Pangnirtung

Pangnirtung is a settlement on Baffin Island in Nunavut located on a coastal plain beside a fjord that opens into Cumberland Sound. The community sits south of the Arctic Circle and serves as a center for fish processing and maritime activities in this Arctic region.

The Hudson's Bay Company established a trading post in 1921, followed by a Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment in 1923, marking the community's formal establishment. These two foundations set the groundwork for its development as an important trading center in the Arctic region.

The name Pangniqtuuq comes from the Inuit language and means 'the place of many bull caribou,' showing the deep historical connection between the community and local wildlife. You can still see this relationship today in how people interact with the land and its animals.

The community is reached mainly by plane or ship, as there is no road connection to other settlements. Visitors should prepare for cold, windy weather and pack warm clothing, especially outside the warmer summer months.

The community is home to Nunavut's first small craft harbor, a distinctive infrastructure feature that underscores its maritime importance. This harbor facility was specifically designed to support local fishing and shipping activities in the Arctic region.

Location: Nunavut

Elevation above the sea: 23 m

GPS coordinates: 66.14780,-65.69940

Latest update: December 20, 2025 13:52