Northernmost point of land
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File:Kaffeklubben island aerial photo.jpg in 2008]]
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,[http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2012/02/ultima-thule-83-42-arctic-greenland-ken-jennings The World's Northernmost Point Is Called 83-42. Maybe.] The Daily Traveller, February 16, 2012 Qeqertaq Avannarleq,{{cite news |title=Scientists discover ‘world’s northernmost island’ off Greenland’s coast |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/28/scientists-discover-worlds-northernmost-island-off-greenlands-coast |access-date=August 28, 2021 |agency=Reuters |work=The Guardian |date=August 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828042237/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/28/scientists-discover-worlds-northernmost-island-off-greenlands-coast |archive-date=August 28, 2021}}{{cite news |title=Arctic expedition discovers the most northerly island on Earth |url=https://news.ku.dk/all_news/2021/08/arctic-expedition-discovers-the-most-northerly-island-on-earth/ |access-date=August 28, 2021 |publisher=University of Copenhagen |date=August 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828192025/https://news.ku.dk/all_news/2021/08/arctic-expedition-discovers-the-most-northerly-island-on-earth/ |archive-date=August 28, 2021}} and ATOW1996Jancik, 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, and are only gravel banks floating on an ice sheet.
The following table sets out the main contenders (or previous contenders) for this title.
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{{cite web|url=http://www.gebco.net/about_us/meetings_and_minutes/documents/gebco_scufn_15_report.pdf |title=IHO-IOC GEBCO Gazetteer |access-date=2008-05-24 |publisher=International Hydrographic Organization/Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission |date=September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911062905/http://www.gebco.net/about_us/meetings_and_minutes/documents/gebco_scufn_15_report.pdf |archive-date=2008-09-11 }} has been showing some volcanic activities 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 all 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.