Contwoyto Lake is a lake in the Kitikmeot Region of the Canadian territory of Nunavut, located near the border with the Northwest Territories. With a total area of 957 km2 (369 sq mi), it is the territories' tenth largest lake.

Contwoyto Lake
Contwoyto Lake is located in Nunavut
Contwoyto Lake
Contwoyto Lake
Location in Nunavut
Contwoyto Lake is located in Canada
Contwoyto Lake
Contwoyto Lake
Contwoyto Lake (Canada)
LocationKitikmeot Region, Nunavut
Coordinates65°39′N 110°43′W / 65.650°N 110.717°W / 65.650; -110.717 (Contwoyto Lake)[1]
Primary outflowsBurnside River
Basin countriesCanada
Surface area957 km2 (369 sq mi)
Shore length1982 km (610 mi)
Surface elevation564 m (1,850 ft)
Settlementsuninhabited
References[2][3]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lupin Mine is located near Contwoyto Lake. The lake is also the terminus of the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road from Tibbitt Lake in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut's only currently existing road access to the rest of Canada. In 2005, there was a proposal put forward to extend the winter road to a possible port at Bathurst Inlet.

Climate edit

Climate data for Contwoyto Lake
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) −2.4
(27.7)
−6.4
(20.5)
−2.8
(27.0)
5.6
(42.1)
16.7
(62.1)
24.4
(75.9)
27.2
(81.0)
26.0
(78.8)
16.7
(62.1)
8.3
(46.9)
0.0
(32.0)
6.1
(43.0)
27.2
(81.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −27.9
(−18.2)
−26.9
(−16.4)
−22.6
(−8.7)
−11.9
(10.6)
−0.9
(30.4)
9.5
(49.1)
14.9
(58.8)
12.8
(55.0)
4.7
(40.5)
−4.9
(23.2)
−16.4
(2.5)
−24.1
(−11.4)
−7.8
(18.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) −31.4
(−24.5)
−30.6
(−23.1)
−27.2
(−17.0)
−17.2
(1.0)
−5.2
(22.6)
4.8
(40.6)
9.9
(49.8)
9.0
(48.2)
2.0
(35.6)
−7.5
(18.5)
−20.1
(−4.2)
−27.5
(−17.5)
−11.8
(10.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −35.1
(−31.2)
−34.4
(−29.9)
−32.1
(−25.8)
−22.7
(−8.9)
−9.6
(14.7)
0.0
(32.0)
4.8
(40.6)
5.2
(41.4)
−0.8
(30.6)
−10.2
(13.6)
−23.9
(−11.0)
−31.0
(−23.8)
−15.8
(3.6)
Record low °C (°F) −48.1
(−54.6)
−53.9
(−65.0)
−53.3
(−63.9)
−41.6
(−42.9)
−33.9
(−29.0)
−13.9
(7.0)
−2.2
(28.0)
−3.2
(26.2)
−11.9
(10.6)
−34.4
(−29.9)
−42.6
(−44.7)
−46.7
(−52.1)
−53.9
(−65.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 7.0
(0.28)
7.8
(0.31)
10.2
(0.40)
11.2
(0.44)
18.3
(0.72)
25.1
(0.99)
36.2
(1.43)
41.1
(1.62)
32.7
(1.29)
30.6
(1.20)
15.7
(0.62)
10.6
(0.42)
246.6
(9.71)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.5
(0.02)
6.2
(0.24)
22.2
(0.87)
36.2
(1.43)
40.1
(1.58)
21.5
(0.85)
2.0
(0.08)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
128.6
(5.06)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 7.0
(2.8)
7.8
(3.1)
10.2
(4.0)
10.7
(4.2)
12.1
(4.8)
2.9
(1.1)
0.0
(0.0)
1.1
(0.4)
10.8
(4.3)
28.6
(11.3)
15.7
(6.2)
10.6
(4.2)
117.5
(46.3)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 7 7 9 9 10 8 11 13 12 15 11 9 122
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 0 0 0 3 6 11 13 7 1 0 0 41
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 7 7 9 8 8 2 6 15 11 9 84
Source 1: 1961-1990 Environment and Climate Change Canada[4]
Source 2: [5]

See also edit

Further reading edit

  • Tremblay, Leo Paul. Geology of northern Contwoyto Lake area, district of Mackenzie. Ottawa: Information Canada, 1976.
  • Steele, Peter. The Man Who Mapped the Arctic:The Intrepid Life of George Back, Franklin's Lieutenant. (2003), pp. 132ff.

References edit

  1. ^ "Contwoyto Lake". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  2. ^ "Principal lakes, elevation and area, by province and territory". Statistics Canada. 2005-02-02. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
  3. ^ "Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Geographical Names (Contwoyto Lake)". Retrieved 2014-08-29.
  4. ^ Environment and Climate Change Canada1961 to 1990 Canadian Climate Normals Station Data. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Canadian Climate Normals 1961-1990" (PDF). Environment and Climate Change Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-07-28. Retrieved 23 May 2018.

External links edit