{{Short description|Mountain range in Greenland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}{{Use British English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox mountain range | name=Watkins Range | other_name=''Watkins Bjerge'' | image=Watkinsmountains.jpg | image_size=280 | image_caption=Watkins Range | country=Greenland | state= Sermersooq | state_type=Municipality

| | length_mi= | width_mi = | length_orientation=north-south | highest=Gunnbjørn Fjeld | elevation_m=3649 | range_coordinates = {{coord|68|45|N|29|38|W|type:mountain_region:GL_dim:200000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coordinates = | geology= | geology1= | age= | map = Greenland | map_caption = Location | label_position = | map_size= }}

The '''Watkins Range''' ({{langx|da|Watkins Bjerge}})<ref name="mapcarta">{{cite web|url=http://mapcarta.com/19183140|title=Watkins Bjerge|work=Mapcarta|accessdate=6 May 2016}}</ref> is Greenland's highest mountain range. It is located in King Christian IX Land, Sermersooq municipality.

The range was named after British Arctic explorer Gino Watkins.

==History== Made up entirely of nunataks,<ref name="map">[http://www.geus.dk/publications/bull/nr21/nr21_map_4.pdf GEUS Map - Northern East Greenland; Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin 21 Map 4 - 1:1 000 000]</ref> this remote range was formerly an unknown area. In 1912 Swiss geophysicist and Arctic explorer Alfred De Quervain crossed the Greenland ice cap from Godhavn (Qeqertarsuaq) on the west, to Sermilik Fjord on the eastern side and saw a range system that he named 'Schweizerland', marking the position and approximate height of Mont Forel, the highest point of that area<ref>[http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=9821251 ''Alfred de Quervain's Swiss Greenland expeditions, 1909 and 1912''] in ''Polar Record'', Cambridge Journals by William Barr</ref> Lacking accurate data, Mont Forel was then thought to be the highest mountain in the Arctic Circle area, together with Petermann Peak far to the north.<ref name="climb">[http://www.climbgreenland.com/index.php?id=cg_about_greenland The Development of Mountaineering in East and North-East Greenland, An Outline History]</ref>

However, in 1930 Gino Watkins, leader of the British Arctic Air Route Expedition, discovered a new mountain range from the air located over 350&nbsp;km to the northeast of Schweizerland<ref>[http://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_1939_files/AJ51%20105-110%20Roch%20Greenland.pdf The Swiss Expedition to Greenland 1938. André Roch]</ref> that he named 'New Mountains'.<ref name="cat">{{cite web | title = Catalogue of place names in northern East Greenland | publisher = Geological Survey of Denmark | url = http://www.geus.dk/publications/bull/nr21/nr21_p117-368.pdf3 | accessdate = 31 July 2016 | archive-date = 13 May 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200513044819/http://www.geus.dk/publications/bull/nr21/nr21_p117-368.pdf3 | url-status = dead }}</ref> This was the higher Watkins Range with the Gunnbjørnsfjeld, the actual highest summit in Greenland.<ref name="EA">[http://collections.dartmouth.edu/arctica-beta/html/EA14-11.html Encyclopedia Arctica 14: Greenland]</ref>

In 1935 Lawrence Wager, who had been earlier with Watkins' 1930 expedition returned to East Greenland and opened a new route inland. During his venture he made the first ascent of the range's highest point, Gunnbjorns Fjeld. He was also able to sight as well the Lemon Range, a hitherto unknown range located to the north-east of Kangerlugssuaq Fjord.<ref name="climb"/>

==Geography== The Watkins Range is located in King Christian IX Land about 60&nbsp;km inland from the Blosseville Coast. It is a system of nunataks surrounded by large active glaciers. The main glaciers are the large Christian IV Glacier to the west, the Rosenborg Glacier to the south and the Kronborg Glacier to the east.<ref name="mapcarta"/> The range has massive ice-covered peaks and exposed cliffs. The primary summit of the range is Gunnbjørn Fjeld {{convert|3694|m|abbr=on}}, also the highest peak in the Arctic.

The Lindbergh Range rises to the west, beyond the Christian IV Glacier. Other high nunataks are located nearby, some being part of the greater Watkins Range system, such as the Skærmen to the west,<ref name="mapcartaSkærmen">{{cite web|url=http://mapcarta.com/19185332|title=Skærmen|work=Mapcarta|accessdate=6 July 2016}}</ref> the Ejnar Mikkelsen Range—<ref name="mapcartaEjnar Mikkelsen">{{cite web|url=http://mapcarta.com/19193610|title=Ejnar Mikkelsen Fjeld|work=Mapcarta|accessdate=23 June 2016}}</ref> and the Borgtinderne to the east,<ref name="mapcartaBorgtinderne">{{cite web|url=http://mapcarta.com/19194112|title=Borgtinderne|work=Mapcarta|accessdate=6 July 2016}}</ref> and the Lilloise Range to the southeast.<ref name="mapcartaLilloise">{{cite web|url=http://mapcarta.com/19189852|title=Lilloise Bjerge|work=Mapcarta|accessdate=22 June 2016}}</ref> The Gronau Nunataks are located to the north at the edge of the Greenland Ice Sheet, separated from the Watkins Range by the Christian IV Glacier.<ref name="mapcartaGronau">{{cite web|url=http://mapcarta.com/19192952|title=Gronau Nunatakker|work=Mapcarta|accessdate=26 June 2016}}</ref>

'Rasmussens Range' ''(Knud Rasmussens Bjerge)'', from Knud Rasmussen Land mountains, is the name used in some sources to refer to the northern section of the range located between the 69th parallel north and the Gronau Nunataks.<ref name=AS1>[http://www.arcticsummits.com/056e_besteigungen.engl.htm Arctic Summits - Summit Climbs]</ref> However, there is a mountain range located in West Greenland that is known by the name ''Knud Rasmussens Bjerge''.<ref>[http://www.geonames.org/maps/google_68.033_-50.283.html Geonames - Knud Rasmussen Bjerge]</ref>

=== Mountains === The Watkins Range has a number of mountains higher than {{convert|3000|m|abbr=on}}, some of which are unnamed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ii.uib.no/~petter/mountains/Trip-reports/Watkins.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812134656/http://www.ii.uib.no/~petter/mountains/Trip-reports/Watkins.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 August 2004|title=Watkins Mountains|work=Petter Bjørstad|accessdate=6 May 2016}}</ref> Among these the following deserve mention: * Gunnbjørn Fjeld - {{convert|3694|m|abbr=on}} * Gunnbjørn Dome - {{convert|3682|m|abbr=on}} * Gunnbjørn Cone - {{convert|3669|m|abbr=on}} * Peak - {{convert|3606|m|abbr=on}} at {{coord|68|48|40|N|29|33|26|W|}}, part of a group of high peaks north of Gunnbjørn Fjeld<ref name="GE"/> * Deception Dome - {{convert|3526|m|abbr=on}} * Peak - {{convert|3344.5|m|abbr=on}} at {{coord|68|48|21|N|29|16|57|W|}}, part of a group of high peaks NE of Gunnbjørn Fjeld<ref name="GE">Google Earth</ref> *Istind - {{convert|2667|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="G4">{{cite web|url=http://www.westcoastpeaks.com/Peaks/g4_2805.html|title=G4 Expedition, Watkins Mountains|work=Greenland Mountains|accessdate=29 July 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12196737901/North-America-Greenland-Swiss-East-Greenland-Expedition AAJ - North America, Greenland, Swiss East Greenland Expedition]</ref> *Ebeth - {{convert|2595|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="G4"/> *Lille Snefjeld - {{convert|2511|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="G4"/>

===Image gallery=== <gallery mode=packed heights=220> Gröönimaa maastik.JPG|Southward bend in the Christian IV Glacier with the Gronau Nunataks in the background and the northwest part of the Watkins Range on the right Operational Navigation Chart C-13, 3rd edition.jpg|Defense Mapping Agency map of Greenland sheet </gallery>

==Climbing== The Watkins Range has excellent snow as well as ice routes for experienced climbers. Good climbing conditions are present for the most part in July and August.<ref name="Climb Mag">''Mountain Info. Greenland 2006'' Climb Magazine. January 2008 issue, p. 70</ref>

== See also == * East Greenland Orogen * List of mountain ranges of Greenland * List of Nunataks of Greenland

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== *[http://www.andreypogudin.com/resources/Andrey+Pogudin+_+American+Alpine+Journal.pdf AAJ - 2011: Mt. Augustine Courtauld (ca 3,150m).] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817111823/http://www.andreypogudin.com/resources/Andrey+Pogudin+_+American+Alpine+Journal.pdf |date=17 August 2016 }} *[https://fjordpeaks.com/2016/08/12/greenland-2004-highlights/ Highlights and keywords from the Greenland 2004 expedition] *[https://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_2005_files/AJ%202005%20289-295%20Greenland.pdf Greenland 2004]

Category:Mountain ranges of Greenland Category:Nunataks of Greenland Category:Sermersooq