Nares Straight

Nares Straight

The Nares Strait is a waterway between Ellesmere Island and Greenland, which connects the northern part of the Atlantic's Baffin Bay with the Arctic Ocean's Lincoln Sea. The strait runs from south to north and includes Smith Sound, Kane Basin, Kennedy Channel, Hall Basin and Robeson Channel. The Nares Strait has an almost constant current from the north, fed by the Beaufort Gyre, making it more difficult for ships from the south to cross. The name of the strait, named after British naval officer George Strong Nares, was settled between the Danish and Canadian governments in 1964. The Strait and adjacent waters are generally dangerous for navigation and shipping, as icebergs and ice floes are present all year round, but in August, it is generally navigable by icebreakers. The Thule People came to the Nares Strait in the early 13th century, where they hunted and traded with Vikings. Archaeological remains of the Thule culture and the presence of Vikings can be found on Ruin Island.