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The Queen Maud Gulf Migratory Bird Sanctuary is Canada's largest federally owned protected area, encompassing some 61,765 km2 (23,848 sq mi) of the Arctic Circle coastline. 6,710 km2 (2,590 sq mi) are marine, and 55,055 km2 (21,257 sq mi) are terrestrial.[2]
| Queen Maud Gulf Migratory Bird Sanctuary | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Location | Nunavut, Canada |
| Nearest city | Bathurst Inlet |
| Coordinates | 67°04′59″N 101°44′59″W |
| Area | 61,765 km2 (23,848 sq mi) |
| Established | 1961 |
| Governing body | Environment Canada |
| Official name | Queen Maud Gulf |
| Designated | 24 May 1982 |
| Reference no. | 246[1] |
Under the terms of the Ramsar Convention, it was designated as a wetland of international importance in 1982. It is the world's second-largest Ramsar Site.[3] The majority of the park is lowlands and countless streams, ponds and shallow lakes. The land is mainly Arctic tundra and marshes.
In 1982, 450,000 geese, including the majority of the world's Ross's geese, nested in the sanctuary, one of the largest concentration of geese on Earth.[2]
The protected area was established in 1961 under the Migratory Bird Sanctuary Regulations of the Migratory Birds Convention Act of 1917.[3] It was named for Queen Maud of Norway.
Over 2 million white geese nest within the sanctuary, including over 90% of the world’s Ross’s goose population and 8% of Canada's snow goose population. The geese arrive in late May to moult in lakes and rivers and remain until August or September. The sanctuary also holds smaller populations of Canada goose, greater white-fronted goose, brant, and tundra swan, as well as other migratory species of waterfowl and water birds.[4]
The entirety of the sanctuary is used by barren-ground caribou. The Ahiak herds (estimated to be numbering around 71,000) spends its summers in the sanctuary, while the Beverly herd (numbering 103,000) gives birth to calves in the sanctuary.[5] It also supports an estimated 6,000 muskoxen, including some rare "white muskoxen" which have been sighted in the sanctuary. Mammal populations of the sanctuary are controlled by large populations of wolves, grizzly bears, foxes, and wolverines.[4]
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