, little vegetation in lakes except algae and 325 moss species in the Arctic islands.
The fauna of the region is limited when compared to other places. Mostly in small numbers and restricted to certain areas,there are only around 20 species of land mammals. Some of these mammals are the peary caribou, muskox , arctic wolf and fox, and lemming and Arctic hare. There are 60 different species of birds present in this region as well, and only 6 stay during the winter there. This region is also home to polar bears, the walrus, seal, whale (narwhal, beluga) and 700 different species of insects.
These plants and animals adapt to the region in multiple ways. Some land mammals have a very thick coat of fur to keep them warm, others stay or go during the harsh winter. The animals living in the sea have a very thick layer of fat under there skin (blubber). The fish that live there survive by producing a sort of "anti-freeze" protein that keeps there blood from being as cold as ice. The plants have a very short growing season, and only the plants with shallow root systems are able to grow. Most tundra plants are perennials, which helps there long life, and they also create small micro-climates where the temperature is higher than the surrounding air.
Human Geography
The Arctic islands largest cities are Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, and Cambridge Bay. Iqaluit is the largest and the capital city of the Arctic islands (Nunavut) and has the population of 6,699. Rankin Inlet has the population of 2,577, and Cambridge bay has 1,477.
The population density of the Arctic islands (Nunavut) as of 2011 is 0.02/km2 (0.052/sq mi), and The population in total is 31,906. Also it has 1.9 million square kilometres ( 733,594 sq. miles) of land and water.
The Arctic islands have been occupied by the Inuit for most of the past 4,000 years and still are today. The people in the Arctic have a very harsh cold life, they have to build shelter and find their own food. The can ice fish on the frozen lakes etc, hunt for the small things that exist such as peary caribou, muskox , Arctic hare, etc. The people their could spend a lot of money on wood since there is none to be cut for housing or firewood there. The people trapped, hunted, and fished for their survival. Early contact was based on fir trade and on sealing and whaling etc.
Economy of the Region
Some of the current industries the Arctic islands (Nunavut) are whaling (which is Nunavuts biggest), fishing, mining, fur trading, and hunting. These all bring the most profit and economy to the Arctic Islands. Some of the past industries were in 1970's/80's artificial islands were created by oil companies on Beaufort Sea so drilling platforms could be constructed to drill for oil. Another was the discovery of gold, copper, radium, silver, zinc deposits, and Kimberlite. The Ekati mine was created in 1998 and cost $800 million and employed 800 people. This mine which was mining Kimberlite was supposed to produce 4 million carats of diamonds a year for 17 years.
Environmental Concerns
One major environmental problem is Iqaluit's landfill problems. There are multiple landfills there that have a 3 week old fire that are still burning. This fire which was burning construction debris, has produced toxic smoke that ended up drifting into the capital city forcing Nunavut government offices and schools to close for about a week. The solution to this could cost more than the government has to spend on all of its other needs. It could cost $600 million, which is way over budget. This could ruin the lakes, ocean, soil etc. The confusion is if they should spend all that money and borrow money to fix it or to just leave it be. I personally think they should put at least some money into it to help the environment and not pollute or ruin anything. I think that would be the right decision.
Comparison to another location outside of Canada
I am comparing the Canadian Arctic Islands to Alaska in the US. The people and natives in Alaska are fairly similar to the people and natives in the Canadian Arctic Islands. It gets very cold at times and the winters are long and dark. But there is a big city in Alaska called Anchorage, which would make finding food and shopping and all the necessary living needs easier to get. Anchorage has a population of 300,950, and Nunavut (Arctic Islands) of about 31,906. So Alaska is definitely more popular and an easier way of life when comparing the two.
Alaska has a GDP of $49,120,000,000. The major economic activities in Alaska include seafood, mostly salmon, Pollock, crab, and cod. Oil and natural gas were another way for money but agriculture is another. The agriculture includes nursery stock, dairy products, vegetables, and live stock. Most employment is in government or shipping, transportation, natural resource extraction. One last thing for economic activities is some of the industrial locations mining, goal, very good metals, gold, zinc, and also timber and wood products are apart of the economy as well.
References
https://www.google.ca/search?q=Arctic+Archipelago&espv=2&biw=1440&bih=784&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiJ7K7QnorNAhUH5YMKHezRDHIQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=La0rnJ2hcmLo8M%3A
https://www.google.ca/search?q=baffin+island+climate+graph&biw=1440&bih=784&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjpq-_0nYrNAhUj5IMKHel5CB8Q_AUIBygB#imgrc=FWuNFfZZlRn6PM%3A
https://www.google.ca/search?q=Arviat+climate+graph&biw=1440&bih=738&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiXv8WAmofNAhUBXWMKHdknBhAQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=VzNEpRgDz_PFZM%3A
https://www.google.ca/search?q=iqaluit+climate+graphs&espv=2&biw=1440&bih=738&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjF0ovcmofNAhVgVWMKHcWoDUUQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=KQ1WMkvVbBBZ-M%3A
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/arctic-archipelago/
http://www.aitc.sk.ca/saskschools/arctic/Aintro.html
http://nature.ca/aaflora/data/aaintro/caaintr2.htm
http://www.arctic-guide.net/arctic-towns.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nunavut-to-study-landfill-problems-1.870272
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Alaska
http://alaska.gov/
http://www.infoplease.com/us-states/alaska.html
http://www.history.com/topics/us-states/alaska
https://www.google.ca/search?q=Arctic+Archipelago&espv=2&biw=1440&bih=784&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiJ7K7QnorNAhUH5YMKHezRDHIQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=La0rnJ2hcmLo8M%3A
https://www.google.ca/search?q=baffin+island+climate+graph&biw=1440&bih=784&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjpq-_0nYrNAhUj5IMKHel5CB8Q_AUIBygB#imgrc=FWuNFfZZlRn6PM%3A
https://www.google.ca/search?q=Arviat+climate+graph&biw=1440&bih=738&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiXv8WAmofNAhUBXWMKHdknBhAQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=VzNEpRgDz_PFZM%3A
https://www.google.ca/search?q=iqaluit+climate+graphs&espv=2&biw=1440&bih=738&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjF0ovcmofNAhVgVWMKHcWoDUUQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=KQ1WMkvVbBBZ-M%3A
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/arctic-archipelago/
http://www.aitc.sk.ca/saskschools/arctic/Aintro.html
http://nature.ca/aaflora/data/aaintro/caaintr2.htm
http://www.arctic-guide.net/arctic-towns.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nunavut-to-study-landfill-problems-1.870272
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Alaska
http://alaska.gov/
http://www.infoplease.com/us-states/alaska.html
http://www.history.com/topics/us-states/alaska