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Hudson Strait

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

The Hudson Strait is a huge body of water in Canada.

Map indicating Hudson Strait, Nunavut, Canada
Map indicating Hudson Strait, Nunavut, Canada

It sits in the territory of Nunavut. This strait connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Labrador Sea to Hudson Bay. It lies between Baffin Island and Nunavik. The water acts as a gateway for many different areas. It can link northern seaports in Manitoba and Ontario to the big ocean.

Drift ice in Hudson Strait, 2014
Drift ice in Hudson Strait, 2014

This strait has many different shapes and sizes. It is about 650 kilometers long. The width of the water changes as you move along it. It averages about 250 kilometers wide. At the eastern entrance, it is much narrower. Near Deception Bay, the width changes again. You might see drift ice floating in the water during the summer.

Drift ice in Hudson Strait, 2014
Drift ice in Hudson Strait, 2014

Many explorers traveled through these waters long ago. Sir Martin Frobisher was the first European to report entering the strait in 1578. He called it Mistaken Strait because he thought it was not a good path. He also found a tidal rip called the Furious Overfall. Later, explorer John Davis sailed by the entrance in 1587. George Weymouth was the first to explore past the overfall in 1602.

HBC-Upper Savage Islands-Hudson Strait
HBC-Upper Savage Islands-Hudson Strait

The strait eventually took a new name. It was named after Henry Hudson, who explored it in 1610. He traveled in a ship called Discovery. This was the same ship George Weymouth used years before. Other explorers followed him to map the area. Thomas Button arrived in 1612. Then, Robert Bylot and William Baffin led a mapping trip in 1616.

HBC-Upper Savage Islands-Hudson Strait
HBC-Upper Savage Islands-Hudson Strait

Today, we know the strait is a vital part of the Arctic. It could serve as an eastern entrance to the Northwest Passage. However, ice in the Fury and Hecla Strait can block that path. The area has also been home to the Inuit people. In the past, ships from the Hudson's Bay Company traded with them.

HBC-Upper Savage Islands-Hudson Strait
HBC-Upper Savage Islands-Hudson Strait

This water remains a very important link for the land and sea.

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🖼️ Images & Media (3)
File:Map indicating Hudson Strait, Nunavut, Canada.png
Map indicating Hudson Strait, Nunavut, Canada.png
File:HBC-Upper Savage Islands-Hudson Strait.jpg
HBC-Upper Savage Islands-Hudson Strait.jpg
File:Drift ice in Hudson Strait, 2014.jpg
Drift ice in Hudson Strait, 2014.jpg
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