Expedition discovers island believed world’s northernmost
PTI, Aug 31, 2021, 8:43 AM IST
A team of Arctic researchers from Denmark says they accidentally discovered what they believe is the world’s northernmost island located off Greenland’s coast.
The scientists from the University of Copenhagen initially thought they had arrived at Oodaaq, an island discovered by a Danish survey team in 1978, to collect samples during an expedition that was conducted in July.
They instead wound up on an undiscovered island further north.
We were convinced that the island we were standing on was Oodaaq, which until then was registered as the world’s northernmost island, said expedition leader Morten Rasch of the university’s department of geosciences and natural resource management.
But when I posted photos of the island and its coordinates on social media, a number of American island hunters went crazy and said that it couldn’t be true, he said in a statement on Friday.
Island hunters are known as adventurers whose hobby it is to search for unknown islands.
The yet-to-be-named island is 780 meters (about 850 yards) north of Oodaaq, an island off Cape Morris Jesup, the northernmost point of Greenland and one of the most northerly points of land on Earth.
The tiny island, apparently discovered as a result of shifting pack ice, is about 30 by 60 meters (about 100 by 200 feet) in size and rises to about three to four meters (10 to 13 feet) above sea level, the university said.
The research team reportedly doesn’t consider the discovery to be a result of climate change and has allegedly proposed naming the island Qeqertaq Avannarleq, which means the northernmost island in Greenlandic.
The island consists primarily of small mounds of silt and gravel, according to Rasch. He said it may be the result of a major storm that, with the help of the sea, gradually pushed material from the seabed together until an island formed. The island isn’t expected to exist for a long time, Danish researchers believe.
No one knows how long it will remain. In principle, it could disappear as soon as a powerful new storm hits, Rasch said.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
From Orbit to Earth: ISRO’s Contributions to Understanding Himalayan Glacial Shifts
Modi Supports Philippines with BrahMos Missiles in China Sea Dispute
LS 2024: Yet another face-off between seasoned politicians Kota Srinivas Poojary & Jayaprakash Hegde
Wish to work for betterment of my state Odisha: UPSC 2nd rank holder Animesh Pradhan
Climate change is causing marine ‘coldwaves’ too, killing wildlife
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
PM slams Congress over its Goa leader’s remark on Constitution, says it’s ploy to break country
Karnataka witnessing wave in favour of Congress govt’s guarantee schemes, says CM Siddaramaiah
Eshwarappa expelled as he remained in fray despite efforts to dissuade him: K’taka BJP chief
Rajinikanth’s 171st movie is titled ‘Coolie’
Anybody who abuses PM Modi won’t be allowed to return home: Rane warns opposition