View source for Geography of Nunavut

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{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2013}}
[[File:nu-map.png|thumbnail|400px|Nunavut]]
The [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Canadian territory]] of [[Nunavut]] lies mainly in the [[North American Arctic]] and covers about {{cvt|1,994,071|km2}} ({{cvt|1,836,994|km2|disp=sqbr}} land<ref name=StatCan2021>{{cite web |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&SearchText=Yukon&GENDERlist=1,2,3&STATISTIClist=1,4&DGUIDlist=2021A000262,2021A000260&HEADERlist=0 |title=Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Profile table - Nunavut and Yukon |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |date=2024-08-02 |access-date=7 January 2025}}</ref> and {{cvt|157,077|km2|disp=sqbr}} water<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/geography-of-nunavut |title=Geography of Nunavut |publisher=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]] |access-date=6 January 2025}}</ref>) of land and water including part of the mainland, most of the islands in the [[Arctic Archipelago]], and all of the islands in [[Hudson Bay]], [[James Bay]], and [[Ungava Bay]] (including the [[Belcher Islands]] and [[Akimiski Island]]) which belonged to the [[Northwest Territories]] before Nunavut was split from them on 1 April 1999. 

This makes it the [[List of first-level administrative divisions by area|fifth largest country subdivision]] in the world. If Nunavut were a country, it would [[List of countries and dependencies by area|rank 13th in area]], after Saudi Arabia. Nunavut has land borders with [[Manitoba]], the [[Northwest Territories]] on several islands as well as the mainland, and a tiny land border with [[Newfoundland and Labrador]] on [[Killiniq Island]].

Additionally, Nunavut has a land border with [[Greenland]] on [[Hans Island]], making it the only Canadian jurisdiction to have a land border with a country other than the United States.

==Physical geography==
The mountains on the easternmost coasts of Nunavut are part of the [[Arctic Cordillera]] which stretches from northernmost [[Ellesmere Island]] to the northernmost tip of [[Labrador]].

The highest point is [[Barbeau Peak]] which offers some of the world's most spectacular scenery.

Geologically, Nunavut lies on the [[Canadian Shield]], with very thin soil lying on top of the bedrock, and many bare outcrops. The multitude of rivers and lakes in the entire region is caused by the watersheds of the area being so young and in a state of sorting themselves out with the added effect of post-glacial rebound. Virtually all of [[List of rivers of Nunavut|Nunavut's rivers]] drain into the [[Arctic Ocean]] or [[Hudson Bay]], an [[inland sea]] of the Arctic Ocean.

[[Canadian Arctic tundra|Arctic tundra]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''ET'') covers virtually all of Nunavut, the only exceptions being the area roughly between the [[Four corners (Canada)|Four Corners]] and [[Ennadai Lake|Ennadai]] and [[Nueltin Lake|Nueltin]] lakes, where a marginal [[taiga]] or [[Boreal forest of Canada|boreal forest]] exists, and small zones of permanent [[ice cap]]s, found on some of the larger [[Arctic]] islands (especially [[Baffin Island|Baffin]], [[Devon Island|Devon]] and [[Ellesmere Island|Ellesmere]]) at sites having a relatively high elevation. [[Arctic vegetation|Nunavut's vegetation]] is partially composed of rare berries, [[lichen]]s, [[Salix arctica|Arctic willows]], [[moss]]es, tough grass, [[Subshrub|dwarf shrubs]], [[graminoid]]s, and [[herb]]s.

==Climate and climate data==
[[File:Nunavut Köppen.svg|thumb|300px|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen climate types]] in Nunavut]]
Nunavut experiences a [[polar climate]] in most regions, owing to its high latitude and lower continental summertime influence than areas to the west. In more southerly continental areas, very cold [[subarctic climate]]s can be found, due to July being slightly milder than the required {{convert|10|C}}.

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for selected locations in Nunavut
|-
!City
! colspan="2"|July (°C)
! colspan="2"|July (°F)
! colspan="2"|January (°C)
! colspan="2"|January (°F)
|-
!
! High
! Low
! High
! Low
! High
! Low
! High
! Low
|-
| [[Alert, Nunavut|Alert]]<ref name="ccnalert"/> || align="right"| 7 || align="right"| 1 || align="right"| {{cvt|6.8|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| {{cvt|1.0|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| −27 || align="right"| −34 || align="right"| {{cvt|-27.0|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| {{cvt|-34.4|C|0|disp=number}}
|-
| [[Baker Lake, Nunavut|Baker Lake]]<ref name=ECCCYBK/> || align="right"| 18 || align="right"| 7 || align="right"| {{cvt|17.5|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| {{cvt|6.7|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| −27 || align="right"| −34 || align="right"| {{cvt|-27.0|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| {{cvt|-34.0|C|0|disp=number}}
|-
| [[Cambridge Bay]]<ref name="normals9120"/> || align="right"| 13 || align="right"| 5 || align="right"| {{cvt|13.3|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| {{cvt|5.4|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| −28 || align="right"| −35 || align="right"| {{cvt|-27.7|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| {{cvt|-34.6|C|0|disp=number}}
|-
| [[Eureka, Nunavut|Eureka]]<ref name="Eureka A"/> || align="right"| 10 || align="right"| 4 || align="right"| {{cvt|10.1|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| {{cvt|3.5|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| −32 || align="right"| −40 || align="right"| {{cvt|-32.3|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| {{cvt|-39.5|C|0|disp=number}}
|-
| [[Iqaluit]]<ref name="ccnYFB" /> || align="right"| 12 || align="right"| 4 || align="right"| {{cvt|12.0|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| {{cvt|4.2|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| −22 || align="right"| −30 || align="right"| {{cvt|-22.0|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| {{cvt|-29.9|C|0|disp=number}}
|-
| [[Kugluktuk]]<ref name="ccnYCO"/> || align="right"| 16 || align="right"| 7 || align="right"| {{cvt|15.8|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| {{cvt|6.5|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| −23 || align="right"| −31 || align="right"| {{cvt|-22.5|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| {{cvt|-30.7|C|0|disp=number}}
|-
| [[Rankin Inlet]]<ref name="ccnYRT"/> || align="right"| 15 || align="right"| 7 || align="right"| {{cvt|15.2|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| {{cvt|6.6|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| −27 || align="right"| −34 || align="right"| {{cvt|-26.6|C|0|disp=number}} || align="right"| {{cvt|-33.6|C|0|disp=number}}
|}

{{Alert, Nunavut weatherbox}}
{{Baker Lake, Nunavut weatherbox}}
{{Cambridge Bay weatherbox}}
{{Eureka, Nunavut weatherbox}}
{{Iqaluit weatherbox}}
{{Kugluktuk weatherbox}}
{{Rankin Inlet weatherbox}}

===Notes===
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==Demographics==
{{see also|List of communities in Nunavut|List of regions of Nunavut|Demographics of Nunavut}}

{{As of|alt=As of the [[2021 Canadian census]]|2021}}, Nunavut had a population of 36,858.<ref name=StatCan2021/> Of this 30,865 people identified as [[Inuit]] (84.3% of the total population), 180 as [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] (0.5%), 120 as [[Métis]] (0.3%), 230 with multiple or other [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]] responses (0.6%), and 5,210 as non-Indigenous (14.2%).<ref name=StatCan2021/> Nunavut's small and sparse population makes it unlikely the territory will be granted provincial status in the foreseeable future, although this may change if the [[Yukon]], which is only marginally more populous,<ref name=StatCan2021/> becomes a province.

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="width:310px;"
|+ Most populous communities
!|Municipality
!|2021
!|2016
!|2011<br />
! style=min-width:5em |Change<br />2011–2021
!{{Abbr|Refs.|References}}
|-
! scope="row" |[[Iqaluit]]
|7,429
|7,740
|6,699
| style="text-align: right" | 10.9%
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-02-09 |title=Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Iqaluit, City (CY) [Census subdivision], Nunavut |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209134619/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |[[Rankin Inlet]]
|2,975
|2,842
|2,557
| style="text-align: right" | 16.2%
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-02-09 |title=Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Rankin Inlet, Hamlet (HAM) [Census subdivision], Nunavut |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209134619/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |[[Arviat]]
|2,864
|2,657
|2,060
| style="text-align: right" | 39.0%
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-02-09 |title=Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Arviat, Hamlet (HAM) [Census subdivision], Nunavut |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209134619/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |[[Baker Lake, Nunavut|Baker Lake]]
|2,061
|2,069
|1,728
| style="text-align: right" | 19.3%
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-02-09 |title=Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Baker Lake, Hamlet (HAM) [Census subdivision], Nunavut |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209134619/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |[[Igloolik]]
|2,049
|1,744
|1,538
| style="text-align: right" | 33.2%
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-02-09 |title=Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Igloolik, Hamlet (HAM) [Census subdivision], Nunavut |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209134619/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |[[Cambridge Bay|Cambridge]]{{Nbsp}}[[Cambridge Bay|Bay]]
|1,760
|1,766
|1,452
| style="text-align: right" | 21.2%
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-02-09 |title=Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Cambridge Bay, Hamlet (HAM) [Census subdivision], Nunavut |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209134619/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |[[Pond Inlet]]
|1,555
|1,617
|1,315
| style="text-align: right" | 18.3%
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-02-09 |title=Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Pond Inlet, Hamlet (HAM) [Census subdivision], Nunavut |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209134619/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |[[Pangnirtung]]
|1,504
|1,481
|1,325
| style="text-align: right" | 13.5%
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-02-09 |title=Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Pangnirtung, Hamlet (HAM) [Census subdivision], Nunavut |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209134619/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |[[Kinngait]]
|1,396
|1,441
|1,363
| style="text-align: right" | 2.4%
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-02-09 |title=Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Cape Dorset, Hamlet (HAM) [Census subdivision], Nunavut |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209134619/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |[[Kugluktuk]]
|1,382
|1,491
|1,302
| style="text-align: right" | 6.1%
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-02-09 |title=Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Kugluktuk, Hamlet (HAM) [Census subdivision], Nunavut |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209134619/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}
==Gallery==
<gallery widths="170" heights="170">
File:Axel Heiberg Island 07.jpg|A glacier on southern<br/>[[Axel Heiberg Island]]
File:Wildflowers in Grise Fiord, Nunavut (2008) -1.jpg|Flora near [[Grise Fiord]]
File:Beechey Island Nunavut Canada.jpg|[[Beechey Island]] harbour
File:Kugluk-Bloody Falls Terriorial Park.jpg|Rapids above [[Bloody Falls]], [[Kugluk/Bloody Falls Territorial Park|Kugluk Territorial Park]]
File:Entering Katannilik Territorial Park.jpg|[[Katannilik Territorial Park Reserve]]
File:Travelling from west to east through Bellot Strait (western end) on MS Ocean Endeavour, September 2019 04.jpg|[[Bellot Strait]], that separates [[Somerset Island (Nunavut)|Somerset Island]] from<br/>[[Boothia Peninsula]]
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Geology of Nunavut]]
* [[List of lakes of Nunavut]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Nunavut}}
{{Canada Geography}}

{{coord|60|N|102|W|source:enwiki-plaintext-parser|display=title}}

[[Category:Geography of Nunavut| ]]