The largest uninhabited island on Earth, a frigid Arctic landmass in Nunavut whose Mars-like terrain hosts NASA analog research stations.
Geography
Devon Island lies in northern Baffin Bay, separated from Ellesmere Island by Jones Sound. About a third of its area is covered by the Devon Ice Cap, and the Haughton impact crater near its center formed roughly 39 million years ago.
Research
The Haughton-Mars Project, run by NASA and the SETI Institute since 1997, uses the cold, dry, rocky polar desert as an analog for Mars exploration. Crews test space suits, rovers, and habitat designs each summer.
Climate
With mean July highs of about 8 C and winter lows below minus 30 C, Devon supports only sparse tundra vegetation. Muskoxen, polar bears, and Arctic wolves occasionally cross from neighboring islands.