Creswell Bay

Creswell Bay
Creswell Bay
Location	Western Prince Regent Inlet
Coordinates	72°41′N 93°25′W[1]
River sources	Creswell River Union River
Ocean/sea sources	Arctic Ocean
Basin countries	Canada
Surface area	2,178 km^2 (841 sq mi)
Settlements	Uninhabited

Creswell Bay is an Arctic waterway in Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is an arm of western Prince Regent Inlet in eastern Somerset Island. Its northeastern landmark, Fury Point, is approximately 100 km (62 mi) west of Baffin Island.

While the bay does not have any permanent settlements, the closest is Resolute about 228 km (142 mi) to the north-northeast,^[2] it was an outpost camp and remains an important site to Inuit.^[3]

Geography

Creswell Bay is large and almost semicircular. Its habitat is characterized by tundra, rivers, streams, mud, saline sand flats, a freshwater lake, open sea, inlets, coastal marine features, coastal cliffs, and rocky marine shores.

Stanwell-Fletcher Lake is joined to the bay by the Union River; crystalline rocks are notable along the way. The Creswell River also empties into the bay.^[4]

The Devonian period Peel Sound Formation outcrops at the bay. The formation consists of sandstone, grit, and conglomerate which is predominantly limestone.^[5]

Fauna

Narwhals in the bay

The bay is a Canadian Important Bird Area (#NU062). Notable bird species include grey plover, greater snow goose, king eider, long-tailed duck, red phalarope, sanderling, and white-rumped sandpiper. Arctic char enter the bay in the late summer and swim up the Union River to Stanwell-Fletcher Lake, where they over-winter. The large numbers of char attract beluga whales and narwhals which feed on them.

History

Archaeological sites include Thule encampments and Dorset settlements.

References

1. "Creswell Bay". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. 16 June 2024.
2. "Point-to-point distance Creswell Bay – Resolute". 16 February 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
3. "Creswell Bay Drum Removal & Clean-Up Project". www.mb.ec.gc.ca. Environment and Climate Change Canada. Archived from the original on 29 March 2003. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
4. "Creswell Bay". bsc-eoc.org. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
5. Dineley, David. "Geological studies in Somerset Island, University of Ottawa expedition, 1965" (PDF). aina.ucalgary.ca. p. 273. Retrieved 5 May 2009.