Keywords Islands

Description The southeast coast is marked by dramatic cliffs of yellow, white and red quartzites. The low west coast is characterized by long, sandy offshore bars, rising at the southwest tip to the spectacular Nelson Head cliffs (425 m) of Precambrian rock almost 2 billion years old - 325 million years older than any other part of the island. Limestone cliffs rise at Cape M'Clure and Cape Crozier on the north coast.

Along the east coast the land slopes up from the beach into mud, sand and gravel cliffs. The highest point is Durham Heights (almost 730 m). The central portion is a level plain, cut by valleys of the larger rivers (Big, Bernard and Thomsen) that rise near the south east side. The Thomsen is Canada's most northerly navigable river by canoe. It is the centrepiece of AULAVIK NATIONAL PARK. Seams of hard, impure coal underlie the northeast plateau, and softer coal has been found around Mercy Bay. On the east side, which was glaciated, lakes are numerous and glacial till covers the hills.

There is a large arctic fox population, as well as caribou, polar bears, wolves, muskoxen, arctic hare, lemmings, wolverines, seal and occasionally grizzly bears. White and bowhead whales are common offshore. Numerous species of birds are found, including black brants, eiders, tundra swans, snowy owls, rough-legged hawks and ravens. Arctic char have been taken at the mouths of the Sachs, De Salis and Thomsen rivers; whitefish and trout at the Thomsen. The only biting insect is the mosquito.

History Banks Island was first sighted by Lieutenant Frederick BEECHEY, a member of the Sir William PARRY expedition (August 1820), and named for Sir Joseph Banks, president of the Royal Society in Britain. Robert MCCLURE landed on the south coast in 1850. Vilhjalmur STEFANSSON reached the island across the ice of the Beaufort Sea and established a base near Cape Kellet.

The island was inhabited by Inuit at least 500 years ago, but except for an air base at SACHS HARBOUR, it is now uninhabited except for trappers.

Islands of Canada, Map

Author JAMES MARSH

Links to Other Sites
Aulavik National Park of Canada
This illustrated Parks Canada website describes the ecology, geography, and history of Aulayik National Park of Canada

Arctic Mission
The website for Arctic Mission, a scientific voyage through the Arctic’s fabled North-West Passage. Features interactive maps, videos, photos and written observations about the landscape, climate, and wildlife that inhabit this region. From the National Film Board.