Belcher Islands, Archipelago in southeastern Hudson Bay, Canada
The Belcher Islands are an archipelago comprising around 1,500 individual islands scattered across Hudson Bay. The inhabited settlement of Sanikiluaq sits on one of these islands and serves as the main hub for the region.
Henry Hudson first spotted these islands in 1610 during his voyages. Systematic mapping and study came later, in the early 1900s, when scientific expeditions arrived to investigate the region.
The Inuit community practices hunting and fishing as part of daily life here. Visitors may notice soapstone carving as a valued craft, with artisans sourcing material from local quarries.
Access is mainly by plane through an airstrip near Sanikiluaq, which is the only regular way to reach the area. Visitors should prepare for harsh Arctic conditions and limited facilities.
Beneath and within the islands lie rock layers from the early Proterozoic era containing microfossils over 2 billion years old. These geological formations are among the oldest preserved records of ancient life on Earth.
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