Isachsen

78°46′60″N 103°31′60″W

Isachsen was a remote arctic research station on the western shore of Ellef Ringnes Island in the Sverdrup Islands, in the territory of Nunavut in Canada. It was founded to participate in a joint Canada-U.S. weather program. Isachsen operated from April 3, 1948 to September 19, 1978.

In the 1950's Isachsen was joint U.S.-Canadian weather station primarily taking upper-air soundings. Along with soundings from similiar stations at Mould Bay, Eureka, and Alert this information was used to complete the North American data primarily used to foreast weather over the North Atlantic and long range forecasts for Europe.

Isachsen was an isolated location with the RCAF flying in supplies in the late spring and again in the early fall from a base at Resolute on Cornwallis Island. Resolure was supplied by freighter and tanker ships led by icebreakers in late summer. Isachsen's 8 man staff consisted of 4 Americas and 4 Canadians. The U.S. supplied two weather personnel, a cook, and a mechanic. Canada supplied two weather personnel and two radio operators as all communications was by shortwave radio using morse code. Fuel oil for the generators and building heaters and cooking were flown in 55 gallon barrels.

In the summer of 1958 the camp was rebuilt with prefab buildings flown in along with about a dozen construction personnel. The sun sets in October and it is totally dark for about three months with temperatures from -25F to -60F. In the summer the sun is visible above the horizon 24 hours for about three months with temperatures from about 45F to 60F.

There are no trees or shrubs thi far north inn the arctic only moss, lichen, and tiny flowers. There is also very little wildlife just a few polar bears, arctic fox and some musk ox.

In 1956, a government plan was scrapped to resettle Inuit people at several high arctic locations, which included Isachsen, Alert, Eureka, and Mould Bay. If the plan had proceeded, a permanent town would have been established at Isachsen.

On October 31, 1971 the United States withdrew its participation in the weather program at the site, and this led to its decommissioning in 1978. An automated weather station was placed at the site in 1989, linked by satellite. Isachsen is uninhabited.

According to the Environment Canada Climate Severity Index, Isachsen and the surrounding area has the worst weather in Canada with a CSI value of 99 out of a possible 100.