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Disko Island ( kl, Qeqertarsuaq, da, Diskoøen) is a large island in Baffin Bay, off the west coast of Greenland. It has an area of ,Norwegian University of Science and Technology
making it the second largest of Greenland after the main island and one of the 100 list of islands by area, largest islands in the world.
The island has a length of about , rising to an average height of , peaking at . 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.''Nuussuaq'', Saga Map, Tage Schjøtt, 1992
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 Iron meteorite, meteoric origin.
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.
making it the second largest of Greenland after the main island and one of the 100 list of islands by area, largest islands in the world.
Etymology
The name means ''The Large Island'' (from = island).Geography
The island has a length of about , rising to an average height of , peaking at . 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.''Nuussuaq'', Saga Map, Tage Schjøtt, 1992
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.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 Iron meteorite, meteoric origin.
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 and Kigdlugssaitsut 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.References
{{Authority control Disko Island, Islands of Baffin Bay Disko Bay Islands of Greenland