Visiting greenland

In touring the magnificent country of Greenland, visitors are delighted and amazed by the cornucopia of wonder and beauty this country provides. This beautiful country is situated between North America and Europe. This region is closer to the North Pole than any other country.

Usually considered a country far away, Greenland is centrally located, at the center of the Northern Hemisphere. Greenland’s closest neighbors are Canada and Iceland and residents are only few flying hours away from Europe, North America and Asia.

The northernmost point of the island is Cape Morris Jesup. It is the northernmost mainland area in the world. The southern point, Cape Farewell, is located at the same latitude as the Nordic capitals of Oslo and Helsinki.

Most of Greenland lies north of the Arctic Circle, causing a dark season during the winter and the midnight sun during the summer. Therefore, the majority of the population lives south of the Arctic Circle.

The waters around Disco Bay and further northwards along the coast are covered by sea ice during the winter half-year, but are navigable by the coasting trade during the summer half.

High mountains fringe most of the coast of this mountainous country on all sides. Gunnbjørns Field on the East Coast of Greenland is the highest mountain in the country.

Whether you take advantage of an organized tour or decide to explore Greenland on your own, the towns and settlements of West Greenland offer a host of potential experiences and activities. Sailing along the coastline between small native settlements, cities and Ice Mountains is an awesome experience. Cruise accommodations are superb with luxurious outside cabins and cruise dining.

Fjord sailing in southern Greenland offers opportunities to visit both cities and small native settlements in Greenland's southern archipelago. Viewing Greenland from the water gives tourists the additional opportunities of whale, seal, and bird watching. The large bird population includes over 200 species of birds for the avid birdwatcher.

Wildlife enthusiasts may take hikes in many of the settlements to spy the activities of the white and blue arctic fox, arctic wolf, reindeer, polar bear, musk ox, ermine, wolverine, wild sheep, collared lemming and mountain hare.

There are local museums in nearly all towns, air-traffic museums in Narsarsuaq and Kangerlussuaq, and an art gallery in Ilulissat.

In the capital, Nuuk, there can be snow for approximately seven to eight months of the year. Nuuk is Greenland's largest town and offers a host of activities, museums, the Katuaq cultural center, cafés and nightlife for tourists. Excursions to the gigantic fjord system provide breathtaking scenery and a variety of fascinating Norse ruins.

The Greenland National Museum & Archives in Nuuk contains permanent and temporary exhibitions of archaeological and ethnological studies. Among the items on display is the famous 15th century grave find, which includes eight mummies discovered in Qilakitsoq.

The Greenlandic Centre for Performing Arts in Nuuk is another source of entertainment for concerts, theatrical performances, shows, exhibitions and other events.

The second-largest town in Greenland, Sisimiut lies just north of the Polar Circle. The Sisimiut museum contains a unique exhibition on the first people to live in Greenland known as the Saqqaq. The Saqqaq culture can be dated back to c. 2500-500 BC. The scenery in this town is varied, with plenty of opportunities for short walks or long hikes and a wide range of winter activities, including the world's toughest skiing race, the Arctic Circle Race.

Narsaq is South Greenland's second-largest town. The countryside around Narsaq is ideal for short walks or long hikes where tourists discover many well-preserved ruins from both the Northman and Inuit cultures. Considerable deposits of rare stones and minerals can be found in Narsaq. Among the precious stones, found in this region are tugtupit's, which are among the rarest gems in the world. Artists and craft workers abound in the town where they create works from narwhal tooth, sealskin and ceramics.

Qaqortoq is the largest town of South Greenland. It is here that the famous sealskin coats from Greenland are produced. The town features a great number of museums featuring beautiful works of art in various locations around the town. Qaqortoq also offers boat trips to the glaciers or to the hot springs near Uunartog. At the springs it is possible to bathe all year round - without freezing.

Narsarsuaq is the gateway to South Greenland. A trip to the icecap is an absolute must for tourists.

It is only a half-hour's journey by boat from Narsarsuaq to Qassiarsuk. This settlement is where Eric the Red settled in 982, founding the Norse culture in Greenland. Among other interesting exhibits, Qassiarsuk offers a reconstructed church and longhouse from that period. The area is ideal for hiking and fishing trips.

Paamiut is the settlement known for its fantastic works of art made from bone, tusk and soapstone. This town is the point of departure for hikes and boat trips to the fjords. A major attraction to the town, are the whale safaris near Paamiut.

Maniitsoq is situated on a number of islands not far from the mainland. Its deep fjords and some of the highest mountains on the West Coast characterize the area. This lovely town is ice-free all year round and fishing plays an important role. On the mainland, skiing is available all year round on the Apussuit glacier. Maniitsoq also boasts a great number of plentiful trout streams for the avid fisherman.

A former American base, Kangerlussuaq is the largest gateway to Greenland. Visitors can experience the abundance of wildlife in Kangerlussuaq, which includes the arctic fox, the musk ox, reindeer, and a variety of birds. Tourists have choices of taking excursions from Kangerlussuaq to the edge of the icecap or riding trips on Icelandic ponies.

The town of Kangaatsiaq offers more opportunities for the hunter and fisherman. Sleds drying racks for fish and meat, sled dogs, stretched out seal skins, nets, buoys and kayaks are among the many sites seen daily in this ethnic town. Traveling east by boat, kayak or canoe, you can visit the fjord system.

Known as 'the land of the Thousand Islands' the town of Aaasiaat lies on the edge of the beautiful skerries area. The town offers refuge in a number of the islands, which are conservation areas to protect the unique bird life, found in this region. The town was founded for its spectacular views for watching whales. This is an ideal place to visit while in Greenland for taking short or long kayak trips, camping and hunting.

The town of Ilulissat lies at the estuary of the ice-fjord and is particularly known for its gigantic icebergs and is one of the greatest attractions of the entire Disko Bay. The town offers two four-star hotels and other accommodations. Daily boat-trips from Ilulissat to the surrounding towns and settlements, a visit to Rode Bay and Ice Camp Eqi should be included in any trip to Greenland. The town also is host to several interesting museums.

Be sure to contact the Tourist Bureau of any of the cities, towns or settlements you plan to visit on your trip to Greenland in advance. Each area offers a variety of changing activities and the Tourist Bureau for each community will assist with valuable information to make your stay in Greenland an adventure of a lifetime.