King William

an island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Area, 12,400 sq km. Permanent population, approximately 300 (1967). Composed chiefly of limestone. Maximum altitude, 140 m. There are many lakes in the central part of the island. The coasts are low and have numerous bays. The land is covered by polygonal moss and lichen tundra. Gjoa Haven, where the explorer R. Amundsen wintered in 1903–06, is the main population center.