Landsat Island is a small, uninhabited island located at approximately 60°10'37"N 64°02'30"W, 20km (10miles) off the northeast coast of Labrador (part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador). It was discovered in 1976[1] during the analysis of imagery from the Landsat 1 satellite. The island is only 25mx45mm (82feetx148feetm), with a total area of 1125m2.
In 1976, a Canadian coastal survey was carried out using data from the Landsat 1 satellite. Analysis of the data revealed several previously uncharted features; this includes Landsat Island, which was subsequently named after the satellite. Verification of the island's existence fell to Frank Hall of the Canadian Hydrographic Service:
Following Hall's encounter with the polar bear, it was suggested that the island be named "Polar Island,"[2] but the present name was retained.
Landsat Island marks the easternmost point of the Canadian land mass along this section of the Labrador coast. As such, its discovery increased Canada's maritime territory by 68km2.