Creswell Bay

Creswell Bay is an Arctic waterway in Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is an arm of western Prince Regent Inlet in eastern Somerset Island. Its northeastern landmark, Fury Point, is approximately 100 km (62 mi) west of Baffin Island.

While the bay does not have any permanent settlements, it remains an important Inuit habitation site.^[1]

Geography

Creswell Bay is large and almost semicircular. Its habitat is characterized by tundra, rivers, streams, mud, saline sand flats, a freshwater lake, open sea, inlets, coastal marine features, coastal cliffs, and rocky marine shores. The elevation is 0 m (0 ft) above sea level.

Stanwell-Fletcher Lake is joined to the bay by the Union River; crystalline rocks are notable along the way. The Creswell River also empties into the bay.^[2]

The Devonian Peel Sound Formation outcrops at the bay. The formation consists of sandstone, grit, and conglomerate which is predominantly limestone.^[3]

Fauna

The bay is a Canadian Important Bird Area (#NU062). Notable bird species include Black-bellied Plover, Greater Snow Goose, King Eider, Long-tailed Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Red Phalarope, Sanderling, Shorebirds, and White-rumped Sandpiper. Arctic char enter the bay in the late summer and swim up the Union River to Stanwell-Fletcher Lake, where they over-winter. The large numbers of char attract beluga whales and narwhals which feed on the char.

History

Archeological sites include Thule encampments and Dorset settlements.

References