Inussullissuaq Island
Encyclopedia
Inussulissuaq Island is a small uninhabited island
in the Melville Bay
region of the Upernavik Archipelago
in the Qaasuitsup
municipality in northwestern Greenland
. The name of the island means "a large cairn" in the Greenlandic language.
, approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) south of Kiatassuaq Island
, and 8.5 km (5.3 mi) west of the mainland Sanningassorsuaq Peninsula
. There is a small freshwater lake on the southern coast. The highest point on the island is an unnamed summit at 560 m (1,837.3 ft).
explorer
and anthropologist
. The station was named Bjørne Borg (or Bjørneborg, a bear castle). Its ruins can still be found on the island.
is the closest settlement to the island, located on an island of the same name to the north of Kiatassuaq Island, 19.6 km (12.2 mi) away. In the south, the Nuussuaq
village on the southern coast of Nuussuaq Peninsula
is located 33.4 km (20.8 mi). The island is accessible only by boat, and thus the distances to reach it are longer due to the need to navigate around the Kiatassuaq Island and Nuussuaq Peninsula, respectively.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the Melville Bay
Melville Bay
Melville Bay , is a large bay off the coast of northwestern Greenland. Located to the north of the Upernavik Archipelago, it opens to the south-west into Baffin Bay. Its Kalaallisut name, Qimusseriarsuaq, means "the great dog sledding place"....
region of the Upernavik Archipelago
Upernavik Archipelago
Upernavik Archipelago is a vast archipelago of small islands in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland, on the coast of northeastern Baffin Bay...
in the Qaasuitsup
Qaasuitsup
Qaasuitsup is a new municipality in Greenland, operational from 1 January 2009. As of January 2010 its population is 17,749. The administrative center of the municipality is in Ilulissat...
municipality in northwestern Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. The name of the island means "a large cairn" in the Greenlandic language.
Geography
Inussulissuaq Island is located in the northern part of Inussulik BayInussulik Bay
Inussulik Bay is a bay in the Upernavik Archipelago in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :The bay is located in the northern part of Upernavik Archipelago, between Kiatassuaq Island in the north and Nuussuaq Peninsula in the south...
, approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) south of Kiatassuaq Island
Kiatassuaq Island
Kiatassuaq Island is an uninhabited island in the Melville Bay region of the Upernavik Archipelago in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- History :...
, and 8.5 km (5.3 mi) west of the mainland Sanningassorsuaq Peninsula
Sanningassorsuaq Peninsula
Sanningassorsuaq Peninsula is a mainland peninsula in northwestern Greenland, located at the northern end of Upernavik Archipelago.- Geography :The Sanningassorsuaq Peninsula is long, and wide...
. There is a small freshwater lake on the southern coast. The highest point on the island is an unnamed summit at 560 m (1,837.3 ft).
Promontories
| Direction | Latitude N | Longitude W |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Cape | 74°25′54″ | 57°01′18″ |
| Eastern Cape | 74°24′41″ | 56°53′50″ |
| Southern Cape | 74°24′05″ | 57°00′00″ |
| Western Cape | 74°25′10″ | 57°05′50″ |
History
Inussullissuaq Island has never been permanently inhabited due to its small size. In 1930 it briefly served as a polar station for Knud Rasmussen, the Greenlandic polarPolar region
Earth's polar regions are the areas of the globe surrounding the poles also known as frigid zones. The North Pole and South Pole being the centers, these regions are dominated by the polar ice caps, resting respectively on the Arctic Ocean and the continent of Antarctica...
explorer
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
and anthropologist
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
. The station was named Bjørne Borg (or Bjørneborg, a bear castle). Its ruins can still be found on the island.
Settlement
KullorsuaqKullorsuaq
Kullorsuaq is a settlement in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. It is the northernmost settlement in the Upernavik Archipelago, located on Kullorsuaq Island, at the southern end of Melville Bay, an indentiation of Baffin Bay.The settlement was founded in 1928, and became a...
is the closest settlement to the island, located on an island of the same name to the north of Kiatassuaq Island, 19.6 km (12.2 mi) away. In the south, the Nuussuaq
Nuussuaq
Nuussuaq is a settlement in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. It is the only mainland settlement in the Upernavik Archipelago, located near the western tip of the Nuussuaq Peninsula, on the northern coast of Sugar Loaf Bay, an indentiation of Baffin Bay.The settlement was...
village on the southern coast of Nuussuaq Peninsula
Nuussuaq Peninsula (Upernavik Archipelago)
Nuussuaq Peninsula is a mainland peninsula in northwestern Greenland, located at the northern end of Upernavik Archipelago, approximately to the south of Melville Bay...
is located 33.4 km (20.8 mi). The island is accessible only by boat, and thus the distances to reach it are longer due to the need to navigate around the Kiatassuaq Island and Nuussuaq Peninsula, respectively.