Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area

Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area is a National Wildlife Area on Coburg Island within Qikiqtaaluk, Nunavut, Canada. It is located in Baffin Bay's Lady Ann Strait between Ellesmere Island, to the north, and Devon Island to the south. The NWA includes Coburg Island and its surrounding marine area.

Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area
IUCN category Ib (wilderness area)
Location	Coburg Island, Qikiqtaaluk, Nunavut, Canada
Nearest city	Grise Fiord
Coordinates	75°57′00″N 79°18′00″W
Area	1,650 km^2 (640 sq mi)
Established	1995

It was established in 1995. Of its 1,650 km² (640 sq mi) in overall size, 1,283 km² (495 sq mi) are a marine area with marine and intertidal components.[1]

The NWA is one of the most important seabird nesting areas in the Canadian Arctic for black guillemot, black-legged kittiwake, northern fulmar, and thick-billed murre. It is also an important area for polar bears, walruses, ringed seals and bearded seals. beluga and narwhal whales migrate this area.[2]

Other designations

Other conservation designations include International Biological Program site, Key Migratory Bird Terrestrial Habitat site (1984), Key Marine Habitat Area (2002), and Canadian Important Bird Area.[3]

See also

• List of National Wildlife Areas in Canada

References

1. "Nirjutiqavvik (Coburg Island) National Wildlife Area". mpaglobal.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
2. "Nirjutiqavvik National Wildlife Area". New Parks North. Government of Canada Environment Canada Canadian Wildlife Service. 16. March 2001.
3. "Nirjutiqavvik (Coburg Island) - National Wildlife Area". mb.ec.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2009-09-11.