Svarthuken

Svarthuken is a headland at Edgeøya, Svalbard. It is the southernmost point of Edgeøya, and has a length of about two kilometers. The rock consists of dark shales, and reaches 326 m.a.s.l. The bay Tjuvfjorden is located between Svarthuken and Kvalpynten further northwest. To the east is the strait Halvmånesundet.^[1][2]

Svarthuken
Cape
Svarthuken Show map of Svalbard Svarthuken Show map of Arctic
Coordinates: 77°14′30″N 22°39′38″E
Location	Edgeøya, Svalbard, Norway

Name history

The headland was named Negro Point by English sailors in the 17th century and was the official name from 1871.^[3][4] It was changed to the more Norwegian sounding Negerpynten in 1933.^[2] After complaints about racism the name was changed to Svarthuken in 2023.^[5][6][7]

References

1. Arctic Pilot: Sailing directions Svalbard–Jan Mayen. Vol. 7. Stavanger: The Norwegian Hydrographic Service and The Norwegian Polar Institute. 1988. pp. 361, 362. ISBN 82-90653-06-9.
2. "Negerpynten – Svalbard". Norwegian Polar Institute. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
3. "Polarinstituttet vil bevare Negerfjellet, Negerpynten og Negerdalen" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet.no. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
4. "Negro Point – Svalbard". Norwegian Polar Institute. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
5. "Polarinstituttet endrer tre stedsnavn på Svalbard etter rasismeanklager" (in Norwegian). Dagsavisen. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
6. "Svarthuken – Svalbard". Norwegian Polar Institute. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
7. "New placenames: Negerpynten becomes Svarthuken". spitsbergen-svalbard.com. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.