Twin Islands (Nunavut)

The Twin Islands (Cree language: Mah-Nah-Woo-Na-N)[1] 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.[2] The group includes North Twin and South Twin islands.

Twin Islands
Geography
LocationNorthern Canada
Coordinates53°10′N 79°55′W
ArchipelagoCanadian Arctic Archipelago
Total islands2
Major islandsNorth Twin Island and South Twin Island
Area301 km2 (116 sq mi)
Highest elevation60 m (200 ft)
Administration
Canada
NunavutNunavut
RegionQikiqtaaluk
Demographics
PopulationUninhabited
Ethnic groupsCree

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.[2]

Notable landmarks include Cotter Point on North Twin, and Lucy Point on South Twin.[3]

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).[3] The Twin Islands Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the James Bay Preserve.[4][5]

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.

gollark: Hold on while I hack into the dictionary.
gollark: Although if any non-native speakers or something have trouble understanding me because of words like SHOPPINGPLACE™ they should tell me so I can avoid them.
gollark: And guess what? You understand words like SHOPPINGPLACE™ perfectly!
gollark: Anyway, in a very real sense, "English" is defined by what people actually speak/write/understand in the wild.
gollark: * potato good

References
  1. Kataquapit, Xavier (23 May 2008). "Waking up with the gulls". beesum-communications.com. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
  2. "Twin Islands". oceandots.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2010. Retrieved 2009-05-11.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  3. "NU Site 56 - Twin Islands" (PDF). ngps.nt.ca. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  4. "Twin Islands". bsc-eoc.org. Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2009-05-11.
  5. "BirdLife IBA Factsheet". BirdLife International. 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-07.


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