The Minto Islands are a
Canadian Arctic island group in the
Nunavut
Nunavut ( , ; iu, ᓄᓇᕗᑦ , ; ) is the largest and northernmost Provinces and territories of Canada#Territories, territory of Canada. It was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the ''Nunavut Act'' ...
Territory. The islands lie in the western portion of
Queen Maud Gulf, between Kent Peninsula on Nunavut's mainland, and
Melbourne Island
Qikiqtaryuaq, formerly Melbourne Island, is an island located in the Kitikmeot Region, Nunavut, Canada. It lies at the western end of Queen Maud Gulf and is dominated by lakes and marshlands. The island has a total area of and is uninhabited.
Q ...
. Back Point,
Victoria Island
Victoria Island ( ikt, Kitlineq, italic=yes) is a large island in the Arctic Archipelago that straddles the boundary between Nunavut and the Northwest Territories of Canada. It is the List of islands by area, eighth-largest island in the world, ...
is approximately to the north.
In early spring, the Minto Islands are a caribou migration path from the mainland back northward to Victoria Island.
The islands are named after
Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 2nd Earl of Minto, first lord of the admiralty from 1835 to 1841, during the expedition of Sir
John Henry Pelly
Sir John Henry Pelly, 1st Baronet, DL (31 March 1777 – 13 August 1852) was an English businessman. During most of his career, he was an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), serving as Governor of the HBC for three decades. He held ...
, governor of the
Hudson's Bay Company.
In July 1839, Sir
George Back explored the region as well.
References
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Uninhabited islands of Kitikmeot Region
{{KitikmeotNU-geo-stub