Iqaluit: The Capital of Nunavut

Correcting a Common Misconception

Iqaluit is the capital city of Nunavut, Canada's newest and largest territory, established in 1999. It is not the capital of Prince Edward Island—that is Charlottetown.

Why Iqaluit Became Capital

• Geographic centrality: Located on Baffin Island, it serves as a hub for the eastern Arctic.
• Infrastructure: Hosts the territorial legislature, government offices, and key services.
• Historical significance: Formerly Frobisher Bay, it was a traditional Inuit gathering place and later a strategic WWII airfield.

Iqaluit's role as Nunavut's administrative, cultural, and transportation center makes it the logical and official capital.