Oodaaq is the name given to a bank of gravel and silt, north east of Greenland that was at one stage considered by some to be the most northerly point of land on earth.

Oodaaq lies at 83°40’32.5"N, 30°40’10.1"W, only 600km south of the North Pole and 1360 metres north of Kaffeklubben Island, lying near the north east tip of Greenland. When discovered it measured a mere 15 metres by 8 metres.

It was discovered in 1978 when a Danish survey team led by Uffe Petersen landed a helicopter on Kaffeklubben to confirm that it did indeed lie further north than the tip of Greenland. Having confirmed the fact, a member of the team spotted a dark spot to the north and they flew over to the bank, naming it Oodaaq after the Eskimo who accompanied Robert Peary on his historic journey to the North Pole.

Gravel banks such as this are generally considered not to qualify for the title of world's most northerly point of land as they are rarely permanent. In fact several subsequent expeditions have claimed that Oodaaq has now disappeared beneath the ocean.

In July 2001, the Return to the Top of the World Expedition, led by John Jancik and Ken Zerbst, confirmed that their discovery of the 1996 RTOW island and permanent land feature is indeed the northernmost point of land on earth.

In July 2003 American explorers led by Dennis Schmitt found a 35 metre long bank at 83°42'N. Debate continues as to whether the bank is permanent.

National Geographic

In late 2004, the 8th Edition of the National Geographic World Atlas was released. It clearly shows Oodaaq as the northernmost landmass on Earth.

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