geo.wikisort.org - Island

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 sq mi),[1] making it the second largest of Greenland after the main island and one of the 100 largest islands in the world.

Disko Island

Native name: Qeqertarsuaq
Qeqertarsuaq town on Disko Island
Map of Disko Island
Disko Island Location of Disko Island in Greenland
Geography
Location	Baffin Bay
Coordinates	69°45′N 53°30′W
Area	8,578 km2 (3,312 sq mi)
Area rank	84th largest in world 2nd largest in Greenland
Length	160 km (99 mi)
Highest elevation	1,919 m (6296 ft)
Highest point	Pyramiden
Administration
Greenland
Municipality	Qeqertalik
Largest settlement	Qeqertarsuaq (pop. 839)
Demographics
Population	1,100
Pop. density	0.13/km2 (0.34/sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Inuit

Etymology

The name Qeqertarsuaq means The Large Island (from qeqertaq = island).

Geography

The island has a length of about 160 km (100 mi), rising to an average height of 975 m (3,199 ft), peaking at 1,919 m (6,296 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 Bay.[2]

History

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.[3]

Geology

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.[4][5]

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.

Biodiversity

Several studies on the meiofauna show high marine interstitial diversity in Disko Island. For instance, the gastrotrich species Diuronotus aspetos is found in Iterdla[6] and Kigdlugssaitsut[7] 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.[6]

References

На других языках

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[de] Diskoinsel

Die Diskoinsel (grönländisch Qeqertarsuaq „Große Insel“, dänisch Disko/Disko Ø/Diskoøen) ist mit einer Fläche rund 8600 km² die größte Nebeninsel Grönlands. Sie liegt im Distrikt Qeqertarsuaq in der Kommune Qeqertalik.

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- [en] Disko Island

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[es] Isla Disko

La isla Disko (en groenlandés, Qeqertarsuaq) es una gran isla costera localizada en aguas de la bahía de Baffin, frente a la costa occidental de Groenlandia, a una latitud de 70° Norte, y al norte de la bahía Disko. Tiene una superficie de 8.578 km², siendo la segunda isla más grande de Groenlandia (después de la propia isla principal de Groenlandia) y la 85ª isla mayor del mundo. El nombre Qeqertarsuaq significa, en groenlandés, «isla Grande» (de «qeqertaq», isla).

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[fr] Île de Disko

L'île de Disko (en groenlandais Qeqertarsuaq, littéralement « Grande île », en danois Diskoøen), est une île du Danemark située dans la baie de Baffin, près de l'île principale du Groenland. Elle appartient à la municipalité de Qeqertalik.

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[it] Isola di Disko

L'isola di Disko (dan. Disko Ø, groenl. Qeqertarsuatsiaq) è un'isola della Groenlandia di 3312 miglia quadrate (8578 km²) che si affaccia a est sulla baia di Disko a cui dà il nome, a nord sul Vaigat e ad ovest sulla baia di Baffin e lo Stretto di Davis; è la più grande isola dell'arcipelago della Baia di Disko e dell'intera Groenlandia (a parte la Groenlandia stessa) ed è fra le 100 isole più grandi del mondo. Fa parte del comune di Qeqertalik; ci sono solo tre centri sull'isola: Qeqertarsuaq, Diskofjord e Qullissat. Sull'isola sono presenti giacimenti di ferro nativo, molto raro, e si possono compiere escursioni a piedi o su slitta al ghiacciaio dell'isola, il Lygnmark.

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[ru] Диско (остров)

Ди́ско[1][2] или Кекерта́рсуа́к (дат. Disko øer), гренл. Qeqertarsuaq, в переводе — Большой остров) — остров, расположенный у западного побережья острова Гренландия в Море Баффина. Входит в принадлежащую Дании автономную административную единицу Гренландию. К северо-востоку от острова расположен полуостров Нууссуак, минимальное расстояние до него через пролив Суллорсуак[en] составляет около 12 км.

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