To the west, Ellesmere is separated from Axel Heiberg Island by Nansen and Eureka Sounds, the latter of which narrows to . Devon Island is to the south across Jones Sound; at the west end of the sound, they are separated by North Kent Island and two channels which narrow to . Greenland is to the east across Nares Strait; the strait narrows to at Cape Isabella on Smith Sound and further north narrows to at Robeson Channel. These channels and straits typically freeze over in winter, though winds and currents leave pockets of open water (temporary leads and persistent polynyas) in Nares Strait. To the north of Ellesmere is the Arctic Ocean, with Lincoln Sea to the northeast.
to the WEst, ElleSmerE iS SeparateD FRom aXeL heIBErG iSlANd By nansen and eurEkA Sounds, thE Latter of whICH naRrOws to . DEvoN IsLAnd iS to the SoUtH aCross jonES soUnD; At The WESt End oF THe sound, ThEy Are SepaRATed bY NoRth KEnT island and TwO chaNneLS wHicH narrOW To . gReeNLand is tO thE eAsT across narEs strait; THe StrAIT narrows tO aT capE iSAbelLa on SmiTh soUNd And fUrther noRTh narrOWs To at rObESON CHaNneL. ThesE cHannEls aNd straITs TYPiCaLly FreEze oVEr iN WinTer, thoUGH wINDS aNd cuRrentS leave pOCkeTS of oPen water (tEmporarY leads and pErSiSteNt polynYaS) in nares STrait. tO thE nOrTh Of eLLesmeRE iS THe arCtIC oceAn, with lincoln sea to thE Northeast