In the northernmost region of Earth, situated on the northern coast of Greenland, lies Inuit Qeqertaat, also known as Kaffeklubben Island. This isolated stretch of land is a barren landscape of dark gray gravel, merging seamlessly into the frozen sea ice beyond. It is a desolate yet intriguing place, rich with hidden wonders waiting to be discovered.
With a curiosity for what secrets lie within these rocky soils, climate change researchers and National Geographic Explorers, Brian Buma and Jeff Kerby, along with their team, embarked on a journey to explore and survey the remote region. Among the harsh terrain, they stumbled upon a unique species of moss, Tortula mucronifolia, known as the world’s northernmost plant. Just a few inches away, a vibrant yellow and lime-green Arctic poppy, Papaver radicatum, thrived in this harsh environment.
On the nearby mainland, Greenlandic archaeologist Aka Simonsen made a remarkable discovery of a ring of ancient Inuit stones, estimated to be roughly 700 years old. These archaeological remains could potentially be the northernmost found artifacts in the world, shedding light on the rich history of the Inuit people who once inhabited this unforgiving land.