What a great moment for science and discovery! Just like Christopher Columbus thought he had discovered a new way to reach India, last July six scientists discovered a new island off of the northernmost point of Greenland’s coast. This 60×30 island is the nearest point to the North Pole.
The Danish-Swiss group of scientists thought they had arrived on the known Oodaaq Island, which was discovered in 1978. Then, the position cleared any doubts: they were 800m further north and this surprised them. Morten Rasch, the coordinator of the expedition affirmed that they were conducting research on some species’ adaptation to climate and collecting samples. The place was unfriendly and without vegetation, full of mud and surrounded by ice.
After the expedition and many discussions with specialists on the topic, we have now realised that we by accident actually discovered the world’s most northerly island
Morten Rasch, scientific leader Arctic Station in Greenland
A new name has been proposed for this place “ Qeqertaq Avannarleq”, which means the northernmost island in Greenlandic. Anyway, small islands come and go. It has to be admitted that the received title will remain until there will be criteria to define it as the northernmost place. Since this is a small island and ice moves, it can become thicker during the years, it can change!
