Tikilluarit / Welcome to north Greenland.
Avannaa/North Greenland, an arctic region that extends from Kangaatsiaq in the south to Qaanaaq in the north.
North Greenland, an area known for midnight sun, period of darkness, northern lights, enormous ice fields, kayaking, differentiated wildlife, dog sledding and an ancient indigenous Inuit Culture. Here the old ways of life are still alive, integrated into today’s modern Greenland, full of contrasts with a fascinating cosmopolitan culture.
Experience a special hospitality, in this part of the world it is not traditionally a question of kindness but surviving. Hospitality, humor and respect for the nature are essential in the local Inuit culture.
Kangaatsiaq
Kangaatsiaq is translated to ’rather small promontory’. The town is the youngest in Greenland, since it did not receive municipal status until 1986 – even if the settlement itself naturally is much older. Around 600 people live in the town and another ca. 700 in the four settlements nearby: Attu, Niaqornaarsuk, Ikerasaarsuk and Iginniarfik.
More about Kangaatsiaq
Aasiaat
Aasiaat was first settled in 1759 by Hans Egede’s son Niels to prevent European whalers – particularly the Dutch – from bartering with the Greenlanders. In 1763, the settlement was moved 125 km to the north to its current location.
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Qasigiannguit
Qasigiannguit is located in the southeast part of Disko Bay. The name, whichtranslates into ’small, multi-colored seals’, refers to the good sealing conditions that traditionally prevail in the area. About 1.100 people lives here. Fishing and hunting are the primary occupations, and the town’s fish factory mainly processesGreenland halibut.
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Ilulissat
Icebergs are called ’Ilulissat’ in Greenlandic, and it comes as no surprise toanyone who has been here that it is the town’s name. Ilulissat is beautifullysituated at the mouth of the 56 kilometer ice fiord filled with enormous icebergs produced by the most productive glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. The largest icebergs strand at the mouth – at depths of 250 to 300 meters – and do not break until the next spring tide, or until they are so eroded that the balance shifts.
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Qeqertarsuaq
Qeqertarsuaq is located on the southern tip of the island of the same name. Qeqertarsuaq means ’large island’ and is by far the largest of the islands along the Greenland coast. The town was founded by whaler Svend Sandgreen in 1773. Whaling has been of great importance to the town over the past twocenturies. Hunting and fishing are still the primary occupations for the island’s inhabitants. Around 900 inhabitants live in the main town and 30 in the Kangerluk settlement, located few hours by boat to the North West. This is whereresearchers found a ’galloping’ glacier, that moves up to 100 meters a day.
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Uummannaq
Uummannaq is situated 590 km north of the polar circle. Up here the sun does not set for 2 months every year, but on the other hand does not arise from November to February. Uummannaq is what you call the “real” Greenland. A majestic and harsh landscape with tall mountains, rare vegetation, many glaciers, icebergs and a population to whom fishing and hunting by dogsled or boat is a natural part of daily life.
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Upernavik
Upernavik, which means ‘place of spring’, is a small efficient town in the north west part of Greenland. 1.200 people live in Upernavik and 1750 people live in 9 settlements in the area.
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Qaanaaq
Qaanaaq’s traditional Greenlandic way of life is today played out in a relatively modern town. When the American airbase in Thule (also called Dundas) was extended in 1953, the original inhabitants were moved 100 km (60 miles) further north, where a completely new town, Qaanaaq, was built. If you look at the town from the seaside, it is obvious that the right side of the town is built as an American part of a city, very strictly, while the houses on the left side of the city seem just thrown on the hillside.
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Presentation of Tour Operators
Destination Avannaa is a nonprofit organization and therefore is NOT a tour operator, we do not do any bookings, we only aim to create a link between visitors in need of information and local tour operators. For any tour booking please refer to our numerous and qualified local tour operators.
More informations about Tour Operators