Exploring the Extremes: Discoveries at the Northernmost Point on Land

In the far north of Earth, at the top of Greenland, lies a dark gray expanse of gravel known as Inuit Qeqertaat, or Kaffeklubben Island. This is the northernmost point on land where a person can stand, marking the transition from land to frozen sea ice.

Recently, climate change researchers and National Geographic Explorers Brian Buma and Jeff Kerby embarked on a journey to explore the plant and animal life in this remote region. Among their discoveries was the world’s northernmost plant, Tortula mucronifolia, growing just a few inches south of the frozen sea ice. Additionally, they found a yellow and lime-green Arctic poppy, Papaver radicatum, thriving in this harsh environment.

But that wasn’t all – Greenlandic archaeologist Aka Simonsen made an astonishing discovery nearby on the mainland. She uncovered a ring of approximately 700-year-old Inuit stones. This may be the northernmost archaeological remains ever found in the region, providing valuable insights into human activity in this inhospitable environment.