Contwoyto Lake

Contwoyto Lake is a lake in the Kitikmeot Region of the Canadian territory of Nunavut, located near the border with the Northwest Territories. With a total area of 957 km² (369 sq mi), it is the territories' tenth largest lake.

Contwoyto Lake
Contwoyto Lake Location in Nunavut Show map of Nunavut Contwoyto Lake Contwoyto Lake (Canada) Show map of Canada
Location	Kitikmeot Region, Nunavut
Coordinates	65°39′N 110°43′W[1]
Primary outflows	Burnside River
Basin countries	Canada
Surface area	957 km2 (369 sq mi)
Shore length1	982 km (610 mi)
Surface elevation	564 m (1,850 ft)
Settlements	uninhabited
References	[3][4]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lupin Mine is located near Contwoyto Lake. The lake is also the terminus of the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road from Tibbitt Lake in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut's only currently existing road access to the rest of Canada. In 2005, there was a proposal put forward to extend the winter road to a possible port at Bathurst Inlet.

Climate

Climate data for Contwoyto Lake
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	−2.4 (27.7)	−6.4 (20.5)	−2.8 (27.0)	5.6 (42.1)	16.7 (62.1)	24.4 (75.9)	27.2 (81.0)	26.0 (78.8)	16.7 (62.1)	8.3 (46.9)	0.0 (32.0)	6.1 (43.0)	27.2 (81.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	−27.9 (−18.2)	−26.9 (−16.4)	−22.6 (−8.7)	−11.9 (10.6)	−0.9 (30.4)	9.5 (49.1)	14.9 (58.8)	12.8 (55.0)	4.7 (40.5)	−4.9 (23.2)	−16.4 (2.5)	−24.1 (−11.4)	−7.8 (18.0)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−31.4 (−24.5)	−30.6 (−23.1)	−27.2 (−17.0)	−17.2 (1.0)	−5.2 (22.6)	4.8 (40.6)	9.9 (49.8)	9.0 (48.2)	2.0 (35.6)	−7.5 (18.5)	−20.1 (−4.2)	−27.5 (−17.5)	−11.8 (10.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−35.1 (−31.2)	−34.4 (−29.9)	−32.1 (−25.8)	−22.7 (−8.9)	−9.6 (14.7)	0.0 (32.0)	4.8 (40.6)	5.2 (41.4)	−0.8 (30.6)	−10.2 (13.6)	−23.9 (−11.0)	−31.0 (−23.8)	−15.8 (3.6)
Record low °C (°F)	−48.1 (−54.6)	−53.9 (−65.0)	−53.3 (−63.9)	−41.6 (−42.9)	−33.9 (−29.0)	−13.9 (7.0)	−2.2 (28.0)	−3.2 (26.2)	−11.9 (10.6)	−34.4 (−29.9)	−42.6 (−44.7)	−46.7 (−52.1)	−53.9 (−65.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	7.0 (0.28)	7.8 (0.31)	10.2 (0.40)	11.2 (0.44)	18.3 (0.72)	25.1 (0.99)	36.2 (1.43)	41.1 (1.62)	32.7 (1.29)	30.6 (1.20)	15.7 (0.62)	10.6 (0.42)	246.6 (9.71)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.5 (0.02)	6.2 (0.24)	22.2 (0.87)	36.2 (1.43)	40.1 (1.58)	21.5 (0.85)	2.0 (0.08)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	128.6 (5.06)
Average snowfall cm (inches)	7.0 (2.8)	7.8 (3.1)	10.2 (4.0)	10.7 (4.2)	12.1 (4.8)	2.9 (1.1)	0.0 (0.0)	1.1 (0.4)	10.8 (4.3)	28.6 (11.3)	15.7 (6.2)	10.6 (4.2)	117.5 (46.3)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)	7	7	9	9	10	8	11	13	12	15	11	9	122
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm)	0	0	0	—	3	6	11	13	7	1	0	0	41
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm)	7	7	9	8	8	2	—	—	6	15	11	9	84
Source 1: 1961-1990 Environment and Climate Change Canada[5]
Source 2: [6]

See also

• List of lakes of Canada

Further reading

• Tremblay, Leo Paul. Geology of northern Contwoyto Lake area, district of Mackenzie. Ottawa: Information Canada, 1976.
• Steele, Peter. The Man Who Mapped the Arctic:The Intrepid Life of George Back, Franklin's Lieutenant. (2003), pp. 132ff.