Grocland – Southern Phantom Greenland on Mercator
Grocland · Groenland · Engroneland · Groveland
Renaissance (1569 Mercator – 1660)·Mercator–Ortelius cartographic·🇬🇱 Southern tip phantom 60N 45W duplicate of Greenland south, Greenland
About
About Grocland – Southern Phantom Greenland on Mercator
Mercator 1569 to separate Norse Grönland's southernmost tip as island Grocland (Engroneland) south of 60N, based on Zeno's claim mainland Greenland was contiguous to Norway beyond pole. Mercator duplicates tip: 'Groenlandia' mainland 64–83N plus island 'Grocland' 60N 45W south of Iceland–Greenland passage. Ortelius 1570 retains groove. 1660 Vopellius corrects Grocland to Cape Farewell headland. Root is 10th c. Norse 'Eystribyggð' cape seen as island from sea dogs' 1930s Gammelhavn.
Why it mattersNorse–Mercator tip island duplication pattern — Grocland vs Frisland both demonstrate Zeno-sourced island inflation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Did Mercator intend Grocland as iceberg-tongue phantom of southeast Greenland glacier?
- 02Why did straight remain on charts after Davis 1587 Strait survey?
Theories
- 01Davis 1587 lat 64N vs Mercator 60N Grocland offset exactly replicates Zeno 5° south shift applied elsewhere
- 02Vopellius 1660 typographic merger matches Graah 1828 fjord survey — tip reattached once latitude correct
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 1569 Mercator duplicate
- Period
- Renaissance (1569 Mercator – 1660)
- Culture
- Mercator–Ortelius cartographic
- Purpose
- Mercator tip–island confusion like Frisland
- Abandoned
- 1660 Vopellius merges Grocland to mainland
- Rediscovered
- 1569
- Excavation
- Not applicable
1569
Mercator charts Groenlandia mainland + island Grocland south of 60N
1570
Ortelius duplicates Grocland with narrow strait to Greenland
1606
John Davis 1585–87 corrects Davis Strait but chart inertia keeps Grocland
1660
Jan Janssonius Vopellius merges Grocland back to Cape Farewell tip
1840
Graah proves single mainland south 60N, no island
On the ground
Structures & features
60.5000° N · 45.0000° W · 0 m · 3 mapped features
Grocland 60.5N 45W phantom island
phantomMercator Grocland south of Greenland proper
60.5000° N · 45.0000° WReal Cape Farewell tip
realCape Farewell headland real 59.7N 43.9W
59.7000° N · 43.9000° WGammelhavn Norse East Settlement
settlementEystribyggð Eastern Settlement 61N 45W
61.2000° N · 45.4000° W