Oodaaq
Encyclopedia
Oodaaq or Oodap Qeqert is a bank of gravel and silt northeast of Greenland
that has been considered by some to be the most northerly point of land on earth.
Oodaaq lies at 83°40′N 30°40′W, only 705 km south of the North Pole
and 1360 metres north of Kaffeklubben Island
, lying near the northeast tip of Greenland. When discovered it measured a mere 15 metres by 8 metres.
It was discovered in 1978 when a Danish survey team led by Uffe Petersen landed a helicopter
on Kaffeklubben to confirm that it did indeed lie further north than the tip of Greenland. Having confirmed the fact, a member of the team spotted a dark spot to the north and they flew over to the bank, naming it Oodaaq after the Eskimo
who accompanied Robert Peary
on his historic journey to the North Pole.
Gravel banks such as this are generally considered not to qualify for the title of world's most northerly point of land as they are rarely permanent. In fact several subsequent expeditions have claimed that Oodaaq has now disappeared beneath the ocean.
In July 2001, the Return to the Top of the World Expedition, led by Theresa Baker, John Jancik, and Ken Zerbst, confirmed that the previously-discovered island and permanent land feature ATOW1996
, is indeed the northernmost point of land on earth.
In July 2003 American explorers led by Dennis Schmitt
found a 35-metre-long bank at 83°42'N. Debate continues as to whether the bank is permanent.
In late 2004, the Eighth Edition of the National Geographic World Atlas was released. It clearly shows Oodaaq as the northernmost landmass on Earth.
In July 2007, Dennis Schmitt
discovered a 'new' northernmost island on Earth at 83°40'30" N (named Stray Dog West by Holly Wenger).
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...
that has been considered by some to be the most northerly point of land on earth.
Oodaaq lies at 83°40′N 30°40′W, only 705 km south of the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
and 1360 metres north of Kaffeklubben Island
Kaffeklubben Island
Kaffeklubben Island or The Coffee Club Island is a small island lying off the northern tip of Greenland. It is the northernmost point of land on Earth....
, lying near the northeast tip of Greenland. When discovered it measured a mere 15 metres by 8 metres.
It was discovered in 1978 when a Danish survey team led by Uffe Petersen landed a helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
on Kaffeklubben to confirm that it did indeed lie further north than the tip of Greenland. Having confirmed the fact, a member of the team spotted a dark spot to the north and they flew over to the bank, naming it Oodaaq after the Eskimo
Eskimo
Eskimos or Inuit–Yupik peoples are indigenous peoples who have traditionally inhabited the circumpolar region from eastern Siberia , across Alaska , Canada, and Greenland....
who accompanied Robert Peary
Robert Peary
Robert Edwin Peary, Sr. was an American explorer who claimed to have been the first person, on April 6, 1909, to reach the geographic North Pole...
on his historic journey to the North Pole.
Gravel banks such as this are generally considered not to qualify for the title of world's most northerly point of land as they are rarely permanent. In fact several subsequent expeditions have claimed that Oodaaq has now disappeared beneath the ocean.
In July 2001, the Return to the Top of the World Expedition, led by Theresa Baker, John Jancik, and Ken Zerbst, confirmed that the previously-discovered island and permanent land feature ATOW1996
ATOW1996
ATOW1996 is one of the northernmost documented points of land on earth. It is a small island about 10 metres long and one metre high, located several miles north of Cape Morris Jesup in northern Greenland at...
, is indeed the northernmost point of land on earth.
In July 2003 American explorers led by Dennis Schmitt
Dennis Schmitt
Dennis Schmitt , is a veteran explorer from UC Berkeley who, in 2005, discovered a new island formed by the retreat of an ice shelf in East Greenland...
found a 35-metre-long bank at 83°42'N. Debate continues as to whether the bank is permanent.
In late 2004, the Eighth Edition of the National Geographic World Atlas was released. It clearly shows Oodaaq as the northernmost landmass on Earth.
In July 2007, Dennis Schmitt
Dennis Schmitt
Dennis Schmitt , is a veteran explorer from UC Berkeley who, in 2005, discovered a new island formed by the retreat of an ice shelf in East Greenland...
discovered a 'new' northernmost island on Earth at 83°40'30" N (named Stray Dog West by Holly Wenger).