I9I2. No. 14. THE HYDROGRAPHIC OBSERVATIONS. II 



named after Prince Charles, son of King James I. In connection here- 

 with, the mainland was called for a time A7//^ James Xeidand, a name 

 that was soon, for political reasons, replaced by that of Greenland or 

 East Greenland. The name Spitsbergen, under which the whole group of 

 islands is now known, was given by Barents in 1596. 



Prince Charles Foreland is situated between latitudes 78'^ 11' and 

 78" 54' X., and longitudes 12*^' 10' and 10'^ 30' E. G. The general direction 

 of the island, from the southern extremity. Sal Pt (Saddle Point I, to the 

 northern, Vogel Hoek, is SSE — NNW. Its breadth varies from 5 to 11 

 kilometres. The southernmost 10 kilometres consist of mountainous countrv, 

 which in Salfj (Saddle Mt.) attains a height of 432 m. Next comes the 

 1 5-kilometre long Foreland Plain, which does not exceed a height of 

 20 metres above the sea. North of this plain, and extending right to the 

 northern extremity of the island, is mountainous country again, its altitude 

 culminating in Mt. Monaco (1080 m.). On the eastern side of this mountainous 

 district lies, farthest south, Geikie Glaciers, and north of Ferrier Haven, 

 Buchanan Glaciers, enormous glaciers of the Malaspina tvpe. 



Although the island has often been visited, and Norwegian hunters 

 have frequently wintered on it, its exploration has only recentlv been 

 effected, nameh- in 1906 and 1907, by the Scottish arctic explorer, W. S. 

 Bruce, under the auspices of the Prince of Monaco, and continued bv 

 Isachsen's expedition in 1909 and 191 o. 



Prince Charles Foreland is separated from the mainland by Foreland 

 Sound, which until now has been almost Completel}' unexplored. Barents 

 attempted in 1596 to go through it from the north, but had to turn back 

 on account of the great quantities of grounded ice he found upon the reef 

 He therefore called the northern part of Foreland Sound Keerwyck 

 (Turnagain Bay). Those who have since passed through it have found 

 shallow water over the reef. 



When approached from the south or west of south, Prince Charles 

 Foreland has the appearance of being two distinctl}" separate islands, as 

 the intervening low-lying Foreland Plain is not visible. Whether entering 

 Ice Fjord or going up Foreland Sound, a vessel should steer towards 

 Saddle Mt. until Auk ( Alkl Point is on with Advent Point, when the course 

 should be changed either for the latter point or for Foreland Sound, 

 whereb}' the dangerous shallows lying 10 miles west of Cape Staratschin 

 are avoided. Advent Point must not, however, be covered by Auk Point, 

 as in that case the vessel would run the risk of coming too near Saddle 

 Point. 



