Pond Inlet, Nunavut
Encyclopedia
Pond Inlet is a small, predominantly Inuit
community in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut
, Canada
and is located at the top of Baffin Island
. As of the 2006 census
the population was 1,315, an increase of 7.8% from the 2001 census
making it the largest of the four hamlets
above the 72nd parallel
. Pond Inlet was named in 1818 by explorer John Ross
for John Pond
, an English
astronomer
. The mayor is Abraham Kublu. Toonoonik-Sahoonik Cooperative Limited most often referred to simply as the Co-op, also operates a local hotel and other endeavors.
The local co-operative, Tununiq Sauniq Co-op, is the largest co-op in Nunavut. It serves the community by managing contracts and delivering goods and services to the citizens of Pond Inlet. Some of the services T.S. Co-op provides are; school bus services, Canada Post services, First Air Services, Qilaut Heavy Equiptment Rentals and services, Sauniq Hotel (largest in community), Construction contracts, T.V. Cable Services, a grocery and department store, Yamaha Snowmobile and ATV repair shop, and others.
The economy is expected to boom once the Mary River Iron Ore MIne is in full operation. The mine site is approximately 160 km west/south-west of the community and still in it's developmental stage.
As a tourist destination, Pond Inlet is considered one of Canada's "jewels of the North". It is one of the most picturesque communities with mountainous ranges viewable from all directions. Icebergs are most often accessible from the community within walking distance or a short snowmobile ride in winter. Pond Inlet boasts a nearby floe edge, several dozen glaciers, explorable ice caves, and many grand and picturesque inlets. Barren-ground Caribou, Ringed Seal
, Narwhal
s and Polar Bear
s are just some of the wildlife that can be encountered while traveling out on the land. Nunavut also boasts one of Canada's newest national parks named after a majestic glacier that can be viewed north of the community on Bylot Island
; Sirmilik National Park
.
, Nunavut's capital to Pond Inlet Airport
. The ocean is ice free for as long as three and a half months when tourist cruise ships visit and goods can be transported to the community by sealift cargo carrying ships. Fresh food such as fruits, vegetables and milk is flown from Montreal
to Pond Inlet several times a week, a distance of about 2500 km (1,553.4 mi).
Because of such great distances the cost of food and other materials such as construction supplies can be much higher than that of southern Canada. Milk
is approximately $
3.75/L, and soda can be as much as $4.50/can. 1.8 L of Ocean Spray
juice was as high as $64.99 in September 2004.
Although the community is not more than 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long, snowmobiles and ATV four wheelers are the main modes of transportation. With the decentralization
of the Nunavut government and increased economic opportunities in the community, the number of vehicles has been increasing tenfold.
) and Nasivvik (junior
and high school
). There is also Nunavut Arctic College which provides courses and programs for adults.
with long cold winters and short cool summers. Pond Inlet's average high for the year is -11.5 C while the average low for the year is -18.6 C. The record high for Pond Inlet is 25.7 °C (78.3 °F) on 5 March 1993. The record low for Pond Inlet is -53.9 C on 12 February 1979.
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
community in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and is located at the top of Baffin Island
Baffin Island
Baffin Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut is the largest island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, the largest island in Canada and the fifth largest island in the world. Its area is and its population is about 11,000...
. As of the 2006 census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
the population was 1,315, an increase of 7.8% from the 2001 census
Canada 2001 Census
The Canada 2001 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This was a 4% increase over 1996 Census of 28,846,761. In...
making it the largest of the four hamlets
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
above the 72nd parallel
72nd parallel north
The 72nd parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 72 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane, in the Arctic. It crosses the Atlantic Ocean, Europe, Asia, the Arctic Ocean and North America....
. Pond Inlet was named in 1818 by explorer John Ross
John Ross (Arctic explorer)
Sir John Ross, CB, was a Scottish rear admiral and Arctic explorer.Ross was the son of the Rev. Andrew Ross, minister of Inch, near Stranraer in Scotland. In 1786, aged only nine, he joined the Royal Navy as an apprentice. He served in the Mediterranean until 1789 and then in the English Channel...
for John Pond
John Pond
John Pond FRS was a renowned English astronomer who became the sixth Astronomer Royal, serving from 1811 to 1835.- Biography :...
, an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
astronomer
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
. The mayor is Abraham Kublu. Toonoonik-Sahoonik Cooperative Limited most often referred to simply as the Co-op, also operates a local hotel and other endeavors.
Economy
Its economy is largely service based with government as the largest employer. Small businesses that serve the community, tourism, and art work though are also found.The local co-operative, Tununiq Sauniq Co-op, is the largest co-op in Nunavut. It serves the community by managing contracts and delivering goods and services to the citizens of Pond Inlet. Some of the services T.S. Co-op provides are; school bus services, Canada Post services, First Air Services, Qilaut Heavy Equiptment Rentals and services, Sauniq Hotel (largest in community), Construction contracts, T.V. Cable Services, a grocery and department store, Yamaha Snowmobile and ATV repair shop, and others.
The economy is expected to boom once the Mary River Iron Ore MIne is in full operation. The mine site is approximately 160 km west/south-west of the community and still in it's developmental stage.
As a tourist destination, Pond Inlet is considered one of Canada's "jewels of the North". It is one of the most picturesque communities with mountainous ranges viewable from all directions. Icebergs are most often accessible from the community within walking distance or a short snowmobile ride in winter. Pond Inlet boasts a nearby floe edge, several dozen glaciers, explorable ice caves, and many grand and picturesque inlets. Barren-ground Caribou, Ringed Seal
Ringed Seal
The ringed seal , also known as the jar seal and as netsik or nattiq by the Inuit, is an earless seal inhabiting the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions...
, Narwhal
Narwhal
The narwhal, Monodon monoceros, is a medium-sized toothed whale that lives year-round in the Arctic. One of two living species of whale in the Monodontidae family, along with the beluga whale, the narwhal males are distinguished by a characteristic long, straight, helical tusk extending from their...
s and Polar Bear
Polar Bear
The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size...
s are just some of the wildlife that can be encountered while traveling out on the land. Nunavut also boasts one of Canada's newest national parks named after a majestic glacier that can be viewed north of the community on Bylot Island
Bylot Island
Bylot Island lies off the northern end of Baffin Island in Nunavut Territory, Canada. At it is ranked 71st largest island in the world and Canada's 17th largest island. It is also one of the largest uninhabited islands in the world. While there are no permanent settlements on this Canadian Arctic...
; Sirmilik National Park
Sirmilik National Park
Sirmilik National Park is a protected area located in Qikiqtaaluk, Nunavut, Canada. It was established in 2001. Situated within the Arctic Cordillera, it is composed of three areas: most of Bylot Island with the exception for a few areas that are Inuit-owned lands, Oliver Sound, and Baffin...
.
Transportation
Pond Inlet is most readily accessible by airplane through a connection in IqaluitIqaluit, Nunavut
Iqaluit is the territorial capital and the largest community of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Iqaluit is located on the south coast of Baffin Island at the head of Frobisher Bay. As of the 2006 census the population was 6,184, an increase of 18.1 percent from the 2001 census; it has the...
, Nunavut's capital to Pond Inlet Airport
Pond Inlet Airport
Pond Inlet Airport is located at Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada, and is operated by the government of Nunavut.-Airlines and destinations:-External links:*...
. The ocean is ice free for as long as three and a half months when tourist cruise ships visit and goods can be transported to the community by sealift cargo carrying ships. Fresh food such as fruits, vegetables and milk is flown from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
to Pond Inlet several times a week, a distance of about 2500 km (1,553.4 mi).
Because of such great distances the cost of food and other materials such as construction supplies can be much higher than that of southern Canada. Milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
is approximately $
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
3.75/L, and soda can be as much as $4.50/can. 1.8 L of Ocean Spray
Ocean Spray (cooperative)
Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative of growers of cranberries and grapefruit headquartered in Lakeville/Middleborough, Massachusetts. It currently has over 600 member growers . The cooperative employs about 2,000 people, with sales of $1.4 billion in fiscal year 2005...
juice was as high as $64.99 in September 2004.
Although the community is not more than 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long, snowmobiles and ATV four wheelers are the main modes of transportation. With the decentralization
Décentralisation
Décentralisation is a french word for both a policy concept in French politics from 1968-1990, and a term employed to describe the results of observations of the evolution of spatial economic and institutional organization of France....
of the Nunavut government and increased economic opportunities in the community, the number of vehicles has been increasing tenfold.
Education
Pond Inlet has two schools: Ulaajuk (elementary schoolPrimary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
) and Nasivvik (junior
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
and high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
). There is also Nunavut Arctic College which provides courses and programs for adults.
Climate
Pond Inlet has a polar arctic climatePolar climate
Regions with a polar climate are characterized by a lack of warm summers . Regions with polar climate cover over 20% of the Earth. The sun shines 24 hours in the summer, and barely ever shines at all in the winter...
with long cold winters and short cool summers. Pond Inlet's average high for the year is -11.5 C while the average low for the year is -18.6 C. The record high for Pond Inlet is 25.7 °C (78.3 °F) on 5 March 1993. The record low for Pond Inlet is -53.9 C on 12 February 1979.