The Largest Islands Of Canada

Baffin Island of Canada is the fifth largest island in the world with an area of 507,451 square kilometers.

Canada is the second largest country in the world after Russia but, measuring it in terms of landscape, it becomes the fourth largest country. Water bodies surround it all around. In east, it is surrounded by Atlantic Ocean and in west, by Pacific Ocean. From the north, it is surrounded by Arctic Ocean. Canada has also the world’s northernmost point. Small islands, which are a part of Canada, are distributed throughout the water bodies. The Nunavut Island is the favorite destination for tourists. Most of the islands remain isolated due to harsh climate, which remains most of the time in a year.

Major Islands in Canada and their Geography

Baffin Island

Baffin Island in Canada is the fifth largest in the world and largest island in Canada. It is spread in an area of 507,451 square kilometers and its population is estimated to be 11,000 in 2007. The island has a tundra climate, which means that it remains mostly cold throughout the year. The wildlife here is most active in the summer time. One can witness arctic foxes, polar bears, the arctic wolf, lemmings, and arctic hares. Most of these animals are not seen often in the open. The annual temperature is around -9 Degrees Celsius with unpredictable snowfall. There are polar nights and midnight days in Baffin Island.

Victoria island

The second largest by area is the Victoria Island. It covers a total area of 217,291 square kilometers. It is the eight largest island in the world and second largest in Canada. According to the census in 2006, Victoria Island had a population of only 1875 people. The major reason for such a small population is the harsh climate. The area experiences snowfall in most part of the year. The temperature remains in negative most of the time, which makes human living vulnerable.

Ellesmere Island

Ellesmere Island is the third largest island in Canada and tenth largest island in the world. It has an area of 196,235 square kilometers, which is mostly covered by contrasting mountains and valleys. Ellesmere Island has many protected landscape and water bodies, which were directly affected due to global warming. Large proportion of the island is covered with glaciers and ice caps, which are attractive places for tourism. In the 2006 census, the total population recorded was 146. The major reason for such a small population was chilling weather, which was harsh to live in. The population in this island is temporary due to harsh climatic conditions in most of the year’s time.

Tourism on Canada's Islands

These islands are attractive destinations to the tourists who are enthusiastic about snow and glaciers. The large covered icecaps and glaciers are places for skiing, hiking, trekking and fishing. The freshwater lakes are great destinations for fishing and boating. Many living creatures attract the tourists because they can be seen only in these islands. Walrus, polar bears, arctic fox, arctic hare and seals are some examples of fauna active in these islands. The places around the great islands in Canada are next to heaven. The climatic conditions here bring peace to mind and tend us to admire the great beauty of earth.

The Largest Islands Of Canada

Rank	Island's Name	Area (km²)	Location
1	Baffin Island	5,07,451	Nunavut
2	Victoria Island	2,17,291	Northwest Territories, Nunavut
3	Ellesmere Island	1,96,236	Nunavut
4	Newfoundland	1,08,860	Newfoundland and Labrador
5	Banks Island	70,028	Northwest Territories
6	Devon Island	55,247	Nunavut
7	Axel Heiberg Island	43,178	Nunavut
8	Melville Island	42,149	Northwest Territories, Nunavut
9	Southampton Island	41,214	Nunavut
10	Prince of Wales Island	33,339	Nunavut