The disappeared bank of gravel Odaaq, a gravel bank on the northeastern side of Greenland, used to b
The disappeared bank of gravelOdaaq, a gravel bank on the northeastern side of Greenland, used to be the northernmost point of land (also known as ‘Ultima Thule’) at 83°40′N 30°40′W. Well, that is if you would consider a bank of gravel a piece of land; at its discovery in 1978 it measured 15 by 8 meters. It was named after the Inuit that led the Danish team to the gravel bank. However, since then several expeditions have claimed that Odaaq has disappeared and it has been a while since it was last reported to exist. The shifting ice, the melting ice and the changing water conditions could have something to do with its disappearance.Are there any other candidates for the northernmost point? Well, there is ATW1996 (they are not even properly naming these semi-permanent pieces of land anymore) at 83°40′34.8″N 30°38′38.6″W, of 10km width and one meter height, and the island of 83-42 at 83°42′05.2″N 30°38′49.4″W. Its discoverer Dennis Smith said he would not name the island, because he thought Greenland should name their own territories. However, both of these gravelbanks are again not-permanent, although 83-42 was found with lichen growing on it. In 2007, the newest candidate for Ultima Thule was discovered by explorer Dennis Schmidt at 83°40'30" N, and was named Stray Dog West, but that is also a piece of semi-permanent land.So, the official guidelines for a northernmost point are that the land has to be permanent. Thus, there is only one candidate left: Kaffeklubben Island (Inuit Qeqertaat and English Coffeeclub island) at 83°40′N 29°50′W with a height of 30m, a length of 700m and a width of max. 300m. A Canadian team calculated that the northernmost tip of Kaffeklubben Island lies 750m farther north than Cape Morris Jesup (first believed to be the northernmost).Well, this settles it then…-OW-Image: Copyright DmitTrix. Odaaq in 2003.Read more:Jancik, John; Richardson, Javana; & Gardiner, Steve (2002). Under the Midnight Sun: The Ascent of John Denver Peak and the Search for the Northernmost Point of Land on Earth. Stars End Creations.http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2012-02-16/ultima-thule-83-42-arctic-greenland-ken-jenningshttp://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-flowers-of-kaffeklubben-island -- source link
#ultima thule#geography#north#north pole#arctic circle#greenland#odaaq#nature#gravel#landscape#kaffeklubben island#canada