The oriented lakes of Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, western Arctic coast, Canada:: A GIS-based analysis

The orientation, size and shape of 578 lakes on Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula were obtained from 1 : 250 000 Canadian National Topographic Survey map sheets, using ArcView geographic information system. These lakes are outside the glacial limits in a tundra plain with < 15 m relief. The lakes range from 20 to 1900 ha, and have mean orientation N07 degreesE, with standard error 1.6. The maps show 145 former lake basins, with lakes inset in 130 of these. The mean orientations of the basins and inset lakes are not statistically different from each other or the general population. Several theories have been proposed for the origin of the oriented lakes, and one theory attributes the orientation to cross winds establishing currents that preferentially erode the ends of the lakes. Data from Tuktoyaktuk and Nicholson for 1970-95 indicate a consistent wind regime within the region, with prevailing winds from the east and west. Using data from Nicholson, a geometric model generates resultant lake orientations of N if all winds are considered, and N08 degreesE if winds above 30 km h(-1) are used. The coincidence of the modelled orientation and lake statistics supports the efficacy of cross wind-induced effects in orienting the lakes. The similar orientation of existing lakes and former basins suggests that these processes have been effective for at least several centuries. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.