Watkins Range
| Watkins Range | |
|---|---|
| Watkins Bjerge | |
 Watkins Range | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Gunnbjørn Fjeld |
| Elevation | 3,649 m (11,972 ft) |
| Geography | |
  Watkins Range Location | |
| Country | Greenland |
| Municipality | Sermersooq |
| Range coordinates | 68°45′N 29°38′W / 68.750°N 29.633°W |
The Watkins Range (Danish: Watkins Bjerge)[1] is Greenland's highest mountain range. It is located in King Christian IX Land, Sermersooq municipality.
The range was named after British Arctic explorer Gino Watkins.
History
Made up entirely of
However, in 1930 Gino Watkins, leader of the
In 1935 Lawrence Wager, who had been earlier with Watkins' 1930 expedition returned to East Greenland and opened a new route inland. During his venture he made the first ascent of the range's highest point, Gunnbjorns Fjeld. He was also able to sight as well the Lemon Range, a hitherto unknown range located to the north-east of Kangerlugssuaq Fjord.[4]
Geography
The Watkins Range is located in King Christian IX Land about 60 km inland from the Blosseville Coast. It is a system of nunataks surrounded by large active glaciers. The main glaciers are the large Christian IV Glacier to the west, the Rosenborg Glacier to the south and the Kronborg Glacier to the east.[1] The range has massive ice-covered peaks and exposed cliffs. The primary summit of the range is Gunnbjørn Fjeld 3,694 m (12,119 ft), also the highest peak in the Arctic.
The
'Rasmussens Range' (Knud Rasmussens Bjerge), from
Mountains
The Watkins Range has a number of mountains higher than 3,000 m (9,800 ft), some of which are unnamed.[15] Among these the following deserve mention:
- Gunnbjørn Fjeld - 3,694 m (12,119 ft)
- Gunnbjørn Dome - 3,682 m (12,080 ft)
- Gunnbjørn Cone - 3,669 m (12,037 ft)
- Peak - 3,606 m (11,831 ft) at 68°48′40″N 29°33′26″W / 68.81111°N 29.55722°W, part of a group of high peaks north of Gunnbjørn Fjeld[16]
- Deception Dome - 3,526 m (11,568 ft)
- Peak - 3,344.5 m (10,973 ft) at 68°48′21″N 29°16′57″W / 68.80583°N 29.28250°W, part of a group of high peaks NE of Gunnbjørn Fjeld[16]
- Istind - 2,667 m (8,750 ft)[17][18]
- Ebeth - 2,595 m (8,514 ft)[17]
- Lille Snefjeld - 2,511 m (8,238 ft)[17]
Image gallery
-
Southward bend in the Christian IV Glacier with the Gronau Nunataks in the background and the norrhwest part of the Watkins Range on the right -
Defense Mapping Agencymap of Greenland sheet
Climbing
The Watkins Range has excellent snow as well as ice routes for experienced climbers. Good climbing conditions are present for the most part in July and August.[19]
See also
- East Greenland Orogen
- List of mountain ranges of Greenland
- List of Nunataks of Greenland
References
- ^ a b "Watkins Bjerge". Mapcarta. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ GEUS Map - Northern East Greenland; Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin 21 Map 4 - 1:1 000 000
- William Barr
- ^ a b The Development of Mountaineering in East and North-East Greenland, An Outline History
- ^ The Swiss Expedition to Greenland 1938. André Roch
- ^ "Catalogue of place names in northern East Greenland". Geological Survey of Denmark. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
- ^ Encyclopedia Arctica 14: Greenland
- ^ "Skærmen". Mapcarta. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
- ^ "Ejnar Mikkelsen Fjeld". Mapcarta. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
- ^ "Borgtinderne". Mapcarta. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
- ^ "Lilloise Bjerge". Mapcarta. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ "Gronau Nunatakker". Mapcarta. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ Arctic Summits - Summit Climbs
- ^ Geonames - Knud Rasmussen Bjerge
- ^ "Watkins Mountains". Petter Bjørstad. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ a b Google Earth
- ^ a b c "G4 Expedition, Watkins Mountains". Greenland Mountains. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ^ AAJ - North America, Greenland, Swiss East Greenland Expedition
- ^ Mountain Info. Greenland 2006 Climb Magazine. January 2008 issue, p. 70