Twin Islands (Nunavut)

Twin Islands

Geography
Location	Northern Canada
Coordinates
Archipelago	Canadian Arctic Archipelago
Total islands	2
Major islands	North Twin Island and South Twin Island
Area
Highest elevation	60 m (200 ft)
Country
Canada
Nunavut	Nunavut
Region	Qikiqtaaluk
Demographics
Population	Uninhabited
Ethnic groups	Cree

The Twin Islands (Cree language: Mah-Nah-Woo-Na-N) are similarly shaped Arctic islands in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada. They are located in central James Bay, 56 km (35 mi) north east of Akimiski Island, and 58 km (36 mi) west of Quebec. The group includes North Twin and South Twin islands.

Geography

Approximately 11 km (6.8 mi) separate the two islands. North Twin Island, 157 km² (61 sq mi), 18.5 km (11.5 mi) by 11 km (6.8 mi), to the northwest, is the larger of the two. South Twin Island measures 12.8 km (8.0 mi) by 10.2 km (6.3 mi). Landscape characteristics include, unconsolidated sand, gravel, lakes, marshland, sand dunes, and wide tidal flats.

Notable landmarks include Cotter Point on North Twin, and Lucy Point on South Twin.

Flora

The habitat includes small stands of trees: dwarf birch, juniper, white spruce, and willows, along with heaths and shrubs.

Conservation

The Twin Islands are a Canadian Important Bird Area (#NU034), an International Biological Program site (Site 6-2), and a Key Terrestrial Migratory Bird Site (NU Site 56). The Twin Islands Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the James Bay Preserve.

Avifauna

Notable bird species include: American pipit, Arctic tern, Canada goose, dunlin, eastern white-crowned sparrow, horned lark, Lapland longspur, least sandpiper, purple sandpiper, red-necked phalarope, Savannah sparrow, semipalmated plover, semipalmated sandpiper, waterfowl, and willow ptarmigan.

Polar bears frequent the area.

References

• Sea islands: Atlas of Canada; Natural Resources Canada