Were it not for a 8.0 km (5 mi) isthmus at the southeast corner it would be a long island parallel to the coast.

From the isthmus it extends 169 km (105 mi) westward into the Coronation Gulf.

To the south, Melville Sound separates it from the mainland.

[4] Historically, the Umingmuktogmiut subgroup of the Copper Inuit had a permanent community at Umingmuktog on the peninsula's western coast.

In 1838, Thomas Simpson nearly reached the same point, but was blocked by ice and had to walk 160 km (100 mi) east.