Cape Dorset Island (Nunavut Canada)

Cape Dorset is the port town of Dorset Island. The island is located in Hudson Strait (Nunavut, Arctic Canada), off the Foxe Peninsula (southwest Baffin Island).

The island is serviced by the Cape Dorset airport and has a harbour located on the northern shore. Within 10 km (6 mi) from Dorset there are several other isles, the largest of which are Mallik (to the northwest), Okolli (to the southwest) and Sakkiak (southeast of Okolli). Mallik Island (to the north) is joined to Dorset by sand and large boulders.

The island has population around 1,500, total area 143,5 km2 (55,4 ml2), length 6,4 km (4 mi), width 3,2 km (2 mi) and highest elevation point (Kingnait Hill, in the northwest) 208 m (682 ft). Cape Dorset island was named in September 1631 by Captain Luke Foxe (1586-1635) to honor his benefactor Edward Sackville (Lord Chamberlain of the Household, and 4th Earl of Dorset).

Cape Dorset has a natural harbour waterway formed by Mallik's southeastern and Dorset's northwestern coasts. This anchorage area may have heavy wind conditions and often fogs during navigation season (early August - mid-October). Ice break-up occurs in July, freeze-up - in November. Ice thickness in the winter is over 1 m (3 ft).

In 1913, Hudson's Bay Company established on Dorset a trading post. The island also had a Roman Catholic mission in the period 1938-1960. Cape Dorset is an Inuit hamlet (aka Kingnait). The settlement is located approx 11,6 km (7,2 mi) north of the same-named mountain cape. Local Inuit people are well known for their craftsmanship, including carving and drawing.

Island's wildlife is represented by Arctic wolves, Arctic foxes, Arctic hare, polar bears, caribou (reindeer), seals and seasonally - beluga whales (in April and October). The list of birds includes Peregrine falcon, snowy owl, rock ptarmigan, ducks, also nesting blue gooses.

The islands Dorset and Mallik form Mallikjuaq Territorial Park, notable for its Inuit archaeological sites and the Dorset culture dating back as far as 3000 years ago, The park is reachable from Cape Dorset town (by foot at low tide) and also by boat.

Cape Dorset Island cruise terminal