| Disko Island | |
| Native Name: | Kalaallisut; Greenlandic: Qeqertarsuaq |
| Native Name Link: | Greenlandic language |
| Native Name Lang: | Greenlandic |
| Nickname: | --> |
| Image Map Caption: | Map of Disko Island |
| Pushpin Map: | Greenland |
| Pushpin Label: | Disko Island |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Disko Island in Greenland |
| Coordinates: | 69.75°N -83°W |
| Location: | Baffin Bay |
| Area Km2: | 8578 |
| Rank: | 84th largest in world 2nd largest in Greenland |
| Length Km: | 160 |
| Width M: | --> |
| Coastline M: | --> |
| Elevation M: | 1919 |
| Highest Mount: | Pyramiden |
| Country: | Greenland |
| Country Admin Divisions Title: | Municipality |
| Country Admin Divisions: | Qeqertalik |
| Country Largest City: | Qeqertarsuaq |
| Country Largest City Population: | 839 |
| Country Area M2: | or |
| Country Area Ha: | --> |
| Population: | 1,100 |
| Density Km2: | 0.13 |
| Ethnic Groups: | Inuit |
Disko Island (Kalaallisut; Greenlandic: Qeqertarsuaq, Danish: Diskoøen) is a large island in Baffin Bay, off the west coast of Greenland. It has an area of 85780NaN0,[1] making it the second largest of Greenland after the main island and one of the 100 largest islands in the world.
The island's Greenlandic name Kalaallisut; Greenlandic: Qeqertarsuaq means The Large Island (from Kalaallisut; Greenlandic: qeqertaq = island).
The island has a length of about 160-1NaN-1, rising to an average height of 9750NaN0, peaking at 19190NaN0. 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 Bay.[2]
Research indicates that nine large tsunamigenic landslides struck Sullorsuaq Strait in prehistoric times during the Holocene, seven of them from the southern coast of the Nuussuaq Peninsula and two others from the northern coast of Disko Island. Seven of the landslides apparently occurred between about 8020 BC and 6520 BC with unidentified tsunamigenic effects. The two most recent prehistoric landslides generated megatsunamis which struck Alluttoq Island, the first sometime around 5650 BC with a run-up height of 41mto66mm (135feetto217feetm), and another that struck around 5350 BC with a run-up height of 45mto70mm (148feetto230feetm).[3]
Erik the Red paid the first recorded visit to Disko Island at some time between 982 and 985. The island was used as a base for summer hunting and fishing by Norse colonists.[4]
The coal mining town of Qullissat was founded on the northeast coast of Disko Island in 1924.[5] By 1952 it was a cultural hub and the third-largest settlement in Greenland, with a population of 995.[6] On 15 December 1952, a major landslide on a slope of the mountain Niiortuut (70.349°N -53.178°W) on the southern coast of the Nuussuaq Peninsula generated a tsunami which traveled 30km (20miles) across Sullorsuaq Strait and struck Qullissat, where it had a run-up height of 2.2to and inflicted damage on buildings.[6] By 1966, Qullissat was the sixth-largest town in Greenland with a population of 1,400,[5] but it was abandoned in 1972,[7] leaving the northern coast of Disko Island uninhabited.
On 21 November 2000, a large landslide at Paatuut on the southern coast of the Nuussuaq Peninsula generated a megatsunami with a run-up height of 50m (160feet) near the landslide and 28m (92feet) at the former site of Qullissat, 20km (10miles) away, where it inundated the coast as far as 100m (300feet) inland.[8]
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 (44,000 lbs; 20 tonnes) 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.[9] [10]
There are numerous hot springs on the island. The microscopic animal Limnognathia, the only known member of its phylum, was discovered in the Isunngua spring.
Several studies on the meiofauna show high marine interstitial diversity in Disko Island. For instance, the gastrotrich species Diuronotus aspetos is found in Iterdla[11] and Kigdlugssaitsut[12] and is so far reported only in Disko Island. It is associated with a rich diversity of other gastrotrichs like Chaetonotus atrox, Halichaetonotus sp., Mesodasys sp., Paradasys sp., Tetranchyroderma sp., Thaumastoderma sp. and Turbanella sp.[11]