Tanquary Fiord
| Tanquary Fiord | |
|---|---|
 The north-east part of Tanquary Fiord withTanquary Fiord Airporton the right | |
  Tanquary Fiord Location | |
| Location | Ellesmere Island,Nunavut |
| Coordinates | 81°05′N78°45′W/ 81.083°N 78.750°W |
| Ocean/sea sources | Nansen SoundviaGreely Fiord |
| Basincountries | Canada |
Tanquary Fiord[1]is afjordon the north coast of theArctic Archipelago'sEllesmere Island,Nunavut,Canada. It is located in theQuttinirpaaq National Parkand extends 48 km (30 mi) in a north-westerly direction fromGreely Fiord.
History
[edit]Radiocarbon datingmethods suggest that between 10,000 and 4,100BP,deglaciationoccurred, followed by a period of glacial readvance and the formation of ice shelves until 2,400 BP. Until 1,400 BP, a period of glacial retreat occurred, and since then glacial readvance and nearbyice riseshave marked the area.[2]
Radiocarbon analysis of charcoal undertaken by theGeological Survey of Canadahas shown thatInuitwere present at Tanquary Fiord around 1070 BP at the latest.[3]
Geography
[edit]The head of the Tanquary Fiord is the convergence point of four river valleys, three of which end in afloodplainand one in ariver delta.Carbon datingfindings show that the fjord was free ofglacial iceapproximately 6,500 years ago.[4]In the past 40 years, the terminal points of sideglaciershave receded.[5]
Tanquary Fiord has 65frost-free days per year (enough to growlettuce), which is remarkable for its latitude. Summer temperatures of 18 °C (64 °F) have been recorded.[6]
Human activity
[edit]In 1963, theDefence Research Boardbegan 'Operation Tanquary' in the area, with a focus onoceanography.The operation concluded in 1972.[7]As the fjord is in a remote location, there is little human habitation. A Warden Station is staffed byParks Canadaduring the summer months,[8]andTanquary Fiord Airportis located nearby. It is possible to reach the area viacharter aircraft,or increasingly viaicebreakercruise ships.[9]In 1947, ameteorological stationwas installed atEureka,about 175 km (109 mi) southwest of the fiord.[10]The Fiord was named by ExplorerDonald Baxter MacMillanin honor of his friend and fellow explorerMaurice Cole Tanquary.[11]See also theCrocker Land Expedition.
References
[edit]- ^"Tanquary Fiord".Geographical Names Data Base.Natural Resources Canada.Retrieved2020-06-15.
- ^Lyons, J. & Mielke, J. (1973)."Holocene History of a Portion of Northernmost Ellesmere Island"(PDF).University of Calgary.RetrievedJuly 20,2010.
- ^Hattersley-Smith, G."An Archaeological Site on the North Coast of Ellesmere Island"(PDF).University of Calgary.RetrievedJuly 20,2010.
- ^Hattersley-Smith, G. & Long, A."Postglacial Uplift at Tanquary Fiord, Northern Ellesmere Island, Northwest Territories"(PDF).University of Calgary.RetrievedJuly 20,2010.
- ^Hattersley-Smith, G. (1968)."Glacial features of Tanquary Fiord and adjoining areas of northern Ellesmere Island, N.W.T."Defence Research Telecommunications Establishment Ottawa (Ontario). Archived fromthe originalon March 12, 2012.RetrievedJuly 20,2010.
- ^Serreze, Mark;Barry, Roger Graham(2005).The Arctic climate system.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 219.ISBN978-0-521-81418-8.RetrievedJuly 20,2010.
- ^van Steenburgh, W."Canada"(PDF).University of Calgary.RetrievedJuly 20,2010.
- ^"Quttinirpaaq National Park of Canada: Hours of Operation".Parks Canada.2009.RetrievedJuly 20,2010.
- ^"Quttinirpaaq National Park of Canada: How to Get There".Parks Canada.2009.RetrievedJuly 20,2010.
- ^Mills, William (2003).Exploring polar frontiers: a historical encyclopedia.Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. p. 211.ISBN978-1-57607-422-0.RetrievedJuly 20,2010.
- ^MacMillan, Donald, Four Years in the White North, Harper Brothers Publishers, 1918, pg. 353.