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
Investigator Strait Kangaroo Island. A number of protected areas are located both within and adjoining the Strait’s extent. The following reserves are located on the south coast of Yorke Peninsula (from west to east): The following reserves are located on the north coast of Kangaroo Island (from west to east): The following reserve is located on Althorpe Islands, Haystack Island and Seal Island at the north-west end of the strait: Investigator Strait Investigator Strait is a body of water in South Australia lying between the Yorke Peninsula, on the Australian mainland, and Kangaroo Island. It was named by Matthew Flinders after his