Koch, Lauge

Koch, Lauge (lou`gə kôk), 1892–1964, Danish geologist and explorer, noted for his scientific work in Greenland. He accompanied Knud Rasmussen's second Thule expedition (1916–18) as geologist and cartographer and was chief of a notable expedition (1920–23) to N Greenland during which he completed the mapping of the Greenland coast and gave for the first time the geological picture of the northern portion of the island. Thereafter Koch was almost continuously in Greenland, as leader of Danish expeditions. In 1938 his air photographs over N Greenland proved the much-sought Peary Channel to be only a fjord.