Gunnbjørn Fjeld

Gunnbjørn Fjeld, also known as Hvitserk, is the highest mountain in Greenland, located north of the Arctic Circle. It is the tallest point in North America that is not on the mainland. This impressive peak stands out as a nunatak, which means it is a rocky peak that rises above the surrounding glacial ice. Gunnbjørn Fjeld is ranked 9th in the world by topographic isolation, making it a significant landmark in the region. For the Norse legend that shares the name Hvitserk, you can read more here.

Geography

Gunnbjørn Fjeld is located in the Watkins Range, an area of nunataks on the east coast. It is one of several summits that rise above 3,500 metres. Its height is often listed as 3,700 metres, though numbers can vary a little.

It is taller than Snæfellsjökull, which is about 530 kilometers away on the west coast of Snæfellsnes in Iceland. Normally, you cannot see both places at the same time because they are too far apart. But in the Arctic, special mirages can bend light and make distant objects appear closer than they are. This happens because of changes in the air’s temperature and density. Some believe that under certain conditions, like the hillingar effect, these two places might actually be visible to each other.

History

Gunnbjørn Fjeld was first climbed on August 16, 1935, by Augustine Courtauld, Jack Longland, Ebbe Munck, and Lawrence Wager. The mountain is named after Gunnbjörn Ulfsson, the first European to see Greenland.

The peak is located on the remote eastern coast of Greenland, where few people live. Because it is so far away, the mountain is climbed very rarely. People usually reach it by helicopter or a special plane with skis, often starting from Iceland.