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 957km2(369sqmi), it is the territories' tenth largest lake.

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

Climate data for Contwoyto Lake
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
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)779910811131215119122
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm)000361113710041
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm)77988261511984
Source 1: 1961-1990 Environment and Climate Change Canada
Source 2:

See also

Further reading

  • 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.

External links