Nunavut Research Institute

The institute is located in the City of Iqaluit which lies on Koojesee Inlet at the end of Frobisher Bay on the southeastern coast of Baffin Island. The institute further maintains accommodation facilities in Arviat and Igloolik, and laboratory facilities in Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay.

The Iqaluit Research Centre was opened by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs in 1978 to support the Eastern Arctic Marine Sciences Project. Operations were transferred to the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories (SINT) in 1988. Today the Nunavut Research Institute in Iqaluit consists of a research institute with two laboratories and a teaching facility with a laboratory, workshop, and storage facility. In addition, the research institute has accommodation facilities in Arviat and Igloolik. Laboratory facilities are available for use by researchers in Cambridge Bay and Rankin Inlet.

The Nunavut Research Institute is situated in the arctic zone with vegetation consisting of mosses, lichens, small shrubs, grasses, and low flowering plants. The sub-soil remains frozen throughout the year. Temperatures average below freezing eight months of the year. The terrain around Iqaluit is hilly with influence of marine and glacial deposits. Tidal range in Iqaluit is up to 12 m with a mean tidal range of 9 m. Caribou, polar bear, fox, wolves, and hares can be found in the vicinity of the town. Ring, harp, and bearded seal are found in Frobisher Bay, and beluga whales and walrus are common in the region as well. Eider ducks and Canada geese appear during the warmer months, and wheatears, snow buntings, and rock ptarmigan are present in spring and summer. Arctic char are abundant in the rivers and coastal lakes. Landlocked cod can be found in some lakes off Frobisher Bay.

The Nunavut Research Institute is situated in the city of Iqaluit. The city is the largest community and capital in Nunavut. The city has a population of approximately 8000 people. Approximately 60% of the population is Inuit.

Iqaluit is located 2084 km north of Ottawa and 2200 km east of Yellowknife. The Iqaluit Airport is a hub for aircrafts to several small communities throughout Nunavut as well as Ottawa and Montreal. Two airlines from Ottawa serve Iqaluit daily while scheduled flights arrive and depart for Yellowknife and Edmonton 3 days of the week. Weekly flights between Nuuk, Greenland and Iqaluit may occur during the summer months.