Iqaluit

capital of the territory of Nunavut, Canada

Iqaluit (Inuktitut: ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ) is the capital of and largest community in Nunavut in Canada. It is the most northerly capital in Canada, and is also Canada's fastest growing community.[8]

Iqaluit
ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ
Frobisher Bay
City
City of Iqaluit
Iqaluit from Joamie Hill in June 2010
Iqaluit from Joamie Hill in June 2010
Iqaluit is located in Nunavut
Iqaluit
Iqaluit
Iqaluit is located in Canada
Iqaluit
Iqaluit
Coordinates: 63°44′55″N 068°31′11″W / 63.74861°N 68.51972°W / 63.74861; -68.51972
CountryCanada
TerritoryNunavut
RegionQikiqtaaluk Region
Electoral districtsIqaluit-Manirajak
Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu
Iqaluit-Sinaa
Iqaluit-Tasiluk
Settled1942
Village status1974
Town status1980
City status19 April 2001
Founded byNakasuk
Government
 • TypeIqaluit Municipal Council
 • MayorMadeleine Redfern[1]
 • MLAsMonica Ell-Kanayuk
Pat Angnakak
Paul Okalik
George Hickes
Area
 • Total52.50 km2 (20.27 sq mi)
 • Population Centre9.55 km2 (3.69 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total7,740
 • Density150/km2 (380/sq mi)
 • Population Centre
7,082
 • Population Centre density740/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
DemonymIqalummiut
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Canadian Postal code
X0A 0H0, X0A 1H0
Area code867
Telephone Exchanges222 (mobile), 975, 979
NTS Map025N10
GNBC CodeOATRP
Websitewww.city.iqaluit.nu.ca

History

The name Iqaluit is Inuktitut word meaning "place of many fish".[9] It is built on the mouth of the Sylvia Grinnell River, on Frobisher Bay. English explorer Martin Frobisher sailed into the bay in 1576 and thought he had discovered the Northwest Passage.[9] The settlement was called Frobisher Bay from 1955 until 1987.[9] The weather in there is normally cold.

References

Iqaluit Climatological Data
Temperature
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecMean
Record high °C (°F)4 (39)4 (39)4 (39)7 (45)13 (55)22 (72)26 (79)26 (79)17 (63)7 (45)6 (43)4 (39)
Average high °C (°F)-23 (-9)-24 (-11)-19 (-2)-10 (14)-1 (30)7 (45)12 (54)10 (50)5 (41)-2 (28)-9 (16)-19 (-2)-6 (21)
Mean °C (°F)-27 (-17)-28 (-18)-24 (-11)-15 (5)-4 (25)4 (39)8 (46)7 (45)2 (36)-5 (23)-13 (9)-23 (-9)-10 (14)
Average low °C (°F)-31 (-24)-32 (-26)-29 (-20)-20 (-4)-8 (18)0 (32)4 (39)3 (37)-0 (32)-8 (18)-18 (-0)-27 (-17)-14 (7)
Record low °C (°F)-45 (-49)-46 (-51)-45 (-49)-34 (-29)-26 (-15)-10 (14)-3 (27)-3 (27)-13 (9)-27 (-17)-36 (-33)-43 (-45)
Precipitation and Sunshine Hours
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
Total mm (in)21 (0.8)15 (0.6)22 (0.9)28 (1.1)27 (1.1)35 (1.4)59 (2.2)66 (2.6)55 (2.2)37 (1.5)29 (1.1)18 (0.7)412 (16.2)
Rainfall mm (in)0 (0)0 (0)0 (0)0 (0)3 (0.1)25 (1.0)59 (2.3)65 (2.6)42 (1.7)5 (0.2)1 (0)0 (0)198 (7.8)
Snowfall cm (in)23 (9.1)16 (6.3)25 (9.8)32 (12.6)25 (9.8)10 (3.9)0 (0)1 (0.4)14 (5.5)35 (13.8)32 (12.6)22 (8.7)236 (92.9)
Sunshine hours3498170224194197218170895440191506
Data recorded at Iqaluit Airport for Environment Canada Archived 2007-11-11 at the Wayback Machine. Average data recorded over a 30-year span from 1971 to 2000.