Parry Islands | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Parry Islands

The Parry Islands are a group of high arctic islands comprising Melville, Bathurst and Cornwallis islands, as well as a number of smaller ones. Melville is the largest of the 3 main islands and is also the highest, exceeding 1000 m in places.

The Parry Islands are a group of high arctic islands comprising Melville, Bathurst and Cornwallis islands, as well as a number of smaller ones. Melville is the largest of the 3 main islands and is also the highest, exceeding 1000 m in places. The islands are topographically similar since all are part of the same geosynclinal structure; each takes the form of a level plateau 600 m in elevation that ends abruptly in 300 m high cliffs along many parts of the coast. The most striking feature of the surface of Melville and Cornwallis islands is the almost complete absence of vegetation, exposing a great number and variety of patterned ground features.