The largest of the Queen Elizabeth Islands in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Ellesmere is a unique island with miniature forests of lichens and heather, outstanding vistas of massive glaciers and splendor on a grand scale. From skiing on a vast array of untouched, pristine snow fields to exploring diverse wilderness to hiking on 125,000 year-old ice fields, the island offers unforgettable experience you will not soon forget. So, if you fancy a trip of a lifetime that few people can say they have undertaken, put the awe-inspiring Ellesmere Island Nunavut Canada on top of your agenda.
The island is remarkable for many reasons. Lying some 800 kilometers from the North Pole and 25 kilometers from Greenland, Ellesmere Island is situated in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of the Canadian territory of Nunavut (with Barbeau Peak, its highest point reaching an elevation of 8,583 feet (2,616 meters)) and is considered the tenth largest island on Earth covering a total area of 196,236 square kilometers. The Arctic Cordillera mountain system covers much of Ellesmere Island, making it the most rugged island in the archipelago.
More than one-fifth of the island has been turned into a national park and has much to offer the visitors, magnificent glaciers, seven deeply incised fjords and a majestic lake – Lake Hazen, which is the largest north of the Arctic Circle. Large portions of the island are ice or snow covered, however in snow-free areas you can see herds of musk oxen, polar bears, add to this the Arctic Hare and such birds as Artic Tern. The island is extremely mountainous; barely inhabited and has the most northerly settlement on earth.
Since 1950s the island has been the site of many glaciological, geological and geographical expeditions. Trips here usually entail camping and extensive hiking. Europeans were the first to explore the area. The population is concentrated in three small settlements and is no more than 200 inhabitants.
Ellesmere Island is also perfect for kayaking enthusiasts who come to explore one of the world’s most untouched wilderness areas and one of the most remote places in the world. The base for hikers and other tours is Resolute Bay, which also offers access to the North Pole. Head and enjoy!
