Rasmussen Lowlands

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The Rasmussen Lowlands is a 3,000 km² coastal plain complex of wetlands in Nunavut, Canada. It was designated a Ramsar wetland of international importance by the Ramsar Convention on May 24, 1982.[1] It is also classified as an Important Bird Area.[2]

The poorly-drained area consists of flat lowlands overlain by marine silts and sand, with numerous tundra ponds throughout.[3]

Shorebirds numbering up to 500,000 individuals [3] nest in the ponds and surrounding areas. The vulnerable Peregrine Falcon nests in the adjacent escarpment, with nearly 6% (80 pairs) of the national population observed here in 1995.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Rasmussen Lowlands, Nunavut. Ramsar Sites. Environment Canada. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
  2. ^ a b Rasmussen Lowlands. IBA Canada. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
  3. ^ a b The Annotated Ramsar List: Canada. The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. Ramsar Convention Bureau (2000-01-10). Retrieved on 2008-01-29.

Coordinates: 68°40′N, 093°00′W