Tanquary Fjord

Tanquary Fjord

Tanquary Fiord is located in Quttinirpaaq National Park in Nunavut, Canada, on the north coast of Ellesmere Island in the Arctic Archipelago, and extends 48 km northwest from Greely Fiord. Radiocarbon dating techniques indicate that between 10 000 and 4 100 BP there was a deglaciation, followed by the re-emergence of glacial periods and the formation of ice shelves until 2 400 BP. By 1 400 BP, glacial retreat occurred and since that time, the area has been marked by glacial readvance and nearby ice rises. A radiocarbon charcoal analysis by the Geological Survey of Canada has revealed that the Inuit were present at Tanquary Fiord around 1070 BP. The Tanquary Fiord head is the meeting point of four river valleys, of which three end in flood plains and one ends in a river delta. The carbon dating finds reveal that the fjord was ice-free about 6500 years ago. In the last 40 years, the end points of the lateral glaciers have receded. There are 65 frost-free days a year in Tanquary Fjord, which is impressive for its latitude. Temperatures of 18 °C have been recorded here in summer. Because the fjord is remote, there are few human inhabitants. During the summer months, Parks Canada operates a Warden Station, and nearby is Tanquary Fiord Airport, which provides the main access to the park for tourists. The area is also increasingly accessible by icebreaker cruise ships.