Arctic Bay, Nunavut

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Hamlet of Arctic Bay. Photo June 2006.

Arctic Bay (Inuktitut syllabics: ᐃᒃᐱᐊᕐᔪᒃ, ikpiarjuk) is an Inuit hamlet located in the northern part of the Borden Peninsula on Baffin Island in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada. The predominant languages are Inuktitut and English.

The Arctic Bay area has been occupied for nearly 5000 years by Inuit nomads migrating from the west. In 1872, a European whaling ship, the Arctic, captained by Willie Adams, passed through and gave the area its English name.

The Inuit name for Arctic Bay is "Ikpiarjuk" which means "the pocket" in English. This name describes the high hills that surround the almost landlocked bay. The community is served by annual supply sealift, and by Arctic Bay Airport in emergencies. There is also a road connecting it to Nanisivik, a mining community just inland that is being closed up. Residents had hoped to boost their housing and public facilities with buildings relocated from Nanisivik, but those hopes were dashed due to lead-zinc contamination. Scheduled flights to and from Arctic Bay arrive at Nanisivik Airport.

Population is 646 according to the 2001 census.