Eureka, Nunavut

Eureka is a small research base on Ellesmere Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut. It is the second-northernmost permanent research community in the world. The only one farther north is Alert, which is also on Ellesmere Island. In 2005, it reported a permanent population of 0 but has at least 8 staff on a continuous rotational basis. The base consists of three areas, the Eureka Airport which includes "Fort Eureka" (the quarters for military personnel maintaining the island's communications equipment), the Environment Canada Weather Station, and the ASTRO/PEARL Observatory

Related Topics:
Ellesmere Island - Canadian - Nunavut - Alert - 2005 - Eureka Airport - Environment Canada

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Eureka was founded on April 11, 1947, as part of a requirement to set up a network of arctic weather stations. On this date, 110 short tons (100 metric tons) of supplies were airlifted to a promising spot on Ellesmere Island and five prefabricated Jamesway huts were constructed.

Related Topics:
April 11 - 1947 - Weather station - Short ton - Metric ton

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The complex is powered by a 650-kilowatt generator. The station is supplied on a bi-weekly basis with fresh food and mail by air,(X0A 0G0) and annually in the late summer, a supply ship from Montreal brings heavy supplies. The settlement sees the midnight sun between April 10 and August 29, with no sunlight at all between mid-October and late February. The temperature has never passed 20 °C (68 °F).

Related Topics:
Montreal - Midnight sun - April 10 - August 29

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Eureka has been described as "The Garden Spot of Ellesmere Island" due to the flora and fauna abundant around the Eureka area, more so than any where else in the High Arctic? Musk Oxen, Arctic Wolves, Arctic Foxes, Arctic Hares, lemmings; summer nesting geese, ducks, owls, loons, ravens, gulls and many other smaller birds nest, raise their young, and return south in August.

Related Topics:
Musk Ox - Arctic Wolves - Arctic Fox - Arctic Hare - Lemming

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At this latitude, a geosynchronous communications satellite, if due south, would require an antenna to be pointed horizontally; satellites farther east or west along that orbit would be below the horizon.

Related Topics:
Geosynchronous - Communications satellite - Antenna

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Other settlements on Ellesmere Island: Alert, Grise Fiord.

Related Topics:
Alert - Grise Fiord

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