Most northerly land

On 26 July 1978, Uffe Petersen (Denmark) of the Danish Geodetic Institute observed the islet of Oodaaq, 30 metres (100 feet) across, 1.36 kilometres (0.84 miles) north of Kaffeklubben off Kap Morris Jesup, Peary Land, Greenland, at Lat. 83º40'32.5"N (83.67°N), Long. 30º40'10.1"W (30.66°W). It is 706.4 kilometres (438.9 miles) from the North Pole.

There is a debate among geologists whether Oodaaq should be considered true "land", arguing it is a temporary bank made of gravel and silt. Some argue that the holder should be the nearby Kaffeklubben ("Coffee Club") Island, at 83°39'45"N (83.66°N) and 30°36'50"W (30.61°W) and 713.5 km (443.3 mi) from the North Pole.

Several similar mud/gravel short-lived islands have been reported in the proceeding decades, including one visited in 2003 by American polar explorer David Schmitt that was calculated to be located as far north as 83°42'0.5" (83.70°N), Long. 30º39' (30.65°W), and named 83-42 (aka Eklipse, or Schmitt Island). Similar to Oodaaq, there have been arguments for and against this and other islets being recognized officially as land.

In September 2021, reports emerged of another islet situated 780 m (2,560 ft) north-west of Oodaaq, which could also qualify for this record. The mud and rock island is around 30 m (100 ft) by 60 m (200 ft) in area, 3 m (10 ft) high and was exposed as a result of fragmenting pack-ice, being driven by global warming. It was discovered by chance by scientists from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), who were collecting bacteria samples in the area. The island's coordinates have yet to be confirmed (estimates: 83°40'59.1" North x 30°41'52.2" West) and it has yet to be named, although the researchers are recommending "Qeqertaq Avannarleq" ("northern island" in Greenlandic).