Prince Patrick Island
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Prince Patrick Island ( ) is the westernmost of the Queen Elizabeth Islands in the Northwest Territories of Canada. The area of the island is estimated to be 9,440 km² [link], making it the 54th largest island in the world and Canada's 14th largest island. It is icebound all year, making it one of the most inaccessible parts of Canada.
Located at the entrance of the McClure Strait, Prince Patrick Island is uninhabited and there are no known communities, past or present. A station called Mould Bay was opened in 1948 as part of a joint Canada-U.S. military effort to support a high arctic weather station network. It had a temporary staff of between 10 and 40 people. The station was closed in 1997 owing to budget cuts and replaced with an automated weather station. The buildings still stand.
Prince Patrick Island was first explored in 1853 and (much later) named for Prince Arthur William Patrick, Duke of Connaught, who was Governor General 1911-16.
The island rises to only about 277 m [link], and the area is seismically active.
External links
- [Prince Patrick Island] on the Canada's Arctic website.
- [Mould Bay-Eureka-Isachsen-Alert] MSN group.
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