Alert, in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada, is the northernmost continuously inhabited place in the world. The location is on Ellesmere Island at latitude 82°30'05" north, 817 km from the North Pole. It takes its name from the Royal Navy vessel HMS Alert, which wintered 10 km east of the present station off what is now Cape Sheridan in 1875–1876. All Alert residents are temporary, typically serving three- to six-month tours of duty there.