Baffin Bay pack ice. Winds are predominantly north-western through the whole year. South-eastern and eastern winds are common in July and August. Between May and July (sometimes April), a significant portion of navigable open water (polynya) forms at the extreme north of the bay, presumably due to the relatively warm Greenland Current. With an area of about in summer, it is the largest polynya of the Canadian Arctic and covers the Smith Sound between the Ellesmere Island and Greenland. This polynya has a stable position and existed for at least 9,000 years. It was first described in 1616 by William Baffin and
East Bay (Nova Scotia) north of Boularderie Island and the Little Bras d'Or Channel to south of Boularderie Island, the waters of East Bay are brackish, partially fresh/ salt water. East Bay opens to the south-west directly onto the Bras d'Or Lake and lies between the Boisdale Hills to the north and the East Bay Hills to the south. The bay measures wide at its mouth, between Benacadie Point to the north, and Middle Cape to the south and runs easterly to its terminus at Portage. East Bay has of shoreline. The bay's shores are generally heavily wooded and consist mainly of bold and