Scientists have discovered a new island off the coast of Greenland, believed to be the northernmost island in the world that is farthest from the mainland.
This small island measures 60m x 30m, with its highest point only about 3m above sea level. It is composed of silt, sand, and glacial deposits – a mixture of soil and leftover rock after glaciers have melted.
The newly discovered island is small, with a width of only about 30m. (Photo: Reuters)
The research team – the first to explore the new island – plans to name it “Qeqertaq Avannarleq”, which means “the northernmost island” in Greenlandic. Greenland is an Arctic territory belonging to Denmark.
The discovery of the new island was somewhat accidental. In July, the team of experts went to collect samples at Oodaaq, an island discovered by Denmark in 1978 and considered the northernmost in the world. Their main goal was to search for new species adapted to life in this harsh environment. However, upon reaching and checking the coordinates with the Danish agency responsible for Arctic islands, they realized they were on a different island, about 780m north of Oodaaq.
“We discovered the new island completely by chance. Our team of six was on a small helicopter. When we reached the location of Oodaaq, we could not see it,” said Morten Rasch, an expert at the Arctic Research Station in Greenland.
Following this, Morten Rasch’s research team began searching for the island. After a few minutes of excitement, the scientists landed on a barren land composed of silt, gravel, and glacial deposits, surrounded by sea ice. After the expedition and numerous discussions with experts, the team realized they had just accidentally discovered the northernmost island in the world.
The expansion of territory in the Arctic will depend on whether the newly discovered land structure is classified as an island or merely a natural mound that may disappear again. A structure referred to as an island must also be above sea level when the tide rises. “At this point, the newly discovered land meets all the criteria to be classified as an island. This is the northernmost island in the world farthest from the mainland,” stated Professor Rene Forsberg from the Danish National Space Institute.
