Arctic Circle Crosses Canada's Ellesmere Island

The Arctic Circle (66°33′N) clips the northern tip of Ellesmere Island in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut. Ellesmere is Canada's northernmost major island (196,236 km², 10th largest globally).

Only the island's extreme north—around Alert (82°30′N, world's northernmost permanent settlement) and the Grant Land mountains—lies within the Circle. Most of Ellesmere, including Grise Fiord (southern coast), sits south of it.

Other Canadian Arctic islands fully inside the Circle: Axel Heiberg, Devon, Cornwallis, Prince Patrick, Melville, Banks, Victoria (northern parts), Baffin (northern third).