East Bay (Nunavut)

The habitat consists of three main types, water, unvegetated land, and moist or wet vegetated tundra.{{sfn|ECCC|2020|p=11}} This can be further broken down as dry heath, gravel ridge, intertidal zone, moss carpet, scrub willow, and sedge meadow.{{cite journal|last=Pickavance|first=J.R. |date=September 2006|title=The Spiders of East Bay, Southampton Island, Nunavut, Canada|journal=Arctic|volume=59|issue=3 |page=278|url=https://research.library.mun.ca/432/ |doi=10.14430/arctic313}} The elevation rises up to {{cvt|122|m}} above sea level.{{sfn|ECCC|2020|p=2}}

File:SouthamptonIslandCloseup.png]]

Southampton Island has a severe subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) which transitions into a tundra climate (ET). Like almost all of Nunavut, Southampton Island is entirely above the tree line. Coral Harbour has never gone above freezing in January, February and March (although the latter has recorded {{convert|0.0|C}}. Due to the frozen nature of Hudson Bay, there is a severe seasonal lag until June, especially compared to more continental areas such as Fairbanks despite much sunshine and perpetual twilight at night. Due to the drop of solar strength and the absence of warm water even in summer, temperatures still drop off very fast as September approaches. Cold extremes are severe, but in line with many areas even farther south in Canada's interior.

{{Coral Harbour weatherbox}}

{{Main|East Bay Migratory Bird Sanctuary}}

Located here is East Bay Migratory Bird Sanctuary which is an Important Bird Area. It is designated as a migratory bird sanctuary, and Key Migratory Bird Terrestrial Habitat.{{cite web|url=http://www.bsc-eoc.org/iba/site.jsp?siteID=NU023 |title=East Bay/Native Bay |publisher=bsc-eoc.org |accessdate=2009-05-05 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612102834/http://www.bsc-eoc.org/iba/site.jsp?siteID=NU023 |archivedate=2011-06-12 }}

The bird sanctuary was established 1 January 1959, and consisting of {{cvt|112,811|ha|km2 mi2}}{{sfn|ECCC|2024}} it is rated Category IV by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Of its {{cvt|1124|km2}} in overall size, {{cvt|286|km2}} is a marine area with marine, intertidal, and subtidal components.{{sfn|ECCC|2020|p=Table 1: Qaqsauqtuuq Migratory Bird Sanctuary Summary Information}}

Marine mammals found in the bay include Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus{{ref|Scb|Scb}}), bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas{{ref|Scb|Scb}}), bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus{{ref|Scb|Scb}}), harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), narwhal (Monodon monoceros{{ref|Scb|Scb}}), polar bear (Ursus maritimus), ringed seal (Pusa hispida{{ref|Scb|Scb}}), walrus (Odobenus rosmarus).{{sfn|ECCC|2020|p=17}}

• {{note|Scb|Scb}}Listed as special concern by COSEWIC and no status by SARA{{sfn|ECCC|2020|pp=18, 19}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite report|url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2021/eccc/CW66-689-2020-eng.pdf |title=Qaqsauqtuuq Migratory Bird Sanctuary Management Plan|publisher=Environment and Climate Change Canada|date=2020|access-date=23 May 2024| ref = {{harvid|ECCC|2020}}}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-bird-sanctuaries/locations/east-bay.html |title=East Bay (Qaqsauqtuuq) Migratory Bird Sanctuary|date=3 April 2024|access-date=23 May 2024|publisher=Environment and Climate Change Canada|ref={{harvid|ECCC|2024}}}}

{{Bays of Nunavut}}

Category:Bays of Kivalliq Region