Belcher Islands

 archipelago, invisible

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The Belcher Islands are an archipelago in Hudson Bay, belonging to the territory of Nunavut in Canada. The Belcher Islands are spread out over almost 3,000 km2 (1,200 sq mi). No trees can grow on the islands other than in the valleys because of a lack of adequate soil. The hamlet of Sanikiluaq is on the north coast of Flaherty Island and is the southernmost in Nunavut. Other major islands in the 1,500 island archipelago are Kugong Island, Moore Island, Tukarak Island, Innetallong Island, Wiegand Island, Split Island, Snape Island and Mavor Island.

The geology of the Belcher Islands is Proterozoic; the exposed clastic sedimentary rocks, as well as volcanic igneous and carbonate units record rifting and subsidence of the Superior craton during this period. There are two main volcanic sequences on the Belcher Islands called the Eskimo and overlying Flaherty volcanics. These volcanics form part of the Circum-Superior Belt.

Before 1914 English-speaking cartographers knew very little about the Belcher Islands, which they showed on maps as specks, much smaller than their true extent. In that year a map showing them, drawn by George Weetaltuk, came into the hands of Robert Flaherty, and cartographers began to represent them more accurately.