Baffin Island, Arctic island in Nunavut, Canada
This large Arctic island stretches 1500 kilometers (930 miles) from north to south and is cut by deep fjords and glaciers that reach inland from the coast. Mountains rise to 2147 meters (7044 feet) along the eastern edge, while the western shores slope more gently toward the water.
People from the prehistoric Pre-Dorset culture lived on the island around 2000 BCE, hunting marine animals along the coasts. Later groups from the Dorset and Thule cultures arrived, and their descendants are the Inuit living here today.
Inuit communities maintain their connection to the island through hunting seal, caribou, and narwhal, which provide food and materials for clothing and tools. Many families still use dog sleds and boats made from animal hides to travel across the wilderness and pass down skills that go back thousands of years.
Iqaluit on Frobisher Bay serves as the capital of Nunavut and the main entry point for flights to other settlements across the island. Visitors should prepare for cold weather and know that most travel between communities happens by air, as no roads connect them.
The Mary River mine in the northern part holds iron ore with a 67 percent iron content, among the highest concentrations found anywhere in the world. This nearly pure ore requires very little processing before it can be shipped out.
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