Amsterdam Island (Spitsbergen)

In this article we are going to delve into the topic of Amsterdam Island (Spitsbergen), a topic that has captured the attention of people of all ages and interests. Amsterdam Island (Spitsbergen) has been the subject of debate and discussion in various areas, whether in the academic, social, political or cultural spheres. Since its emergence, Amsterdam Island (Spitsbergen) has aroused great interest due to its relevance in today's society and its impact on our lives. Throughout this article, we will explore different perspectives and approaches related to Amsterdam Island (Spitsbergen), with the aim of providing a comprehensive and enriching vision on this topic.

Amsterdam Island is located off Spitsbergen's northwestern coast.
17th-century Dutch map of "Amsterdammer Eyland".

Amsterdam Island (Norwegian: Amsterdamøya) is a small island off the northwest coast of West-Spitsbergen. It is separated from Danes Island by the strait Danskegattet. Its total area is 16.8 km2. Its highest point is Hiertabreen, at 472 meters above sea level. The percentage of the island covered in ice is 11.5%.

History

Amsterdam Island was first seen by Willem Barents in 1596. The Dutch first occupied it in 1614 (the year in which it was probably named), building a temporary whaling station on the island's southeastern promontory. In 1619 a semi-permanent station was constructed. It came to be called Smeerenburg (Dutch for "Blubber Town"). The settlement went into decline in the 1640s, and was abandoned sometime before 1660.

References

  1. ^ Mills, William James. 2003. Exploring Polar Frontiers: A Historical Encyclopedia. Volume 1: A–L. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, p. 12.
  2. ^ Peter Joseph Capelotti. 1999. By Airship to the North Pole: An Archaeology of Human Exploration. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, pp. xxi ff.
  3. ^ Zeeberg, JaapJan. 2005. Into the Ice Sea: Barents' Wintering on Novaya Zemlya—A Renaissance Voyage of Discovery. Amsterdam: Rozenberg, pp. 121, 156.
  • Conway, W. M. 1906. No Man's Land: A History of Spitsbergen from Its Discovery in 1596 to the Beginning of the Scientific Exploration of the Country. Cambridge: At the University Press.
  • Norwegian Polar Institute Place Names of Svalbard Database

79°40′N 10°30′E / 79.667°N 10.500°E / 79.667; 10.500