Devon Island, Baffin Bay, Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada

September 6, 2018 - Day 11 of Quark's Northwest Passage
Voyage.
The morning's activities, sights, and sounds on YOUTUBE:
youtu.be/A8-f5OCIF_k
The afternoon's activities, sights, and sounds on YOUTUBE:
youtu.be/uIV8tnO2zb0

Devon Island (Inuit: Tatlurutit), located in Baffin Bay, Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada, is the world's largest uninhabited island. The ground remains frozen for almost the entire year, particularly the eastern third of the island, which is permanently covered by an ice cap some 500 to 700 meters thick. During the brief (40 to 55 days) growing season in the summer temperatures seldom exceed 50 °F and the ground is snow-free. In winter temperatures can plunge to as low as −58 °F).

Due to its relatively high elevation and its extreme northern latitude, Devon Island receives very little precipitation, resulting in a barren polar desert ecology, dominated by frost-shattered rocks and nearly devoid of plants and animals.

The lowlands are poorly drained favoring the growth of some moss over which Musk-Oxen graze year-round. The cold and wet soil is inhabited by invertebrates such as worms, protozoa, midge and fly larvae. The island also has a few bird populations.

For scientist and researchers, Devon Island is an extremely interesting place. Its desert setting and harsh climate is very similar to conditions on Mars.

Devon Island is the site of the Haughton impact crater, created approximately 39 million years ago when a meteorite about 1.2 mi in diameter slammed into what were then forests. The incident was so violent that rocks as far below as 1 mile were brought up to the surface. Because there is no flowing water due to the freezing temperature, weathering is minimal.

The impact left a crater about 14 mi in diameter, which was a lake for several million years. It retains many geological features that craters elsewhere lose to erosion. The Haughton impact crater area is said to have one of the most Mars-like terrain on earth.

It is the summer home to NASA's Haughton Mars Project, which studies how human explorers might live and work on other planetary objects, in particular on Mars. The

Haughton Mars Project has conducted geological, hydrological, botanical, and microbiological studies in this harsh environment since 1997.

“Devon Island's barren terrain, freezing temperatures, isolation, and remoteness offer NASA scientists and personnel a number of unique research opportunities,” reads the project’s information page on NASA’s website. “Other factors, such as the Arctic day and night cycle and restricted logistics and communications capabilities, offer fitting analogs for the challenges that crewmembers will likely face on long-duration space flights.”

© All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

Devon Island, Baffin Bay, Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada

September 6, 2018 - Day 11 of Quark's Northwest Passage
Voyage.
The morning's activities, sights, and sounds on YOUTUBE:
youtu.be/A8-f5OCIF_k
The afternoon's activities, sights, and sounds on YOUTUBE:
youtu.be/uIV8tnO2zb0

Devon Island (Inuit: Tatlurutit), located in Baffin Bay, Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada, is the world's largest uninhabited island. The ground remains frozen for almost the entire year, particularly the eastern third of the island, which is permanently covered by an ice cap some 500 to 700 meters thick. During the brief (40 to 55 days) growing season in the summer temperatures seldom exceed 50 °F and the ground is snow-free. In winter temperatures can plunge to as low as −58 °F).

Due to its relatively high elevation and its extreme northern latitude, Devon Island receives very little precipitation, resulting in a barren polar desert ecology, dominated by frost-shattered rocks and nearly devoid of plants and animals.

The lowlands are poorly drained favoring the growth of some moss over which Musk-Oxen graze year-round. The cold and wet soil is inhabited by invertebrates such as worms, protozoa, midge and fly larvae. The island also has a few bird populations.

For scientist and researchers, Devon Island is an extremely interesting place. Its desert setting and harsh climate is very similar to conditions on Mars.

Devon Island is the site of the Haughton impact crater, created approximately 39 million years ago when a meteorite about 1.2 mi in diameter slammed into what were then forests. The incident was so violent that rocks as far below as 1 mile were brought up to the surface. Because there is no flowing water due to the freezing temperature, weathering is minimal.

The impact left a crater about 14 mi in diameter, which was a lake for several million years. It retains many geological features that craters elsewhere lose to erosion. The Haughton impact crater area is said to have one of the most Mars-like terrain on earth.

It is the summer home to NASA's Haughton Mars Project, which studies how human explorers might live and work on other planetary objects, in particular on Mars. The

Haughton Mars Project has conducted geological, hydrological, botanical, and microbiological studies in this harsh environment since 1997.

“Devon Island's barren terrain, freezing temperatures, isolation, and remoteness offer NASA scientists and personnel a number of unique research opportunities,” reads the project’s information page on NASA’s website. “Other factors, such as the Arctic day and night cycle and restricted logistics and communications capabilities, offer fitting analogs for the challenges that crewmembers will likely face on long-duration space flights.”

© All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved