The island was visited by the Second German North Polar Expedition 1869–70, led by Carl Koldewey and referred to as Grosse Koldewey Insel in the astronomy section of the expedition report, but this may not have been intended as a formal name.
A illa foi visitada pola Segunda Expedición alemá do Polo Norte 1869-70, dirixida por Carl Carldewey e referida como Grosse Koldewey Insel na sección de astronomía do informe da expedición, pero isto non se pensou como nome oficial.