Open leads start developing along the coast in April, but the landfast ice doesn't break up and drift away until June or even July. The frozen nature of the Arctic Ocean makes it technically difficult and expensive to study and it is the least understood of all ocean basins. The direction of offshore currents affects the shoreline topography as well as the habitats and movement patterns of wildlife. Shingle spits and islands, oriented parallel to the shore, offer important nesting habitat to the sea birds. Brackish lagoons, protected from the open ocean by spits, are important feeding areas for both birds and fish.
Ocean currents affect the location of open water leads in the landfast ice each spring.
Seals and whales depend on these leads to navigate to areas important for feeding, whelping and calving. The same currents carry driftwood westward, from the mouth of the Mackenzie River, piling logs along the shore and in backs of bays. The logs provide essential habitat for a variety of small mammals and nesting birds. In the past, humans depended on driftwood for many of their needs. Currently the most popular recreational activity in Ivvavik is whitewater rafting on the Firth River.