Arctic Bay Info (Ikpiarjuk)

Location
It is 73°02' N, 85°10' W. Elevation unknown.
1,223 air km NW of Iqaluit; 1,674 air km NE of
Yellowknife, in the Baffin Region.
On the north shore of Adams Sound, off
Admiralty Inlet, North Baffin Island.

Topography
It is on a low gravel beach enclosed on three sides by high hills. King George V Mountain, about 564 m high, rises 1.6 km to the east.

Climate
Average annual precipitation: 5.2 cm rainfall, 71.5 cm snowfall, 11.8 cm total precipitation.
July mean high 9.5° C, low 1.7° C. January
mean high -25.9° C, low -33.5° C. Winds N-NW at
24 km/h.

History
The communities Inuktitut name means "pocket" which is Ikpiarjuk. Its English name comes from a visit by the whaling vessel "Arctic" in 1872. The area has been occupied by Inuit hunters for about 5000 years. However, the permanent settlement began during the 1920's when the Hudson's Bay Company established an outpost in the area. The founding of a school in 1972 as well as oil exploration and a nearby lead-zinc mine at Nanisivik in the 1970's established Arctic Bay as a permanent community today.

Demography
Population: June 1981 -- 375; 1986 Census --
477; June 1988 GNWT estimate -- 535; 1991
Census -- 543.
1986 sex distribution: male 53%, female 47%.
1986 age distribution: 0-4, 19%; 5-14, 27%;
15-64, 52%; 65+, 2%.
1987 ethnic distribution: 0% Dene/Metis, 95%
Inuit, 5% non-native.
Languages spoken: Inuktitut, English.

Political Organization
Hamlet status, July 1, 1976
Mayor: Niore Iqalukjuak
Senior Administrative Officer: Bill Harding
Hamlet Office: (867)439-9917;(867)439-9918;
fax (867) 439-8767
Liquor Plebiscite: May 23, 1980 -- community
controls
MLA: Re elected in 2003 Levi Barnabas

Economy
Major Activities -- Mining, oil and gas exploration, trapping, marine mammal harvesting, handicrafts/carving, quarrying.
Stores: Northern and Taqqut Co-op
Banks -- None; nearest bank, Iqaluit. - There is nothing.
Renewable Resources -- Fish: Arctic Char;
Marine mammals: Right Whale, Ring Seal, Harp Seal, Bearded Seal, Beluga, Killer Whale Walrus; Game: Caribou, Arctic Fox, Wolf, Polar Bear.
Quotas: Musk-ox, 4; Polar Bear, 12-20
Narwhal 150

Renewable Resources Officer: Joanne Autut

Non-renewable Resources --
Minerals: High lead-zinc potential (see Nanisivik). There is medium uranium potential nearby. Iron potential to the South;
Oil and Gas: exploration, High Arctic Islands, Pan-arctic Oil Limited.
Local Businesses -- In addition to those listed above: Kennels, meat products, clothing manufacturing, taxis, general retail, food, hotels, outfitters.