Maria Canton
Northern News Services

Baker Lake (Aug 02/00) - Living inland has its privileges.

Baker Lake, Nunavut's only non-coastal community, is located about 300 kilometres from the western shores of Hudson Bay.

Without a daily sea breeze, the Kivalliq community enjoys hot temperatures all summer.

During the month of July, Environment Canada records show Baker Lake enjoying average temperatures from the mid-to-high 20s C.

And at the end of the summer month, temperatures soared above 27 C everyday.

"When you have an upper ridge with a strong southerly flow over Baker Lake it brings in warmer temperatures, unlike on the coast where the water cools the temperatures," said meteorologist Brenda Niska-Aro.

"The main reason Baker Lake shows warmer temperatures is because it isn't along the coast."

Peggy MacLeod, assistant manager of Baker's Iglu Hotel, says it has been a heated summer.

"It's been really hot all summer, we haven't any rain whatsoever, not since it stopped snowing. Just heat," said MacLeod.

"I've farmed all of my fans out to guests except one, I have to keep one for myself. I'm melting and we're praying for rain."

One drawback to the situation is the combination of heat and the community's lake -- together they make a perfect breeding ground for bugs.

"Even in the heat everyone is either wearing a bug jacket or a hooded sweater because the bugs are so bad," said MacLeod. "We have mosquitoes and flies and there's nothing you can do about it. It's like the cold, nothing you can do about it."

But, bugs and all, Baker Lake is the Kivalliq's hotspot.

Many other communities in the region have also been enjoying a sweltering summer.

A cautious optimism is displayed in Rankin Inlet when anyone mentions the recent "heatwave" the community has been experiencing.

Daily highs average in the low-to-mid 20s C with a few days stretching the mercury all the way to 30 C.

Arviat, the Kivalliq's most southerly community, is also riding a spell of hot weather, with consistent temperatures in the mid-20s C.

Normal lows and highs for this time of year range from 5-17 C for Kivalliq communities.