Situated between Dease Strait and Queen Maud Gulf on the southeast coast of Victoria Island ("Kitlineq"), part of the Arctic Archipelago, Cambridge Bay is a transportation and administrative centre for the Kitikmeot Region. To the north of the community is Ferguson Lake (Inuinnaqtun: "Tahiryuaq" or "Tahikyoak") which flows into Wellington Bay via the Ekalluk River. The Ekalluk River is both an important commercial fishing and archaeological area, and of particular importance is the short section of the river known as "Iqaluktuuq".