Disko Island

Disko

Native name: Qeqertarsuaq
300px Qeqertarsuaq town on Disko Island
Disko Island Disko Island (Greenland)
Geography
Location	Baffin Bay
Coordinates
Area
Length	160 km (99 mi)
Highest elevation	1,919 m (6,296 ft)
Country
Greenland
Municipality	Qaasuitsup
Demographics
Population	1100
Ethnic groups	Inuit

Disko Island (Greenlandic: Qeqertarsuaq, Danish: Diskoøen) is a large island in Baffin Bay, off the west coast of Greenland. It has an area of 8,578 km² (3,312.0 sq mi), making it the second largest island of Greenland (after the main island of Greenland) and one of the 100 largest islands in the world. The name Qeqertarsuaq means The Large Island (from qeqertaq = island).

Geography

The island has a length of about 160 km (99.4 mi), rising to an average height of 975 m (3,198.8 ft), peaking at 1,919 m (6,295.9 ft). The port of Qeqertarsuaq (named after the island, and also known as Godhavn) lies on its southern coast. Blæsedalen valley is north of Qeqertarsuaq.

The island is separated from Nuussuaq Peninsula in the northeast by the Sullorsuaq Strait. To the south of the island lies Disko Bay, an inlet bay of Baffin Island.

History

Eric the Red paid the first recorded visit to Disko Island at some time between 982 and 985; the island may have been used as a base for summer hunting and fishing by Viking colonists.

Geology

File:Iron-sea07a.jpg

Native iron from Disko Island (size: 4.9 x 2.9 x 1.5 cm)

Mineral deposits, fossil finds and geological formations add to interest in the area. One of the interesting geological features is the native iron found at the island. A 22 ton lump mixture of iron and iron carbide (cohenite) has been found. There are only a few places on earth where native iron is found which is not of meteoric origin.

There are numerous hot springs on the island. The microscopic animal Limnognathia, the only known member of its phylum, was discovered in these springs.

Biodiversity

Several studies on the meiofauna show high marine interstitial diversity in Disko Island. For instance, the species of Gastrotricha Diuronotus aspetos is found in Iterdla and Kigdlugssaitsut and is so far reported only in Disko Island. It is associated with a rich diversity of other Gastrotricha like Chatonotus atrox, Halichaetonotus sp., Mesodasys sp., Paradasys sp., Tetranchyroderma sp., Thaumastoderma sp. and Turbanella sp.