The northernmost point of land on Earth is a contentious issue due to variation of definition. How permanent some of the contenders are makes hard determination difficult, but sets an important threshold. Problematic issues include ice sheets, water movements and inundation, storm activity that may build, shift, or destroy banks of moraine material, and observational difficulties due to remoteness. However, a bathymetric survey in 2022 confirmed that certain previous contenders, such as 83-42,The World's Northernmost Point Is Called 83-42. Maybe. The Daily Traveller, February 16, 2012 Qeqertaq Avannarleq, and ATOW1996,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. are not permanent islands/landmasses as they are not connected to the seabed: they are gravel banks floating on an ice sheet.
The following table sets out the main contenders (or previous contenders) for this title.
Island nameCoordinatesDistance fromthe North PoleDiscovered byDiscovery yearPermanent?Notes83-42The World's Northernmost Point Is Called 83-42. Maybe. The Daily Traveller, February 16, 201283°42′05.2″N, 30°38′49.4″W700.5 kmDennis Schmitt2003No; not connected to seabed35 m by 15 m and 4 m high; deconfirmed by the 2022 survey as a true landUltima Thule 200883°41′N, 31°6′W702.4 km2008 Ultima Thule expedition2008UnknownNeeds verificationRTOW200183°41′06″N, 30°45′36″W702.5 kmRTOW expedition2001No; not connected to seabedDeconfirmed by the 2022 bathymetric surveyATOW1996Jancik, 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.83°40′34.8″N, 30°38′38.6″W703.2 kmATOW expedition1996No; not connected to seabed10 m long and 1 m high; deconfirmed by the 2022 survey as a true islandStray Dog WestStray Dog West photograph taken on 2007-07-16.John H. Richardson, Journey to the End of the Earth Esquire Magazine 2007-09-18.83°40′37″N, 31°12′W703.3 kmDennis Schmitt2007Yes; submerged during high tideConsidered as a land/ridge, but not an islandQeqertaq Avannarleq83°40′17″N, 30°42′43″W703.4 kmMorten Rasch2021No; not connected to seabed30 m by 60 m and 3–4 m high; deconfirmed by the 2022 survey as a true landOodaaq83°40′N, 30°40′W704.2 kmUffe Petersen1978No; is a gravel bank15 m by 8 m, appears to be submerged periodicallyKaffeklubben83°39′45″N, 29°50′W704.7 kmRobert Peary1900Yes700 m by 300 m by 30 m high; official, undisputed northernmost permanent land on EarthCape Morris Jesup83°37′39″N, 32°39′52″W708.6 kmRobert Peary1900YesNorthernmost tip of Greenland
Currently, Kaffeklubben Island is the northernmost undisputed land that permanently remains above water. However, due to the ever-shrinking Arctic ice, there could be more discoveries in the near future.
In addition, the Gakkel Ridge has been showing some volcanic activity in recent decades, so a new landmass could form even further north from a future eruption.
In 2022, a Swiss-Danish expedition visited the area to confirm the existence of previously discovered islands and islets north of "Inuit Qeqertaat" (Kaffeklubben Island) at latitude 83°39 054″ N, 30°37 045″ W. Measurements by Martin Nissen from the Danish and Greenlandic national mapping agency and René Forsberg with DTU Space, Technical University of Denmark confirmed that all offshore islets north of Inuit Qeqertaat (Kaffeklubben Island) have been debris-covered icebergs.
See also Extremes on Earth
References