Devon Island – Exploring Canada’s Remote, Mars-Like Arctic Desert
In the northern reaches of Canada, there is a remote island with terrain so rugged that it helps scientists prep for missions to Mars. Located in close proximity to Greenland, uninhabited Devon Island is believed to be the closest landscape on Earth to the Red Planet. Devon Island is freezing cold, dusty, and almost entirely devoid of plant life. Images of Devon Island are nearly identical to those beamed back to Earth by the Perseverance rover which landed on Mars on February 18, 2021. Much like Mars, Devon Island features a sizable crater and “patterned ground” covered in ice that routinely thaws and refreezes. Devon Island is even home to a V-shaped canyon that is almost identical to those spotted on Mars. Devon Island’s V-shaped canyon is appropriately called Astronaut Canyon.
Starting in 1997, teams of scientists have converged on Devon Island virtually every summer to test out robots, spacesuits, and all terrain vehicles designed to withstand the Red Planet’s harsh climate. Devon Island features a research station virtually identical to the one that scientists hope to build on Mars. From 2009-2011, a team of 6 scientists took a trip across Devon Island’s Arctic landscape in a pressurized Humvee dubbed the HMP Okarian. The extreme cold presented many challenges on the 2,000-mile expedition, but the team did successfully reach their destination. The expedition across Devon Island is chronicled in a documentary called Passage to Mars.
Entrepreneur Elon Musk famously said that he wishes to found a Martian colony and spend his final days on Mars. Any person interested in ditching Earth for the Red Planet should try out a summer on Devon Island first. According to a seasoned team of scientists, if the harsh conditions on Devon Island are any indication—only the most rugged explorers will thrive on the Red Planet.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada (official island-area reference; remote Arctic island, not a landing site)
- Coordinates
- 75.25, -88
- Access
- Devon Island is an uninhabited High Arctic destination with no ordinary road or scheduled tourist entrance. Parks Canada describes access to Nunavut’s national parks as involving scheduled flights and then air charters or licensed operators, and warns that weather delays are normal and snow can occur in any month. Contact the relevant Inuit community, outfitter and land manager before considering a landing or expedition; self-sufficiency and emergency planning are essential.
- Admission
- No island-wide admission ticket or general public visitor tariff was found. A landing, guided expedition, protected area or archaeological site may require operator arrangements, permission or permits. Confirm permissions, land-use rules and any fees with the relevant authority and Inuit partners before travel.
- Time needed
- This is a remote expedition destination rather than a day trip; transport planning and weather contingencies dominate the schedule. Duration depends on the charter, expedition operator and landing plan. Do not interpret the island-area pin as evidence of a visitor route or a short visit.
- Best season
- Summer offers continuous daylight in the High Arctic, but Parks Canada warns that snow can occur in any month and weather delays are normal in every season. A specific expedition season is set by the charter/operator and access permissions; confirm current conditions and contingency days.
- Opening hours
- There are no public visitor hours for the island as a whole. Access is arranged through expedition operators/charters and any protected-area authorities; there is no walk-up visitor centre or published general opening schedule.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-29
- Facts checked
- 2026-09-29
Map marks the area, not a visitor entrance.
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These fraudsters need to be picked up & gitmoed! the ones that are still w/us!
AND THEY CALL US CONSPIRACY THEORISTS