East Bay (Nunavut)

Geography

The habitat consists of three main types, water, unvegetated land, and moist or wet vegetated tundra. This can be further broken down as dry heath, gravel ridge, intertidal zone, moss carpet, scrub willow, and sedge meadow. The elevation rises up to 122 m above sea level.

Climate

Southampton Island has a severe subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) which transitions into a tundra climate (ET). Like almost all of Nunavut, Southampton Island is entirely above the tree line. Coral Harbour has never gone above freezing in January, February and March (although the latter has recorded 0.0 C. Due to the frozen nature of Hudson Bay, there is a severe seasonal lag until June, especially compared to more continental areas such as Fairbanks despite much sunshine and perpetual twilight at night. Due to the drop of solar strength and the absence of warm water even in summer, temperatures still drop off very fast as September approaches. Cold extremes are severe, but in line with many areas even farther south in Canada's interior.

Fauna

Main article: Qaqsauqtuuq Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Located here is Qaqsauqtuuq Migratory Bird Sanctuary which is an Important Bird Area. It is designated as a migratory bird sanctuary, and Key Migratory Bird Terrestrial Habitat.

The bird sanctuary was established 1 January 1959, and consisting of 112,811 ha it is rated Category IV by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Of its 1124 km2 in overall size, 286 km2 is a marine area with marine, intertidal, and subtidal components.

Marine mammals

Marine mammals found in the bay include Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus), bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), narwhal (Monodon monoceros), polar bear (Ursus maritimus), ringed seal (Pusa hispida), walrus (Odobenus rosmarus).

• Listed as special concern by COSEWIC and no status by SARA

Notes

References

References

1. {{Cite cgndb. OAEUU. East Bay. (23 May 2024)
2. Pickavance, J.R.. (September 2006). "The Spiders of East Bay, Southampton Island, Nunavut, Canada". Arctic.
3. "East Bay/Native Bay". bsc-eoc.org.