{{Short description|Mountain pass in Nunavut, Canada}} {{Infobox mountain pass | name = Polar Bear Pass | photo = Polar Bear Pass National Wildlife Area.jpg | photo_caption = |native_name = Nanuit Itillinga/Kitturajaaq ([[Inuktitut]]) | elevation = | traversed = | location = [[Bathurst Island (Canada)|Bathurst Island]], [[Qikiqtaaluk Region|Qikiqtaaluk]], [[Nunavut]], [[Canada]] | range = | map = Canada Nunavut | map_caption = Location in Nunavut | coordinates = {{coord|75|43|N|98|40|W|type:pass_region:CA-NU| display=inline,title|name=Polar Bear Pass}} | topo = [[National Topographic System|NTS]] {{Canada NTS Map Sheet}} | embedded = {{Designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = Ramsar | designation1_date = 24 May 1982 | designation1_number = 245<ref>{{Cite web|title=Polar Bear Pass|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/245|access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>}} }}
'''Polar Bear Pass''' ([[Inuktitut]]: ''Nanuit Itillinga/Kitturajaaq''),<ref>{{cite news |title=Inuit Heritage Trust maps traditional names before they're lost |url=https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/inuit-heritage-trust-maps-traditional-names-before-theyre-lost/ |access-date=19 January 2023 |work=Nunatsiaq News |date=17 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref> is a {{convert|262400|ha|adj=mid}} [[wetland]] and [[mountain pass]] on [[Bathurst Island (Canada)|Bathurst Island]] within the [[Qikiqtaaluk Region]], [[Nunavut]], Canada. The pass is on federal [[Crown land]].<ref name="designation" />
==Fauna and flora== The wetland exists within a [[tundra]] [[desert]] in the high [[Arctic]]. It is a staging area for migratory birds, as well as a breeding area for numerous bird species. The large insect population is an ample food source for these birds.
Various water features are located throughout the site, including lakes, tundra ponds and meadows. Vegetation consists primarily of "[[Poaceae|grasses]], [[Cyperaceae|sedge]]s, [[moss]]es and [[lichen]]s",<ref name="ramsar" /> as well as a diversity of [[flowering plant]]s.
An ecological research station is located on the site. Various studies have been conducted in the area, including those on the endangered [[Peary caribou]] by the Canadian Wildlife Service. Currently, the territorial government is funding studies on [[muskox]]en and [[caribou]] in the region.
Other than the two endangered species that inhabit the pass, polar bears and the aforementioned Peary caribou, it also contains at least 54 bird species and 11 mammals. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Environment and Climate Change |date=2011-10-14 |title=Polar Bear Pass (Nanuit Itillinga) National Wildlife Area |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/national-wildlife-areas/locations/polar-bear-pass.html |access-date=2022-12-04 |website=www.canada.ca}}</ref> Rock structures on the North side of the pass provide nesting and dens for wildlife. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Public Services and Procurement Canada |title=Information archivée dans le Web |url=https://publications.gc.ca/site/archivee-archived.html?url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2020/eccc/cw66/CW66-673-1990-eng.pdf |access-date=2022-12-04 |website=publications.gc.ca}}</ref>
Its name is derived from the [[polar bear]]s that migrate through the region between March and November each year.<ref name="ramsar">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ramsar.org/profile/profiles_canada.htm |title=The Annotated Ramsar List: Canada |work=The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance |publisher=Ramsar Convention Bureau |access-date=2008-01-27 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071230051034/http://www.ramsar.org/profile/profiles_canada.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-12-30}}</ref>
==Conservation== Polar Bear Pass is an [[International Biological Program]] site. It was designated a [[Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance|Ramsar]] site on May 24, 1982.<ref name="designation">{{Cite web |url=http://www.mb.ec.gc.ca/nature/whp/ramsar/df02s02.en.html |title=Polar Bear Pass National Wildlife Area, Nunavut - Ramsar Site |publisher=[[Environment Canada]] |access-date=2008-01-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504010050/http://www.mb.ec.gc.ca/nature/whp/ramsar/df02s02.en.html |archive-date=2008-05-04 }}</ref> [[Polar Bear Pass National Wildlife Area]] received its designation in 1985.<ref name="mpaglobal">{{cite web|url=http://www.mpaglobal.org/index.php?action=showMain&site_code=13115|title=Polar Bear Pass|publisher=mpaglobal.org|access-date=2009-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203064148/http://www.mpaglobal.org/index.php?action=showMain&site_code=13115|archive-date=2018-02-03|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{cite cgndb|id=OANAG|name=Polar Bear Pass}}
{{Arctic Cordillera}} {{Mountain passes of Nunavut}} {{Ramsar sites in Canada}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Arctic Cordillera]] [[Category:Mountain passes of the Qikiqtaaluk Region]] [[Category:Ramsar sites in the Qikiqtaaluk Region]] [[Category:Wetlands of the Qikiqtaaluk Region]]