Prins Karls Forland or Forlandet, occasionally anglicized as Prince Charles Foreland, is an island off the west coast of Oscar II Land on Spitsbergen in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, Norway. The entire island and the surrounding sea area constitutes Forlandet National Park (Forlandet nasjonalpark).[1][2]

Prins Karl Forland
Northern tip of the island
Map
Geography
LocationArctic Ocean
Coordinates78°34′13″N 11°7′25″E / 78.57028°N 11.12361°E / 78.57028; 11.12361
ArchipelagoSvalbard
Area615 km2 (237 sq mi)
Highest elevation1,084 m (3556 ft)
Highest pointMonacofjellet
Administration
Norway
Demographics
Population0
Prins Karls Forland in Svalbard

History

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The island was first seen by the Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz in 1596. In 1610, the English explorer Jonas Poole named it Black Point Isle. By 1612 the English whalers were referring to the island as Prince Charles' Foreland, after King James's son, Charles (later king of England and Scotland). The Dutch called it Kijn Island, after a merchant, who, climbing a tall hill in 1612, fell and broke his neck. The English built a temporary whaling station on the island's northern tip, known to them as Fair Foreland (today Fuglehuken).

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Susan Barr. "Prins Karls Forland". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  2. ^ Leif Ryvarden. "Forlandet nasjonalpark". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved October 1, 2016.