Getting to the Haughton impact structure

Boeing jet at Resolute Bay airport
Photo: G. Osinski, Canadian Space Agency

Not every plane can land on the dirt airstrip at Resolute Bay... only specially modified Boeing 727 or 737s make the bi-weekly flight from Iqaluit.

The Resolute Bay airport
Photo: G. Osinski, Canadian Space Agency

The airport at Resolute Bay may look small, but it is usually very busy during the short summer months.

The town of Resolute Bay from a hill overlooking the bay
Photo: G. Osinski, Canadian Space Agency

Resolute Bay is the second most northern community of Nunavut, with a year-round population of 255 people, mostly of Inuit origin.

Loading for leg two of the journey to Devon Island
Photo: G. Osinski, Canadian Space Agency

OK, we're ready to head off to the Haughton impact structure on Devon Island, a short 50 minute northeasterly flight on a Twin Otter plane.

Frozen tracks in Wellington Sound
Photo: G. Osinski, Canadian Space Agency

Devon Island and Cornwallis Island are separated by a stretch of Arctic Ocean called the Wellington Sound. In this overhead view from the Twin Otter plane, tracks can be seen in the ice sheet where ice-breaker ships have traversed across the Sound. These are more apparent in the picture to the right.

Aerial view of Cornwallis Island
Photo: G. Osinski, Canadian Space Agency

Flying over Cornwallis Island, you'll notice that summer is slow to come to these northern regions. The date is July 1st -- Canada Day!

Ice-covered Wellington Sound
Photo: G. Osinski, Canadian Space Agency

Devon Island and Cornwallis Island are separated by a stretch of Arctic Ocean called the Wellington Sound, which is frozen over in this picture.