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Aappilattoq is a remote, yet picturesque settlement in South Greenland. It’s located approximately 50km north of Cape Farewell – one of the most scenic fjords in the world. Due to the surrounding mountains and remote location, it’s virtually inacce...
Categories: Aappilattoq
Categories: Aasiaat
Categories: Akulleq
Categories: Alluitsoq
Categories: Alluitsup Paa
Categories: Alpefjord
Categories: Amerloq Fjord
Categories: Ammassalik Region
Categories: Antarctic Sund
Categories: Apusiaajik island
Arsuk in Greenlandic means, "the beloved place". This lovely village in southwestern Greenland is located at the mouth of the Arsuk Fjord, into which flows the Arsuk Brae Glacier. The Arsuk Glacier is very much off the beaten path, but v...
Categories: Arsuk Brae Glacier
Categories: Arsukfjord
Categories: Ata Sund
Categories: Ataneq Fjord
Categories: Attu
Categories: Bear Islands
Categories: Bernstorffs Isfjord
Categories: Blomsterbugten
Categories: Blosseville Coast
Categories: Bowdoin Fjord
Greenland, the planet’s biggest island, offers one of the world’s most tranquil and beautiful landscapes one can imagine. South Greenland is famous for its verdant hills contrasted by icebergs, friendly locals and fascinating Viking ...
Categories: Brattahlid
Categories: Brogetdalen
Categories: Camp Frieda
Categories: Camp Kangiusaq
Categories: Cape Constitution
Categories: Cape Morris Jesup
Categories: Cape York Greenland
Categories: Clavering Island
Categories: Constable Point
Categories: Daneborg
Categories: Danmark Island
Categories: Danmarkshavn
Categories: D'Aunay Bugt
Disko Island is famous for its huge basalt mountains, and the highest peaks on the west coast are found near Uummannaq. The cliffs are home to spectacular colonies of seabirds, and the whole coast is busy with glaciers and ice fi...
Categories: Disko Bay
Categories: Disko Island
Categories: Dundas
This area, characterized by impressive mountain peaks, has several villages. The inhabitants are primarily hunters of seals and bears, and their lifestyle and language are distinct from the fishing communities of western Greenland.Tasiilaq (Ammassali...
Categories: East Coast of Greenland
Categories: Ella Island
Categories: Eqi Glacier
Categories: Eriksfjord
Categories: Eskimoness
Categories: Etah
Categories: Evigheds Glacier
Categories: Evighedsfjord
Categories: Franz Josef Fjord
Categories: Frederikshab Isblink
Categories: Gronnedal Heliport
Categories: Hans Island
Categories: Holm Bay
Categories: Humboldt Glacier
Igaliku is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. Most notably, it was an important religious center in the days of the Vikings and the ruins of the cathedral they built in th 11th century are one of the town's hig...
Categories: Igaliku
Categories: Ikerasak
Categories: Ikigait
Categories: Ikka Fjord
Categories: Ile-de-France Greenland
Categories: Ilimanaq
Categories: Illorsuit
Ilulissat means icebergs in Greenlandic, and the town has a beautiful location at the mouth of an ice fjord that is filled with enormous icebergs, and is the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere. North of Ilulissat lies the settlement o...
Categories: Ilulissat
Categories: Ilulissat Isfjord
Called the Arctic Circle Village due to its proximity to this northern line, Itilleq contains a population of a little more than a hundred. Alpine mountains and glaciers surround the village, and a facility in town generates fresh water from sea wate...
Categories: Itilleq
Categories: Itivdleq
One of the most remote areas of Greenland, Ittoqqortoormiit is accessible only by air or, a few months a year due to the sea being frozen nine months out of the year, by boat. The Scoresbysund Fjord on the the side of Ittoqqortoormiit is the largest ...
Categories: Ittoqqortoormiit
Categories: Ivittuut
Categories: Johan Petersen Fjord
Categories: Kangaamiut
Categories: Kangerdluarsorujuq
Kangerlussuaq is a long Fjord just north of the polar circle, in western Greenland. This Fjord is unique because if its nature and rich biodiversity. The surrounding landscape features glaciers that feed into the Fjord, as well as plains covered in p...
Categories: Kangerlussuaq Fjord
Categories: Kap Constitution
Categories: Kap Farvel
Categories: Kap Stewart
Categories: Kap Sud
Categories: Kapisillit
Categories: Karrat Isfjord
Categories: Kiatassuaq Island
Categories: King Frederick VI Coast
Categories: Kitsissuarsuit
Categories: Knud Rasmussen Glacier
Categories: Kraulshavn
Categories: Kujalleq Glacier
Categories: Kullorsuaq
Surrounded by abundant hunting and fishing grounds in Eastern Greenland, this small town’s nature and landscape dominates the beauty of the Arctic Circle. Kulusuk, which also means “the chest of a black guillemot,” is a region famou...
Categories: Kulusuk
Categories: Kvanefjeld
Categories: Kvanefjord
Manitsoq, meaning "the rugged place," is just that, with it's high mountains and deep fjords. In the summer, angling is a popular activity as well as hiking, kayaking or sailing through the glacier filled fjords. Visitors can also enjoy ski...
Categories: Manitsoq
Categories: Melville Bay
On the west coast (partly below the Arctic Circle), this region is best recognized for its highly varied scenery.Kangerlussuaq (Sondre Stromfjord)—Founded as a World War II airfield, the U.S. sold Kangerlussuaq to Greenland for one krone (US$0.15) in...
Categories: Mid-Greenland
Categories: Myggbukta
Nanortalik means 'place of bears'. It is Greenland's southernmost town, the district border extends all the way from the island Qeqertarsuaq, north west of Alluitsup Paa to the Cape Farewell area and to the 60 kilometers long Lindenow Fjord in East ...
Categories: Nanortalik
Categories: Nansen Bugt
Categories: Nansen Fjord
Narsaq is a true pearl of beauty in the otherwise extreme arctic nature of Greenland. With a direct view to the inland-ice, and hundreds of icebergs floating in the fiords just outside the town, the green valley and mountains surrounding Narsaq makes...
Categories: Narsaq
Categories: Narsaq Kujalleq
Categories: Narsarmilt
Since Narsarsuaq means 'great plain', it stands to reason South Greenland's international airport is here. The ice cap is about three to four hours away on foot - and a beautiful hike away through lush 'Flower Valley'. The ice can also be experienced...
Categories: Narsarsuaq
Categories: Neerlerit lnaat
Categories: Niiniartivaraq
Inuit villages were scattered around Qaanaaq (Thule) in far northwestern Greenland when the area was explored by Sir James Ross in 1818 (and later by Knud Rasmussen). Today, special permits are required for visits to this region because it is home to...
Categories: North Greenland
Categories: Northeast Greenland National Park
Categories: Northwest Greenland
Categories: Nuliarfik
Categories: Nunap Isua
Categories: Nuugaatsiaq
Nuuk was founded by the unfailingly optimistic Hans Egede - the Danish missionary with soul-conversions on his mind - who promptly named the settlement Good Hope. Today Nuuk is small by modern standards, with a total population of only 14,000. Despit...
Categories: Nuuk
Categories: Nuussuaq
Categories: Ofjord
Categories: Orpit
Built along the base of the Kuannersooq Fjord, the maritime town of Paamiut is highlighted by scenic architecture and old shops, stables and the old church. White tailed eagles flock to Paamiut en masse, and in the surrounding sea, you may catch sigh...
Categories: Paamiut
Categories: Pituffik
Categories: Port Victor
This narrow 70-mile-long channel across the southernmost tip of Greenland is breathtakingly dramatic. Huge glaciers tumble down towards the rugged coast from the Greenland ice cap-exactly the kind of scene that inspired one Greenlandic poet to decla...
Categories: Prince Christian Sound
Categories: Qaanaaq
Qaqortoq means "The White Place", and the town is the educational and cultural center of Southern Greenland. The sheep farms give this part of Greenland special character. Qaqortoq has a sculpture park "Stone and Man" made by 18 Nordic sculptors. Th...
Categories: Qaqortoq
The Hvalsey Ruins are composed of an immaculately preserved 14th century stone-wrought church, poised along the banks of a fjord and on the lands of a Norse farm settlement. The simple but striking craftsmanship of the old church is still visible, wi...
Categories: Qaqortukulooq (Hvalsey Ruins)
Categories: Qasigiannguit
After being exiled from both Norway and Iceland, Erik the Red settled in a small village in Southern Greenland called Brattahlið - now Qassiarsuk - in 982. You can stroll along the ancient village grounds, its longhouse and the church, Brattahild...
Categories: Qassiarsuk & the Bra
Categories: Qassimiut
Quaintly scattered with homes in shades of blue, green and red, Qeqertarsuaq is a small town on the island of Disko, characterized by snowy basalt mountains and the glaciers throughout. Despite the frigid temperatures, there is a wide variety o...
Categories: Qeqertarsuaq
Categories: Qeqertarsuatsiaat
Categories: Qeqqata
Categories: Qingminguartalik
Categories: Qullissat
Categories: Reindeer Glacier
Categories: Renbugten
Categories: Rode Island
Categories: Sabine Island
Saqquaq is a settlement in west...
Categories: Saqqaq
Categories: Savissivik
Categories: Sermersooq
Categories: Sermilinguaq
Categories: Sermitsiaq
Categories: Shannon Island
Sisimiut is a growing town located in western Greenland. It is one of the main village destinations in Greenland, and an administrative center for the Qeqqata Municipality. The population of Sisimiut was recorded of 5,598 inhabitants living in the to...
Categories: Sisimiut
Categories: Sissarluttoq
Categories: Skargaard Fjord
The island's agricultural center will appeal most to visitors seeking outdoor activities, from hiking to serious rock climbing. Field ice (floating sheets of ice—not to be confused with icebergs) drift in this area in spring and summer, and they occa...
Categories: South Greenland
Categories: Station Nord
Categories: Storefjord
Categories: Svartenhuk
Categories: Sydkapp
Categories: Tasermiut Fjord
Long hours of daylight during the summer time and a beautiful view of the Northern Lights during the winter make Tasiilaq one of the most visited tourist destinations in Greenland. This picturesque town is located on a nearly circular fjord, ...
Categories: Tasiilaq
Categories: Thrym Glacier
Categories: Thule Region
Categories: Tugtilik
Categories: Tugtutoq
Categories: Tunulliarfik Fjord
Categories: Tuttutooq
Categories: Ukkusissat
Categories: Umivik Bay
Categories: Unartoq Island
Categories: Upernavik
Uummannaq Island is located 590 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle in northwestern Greenland. Uummannaq has been host to unique events such as the Ice Golf Championship, Greenland Shark Challenge and the National Championship in Kayaking. Attracti...
Categories: Uummannaq
Categories: Uummannaq Fjord
In September 2005, an American Explorer, Dennis Schmitt, discovered an island off the coast of Greenland, Uunartoq Qeqertoq, Inuit for “warming island”. The island has always existed but covered by a glacier which melted exposing the isla...
Categories: Uunartoq
Categories: Vaigat Sound
Categories: Vaigat Strait
Categories: Waltershausen Glacier
Categories: Watkins Fjord
Categories: West Coast of Greenland
Categories: Ymer Island
Greenland is hard to get to and difficult to move about, so a trip to this North American island requires a good deal of money and effort. But if you're up for an adventure in a place that's unlike most others, the effort will be well worth it.
In Greenland, you'll see steep, stony mountains crowned with glaciers and enormous icebergs tumbling from the glaciers into a sea that churns between the jagged walls of fjords. Inuit villages can be seen lining the fjord's sides. Don't forget your camera.
Greenland is covered in ice—in fact, Greenlanders will tell you there are three different kinds—but if you can get past the initial idea that ice equals cold, you'll find the frozen water, and Greenland itself, fascinating.
Geography
Greenland (or Kalaallit Nunaat, its Inuit name, which translates as "Land of the People"), is located east of northern Canada. Although politically a part of Europe, it's geographically closer to North America. More than half of it is north of the Arctic Circle, and 84% is covered year-round with a layer of ice (up to 11,190 ft/3,410 m thick). Icebergs are common off the coast. The natural environment is spectacular—rugged mountains, fjords and islands. Vegetation is sparse, with low, dense shrubbery and short-lived flowers. The population of land and sea animals and birds is large and diverse.
Note: Most Greenland towns have both Greenlandic and Danish names. The Danish names are often listed in parentheses.
North and Northeast Greenland are closed preserves. The remainder of the island is generally divided into four areas: Disko Bay, Mid Greenland, South Greenland and East Greenland.
History
The first people to find their way to Greenland arrived about 5,000 years ago from what's now northern Canada. Over time, several different cultural groups migrated to the island. The Thule (pronounced TOO-lay), the ancestors of the Inuit that now live in Greenland, arrived in the early 900s. They were soon joined by Scandinavians when Eric the Red established a Viking colony on the island in the 980s. The European settlements flourished for a time, but by the 1400s, the Scandinavian presence had withered. It wasn't until the 1700s that Danes and Norwegians again established outposts.
In 1814, Denmark got political control of Greenland, and it continues to play a large role in island affairs. A home-rule government was instituted in 1979, which provides for a great deal of local autonomy in day-to-day matters. Denmark remains responsible for issues such as defense and foreign affairs.
About 90% of Greenland's residents live in small villages and towns on the west coast of the island, on the fringe of the massive ice cap. The great majority are Inuit or of mixed Inuit and Scandinavian heritage. The strain of fitting a traditional hunting-and-fishing culture into the modern world has created some social problems—especially with the added demands of the extreme climate. The island has a relatively high rate of domestic violence and one of the highest suicide rates in the world.
Most of Greenland's economy is based on fishing. Hunting seals and whales is an important part of local livelihoods (the International Whaling Commission allows a certain level of subsistence whaling). Denmark, of which Greenland is a part, subsidizes food and consumer goods, and makes up the deficit in the island's annual budget. Over the past 15 years, tourism has become an important factor in the economy.
Snapshot
Greenland's main attractions are unspoiled and unpolluted nature, mountain walks, mountain climbing, dogsledding, cross-country skiing, fishing, hunting, Inuit culture, animals (polar bears, seals, whales, reindeer, musk oxen and birds), midnight sun, northern lights, Viking ruins, icebergs, fjords, glaciers and arctic flora.
Those looking for an adventurous and unusual experience in a little-visited part of the world should consider Greenland. Visitors who are uncomfortable with cool to bitterly cold weather will be very uncomfortable there. Those on a limited budget won't be able to afford the trip.
Potpourri
Golf in Greenland? Yes, but it's played on ice, not grass. Each year in March or April, the World Ice Golf Championships are staged at Uummannaq. Icebergs make for challenging obstacles as golfers try to reach a "green" painted on the ice (though it's actually red). White golf balls, of course, are not used.
If you want to write to Santa Claus, you can reach him at Father Christmas Post Office, P.O. Box 2412, DK-3900 Nuuk, Greenland.
One theory has it that Greenland's name came from the Vikings: Eric the Red used it as a clever bit of public relations when he was attempting to lure colonists from Iceland.
In some schools, children are instructed in traditional hunting skills, skin preparation and beadwork. It's part of an effort to keep the ancestral Greenland culture alive.
In the Disko Bay, the sun doesn't set 25 May-25 July.
In the mid-1990s, a team of adventurers, led by former U.S. Navy pilot Darryl Greenamyer, decided to recover a B-29 aircraft that had been buried in ice in Greenland since 1947. After spending two years and US$500,000 to salvage and restore it, they tried to fly it out—only to have it catch on fire before it could lift off the ground.
Although it's part of Denmark, which is a member of the European Union, Greenland was able to withdraw from the EU. This move protected its valuable fisheries from European exploitation.
Native Greenlanders prefer to be called Inuits, rather than Eskimos. The native language is Inuit, called Greenlandic there. Visitors might feel some resentment from Inuits because of the Western influence on their society, but this isn't directed at foreign travelers in particular.
Greenland resembles a giant bowl filled with ice. At the center, the weight of the ice (up to 11,188 ft/3,410 m thick) sinks the land 1,200 ft/365 m below sea level.
Kayaks (from the native word qajaq) are a Greenlandic invention and were developed for hunting and fishing. They are still used for those purposes in the northern parts of the country.
The largest land animals in the arctic region, polar bears, live in Greenland. They rarely show up around the towns, though.
In answer to almost any question, you may get the response imaqa (maybe), because most activities depend on the weather.
Sheep, the only imported animals able to survive in Greenland, are raised in the southern regions.