Greenland is the largest island in the world. Its northerly location, at the point where the Atlantic meets the Arctic Ocean, means that Greenland is surrounded principally by cold ocean currents, so the coasts are constantly being cooled. This, combined with the radiation of cold from the inland ice, gives Greenland its arctic climate.
The ice cap or inland ice covers 1,833,900 square km, equivalent to 85 percent of Greenland's total area, and extends 2,500 km (1,553 miles) from north to south and up to 1,000 km from east to west. The weight of the massive Greenlandic ice cap has depressed the central land area to form a basin lying more than 300 m [1,000 feet] below sea level.
All towns and settlements of Greenland are situated along the ice-free coast, with the population being concentrated along the Western coast. The northeastern part of Greenland, which includes sections of North Greenland and East Greenland, is not part of any municipality, but is the site of the world's largest national park, Northeast Greenland National Park.
At its center, the ice can be up to 3 km thick, representing 10 percent of the world's total fresh water reserves. If all the ice were to melt, the world's oceans would rise seven meters.
The Ilulissat Icefjord (Ilulissat Kangerlua) runs west 40 kilometres from the Greenland Ice Sheet to Disko Bay close to Ilulissat town. At its eastern end is the Jakobshavn Isbræ glacier, the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere. The glacier flows at a rate of 20-35 metres per day, resulting in around 20 billion tons of icebergs calved off and passing out of the fjord every year. Icebergs breaking from the glacier are often so large (up to a kilometer in height) that they are too tall to float down the fjord and lie stuck on the bottom of its shallower areas, sometimes for years, until they are broken up by the force of the glacier and icebergs further up the fjord. On breaking up the icebergs emerge into the open sea and initially travel north with ocean currents before turning south and running into the Atlantic Ocean. Larger icebergs typically do not melt until they reach 40-45 degrees north (south of the United Kingdom and level with New York City).
The Ilulissat Icefjord was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.
In Ilulissat, which is also known as Jakobshavn, there are 4,500 people living today and at least 4,000 sled dogs, which underlines the importance of the dogsled as a means of transport even in a large modern town. The harbour is full of fishing boats and trawlers that bear witness to the great importance of fishing for Ilulissat.
Sisimiut lies just north of the Arctic Circle and is the northernmost town in Greenland where the port remains free of ice in the winter and at the same time the southernmost town in Greenland where it is possible to drive on a dogsled in winter and spring.
Sisimiut means the inhabitants at the foxholes. The town was founded in 1756 as a mission and trading station under the name Holsteinsborg. With its 6,000 inhabitants living in the town of Sisimiut and the settlements of Kangerlussuaq, Sarfannguaq and Itilleq, Sisimiut is Greenlands second biggest municipality today. A high-tech factory, where prawns and crabs are processed, is evidence of the fact that fishing continues to be the main industry in Sisimiut.
The ice cap or inland ice covers 1,833,900 square km, equivalent to 85 percent of Greenland's total area, and extends 2,500 km (1,553 miles) from north to south and up to 1,000 km from east to west. The weight of the massive Greenlandic ice cap has depressed the central land area to form a basin lying more than 300 m [1,000 feet] below sea level.
All towns and settlements of Greenland are situated along the ice-free coast, with the population being concentrated along the Western coast. The northeastern part of Greenland, which includes sections of North Greenland and East Greenland, is not part of any municipality, but is the site of the world's largest national park, Northeast Greenland National Park.
At its center, the ice can be up to 3 km thick, representing 10 percent of the world's total fresh water reserves. If all the ice were to melt, the world's oceans would rise seven meters.
The Ilulissat Icefjord (Ilulissat Kangerlua) runs west 40 kilometres from the Greenland Ice Sheet to Disko Bay close to Ilulissat town. At its eastern end is the Jakobshavn Isbræ glacier, the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere. The glacier flows at a rate of 20-35 metres per day, resulting in around 20 billion tons of icebergs calved off and passing out of the fjord every year. Icebergs breaking from the glacier are often so large (up to a kilometer in height) that they are too tall to float down the fjord and lie stuck on the bottom of its shallower areas, sometimes for years, until they are broken up by the force of the glacier and icebergs further up the fjord. On breaking up the icebergs emerge into the open sea and initially travel north with ocean currents before turning south and running into the Atlantic Ocean. Larger icebergs typically do not melt until they reach 40-45 degrees north (south of the United Kingdom and level with New York City).
The Ilulissat Icefjord was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.
In Ilulissat, which is also known as Jakobshavn, there are 4,500 people living today and at least 4,000 sled dogs, which underlines the importance of the dogsled as a means of transport even in a large modern town. The harbour is full of fishing boats and trawlers that bear witness to the great importance of fishing for Ilulissat.
Sisimiut lies just north of the Arctic Circle and is the northernmost town in Greenland where the port remains free of ice in the winter and at the same time the southernmost town in Greenland where it is possible to drive on a dogsled in winter and spring.
Sisimiut means the inhabitants at the foxholes. The town was founded in 1756 as a mission and trading station under the name Holsteinsborg. With its 6,000 inhabitants living in the town of Sisimiut and the settlements of Kangerlussuaq, Sarfannguaq and Itilleq, Sisimiut is Greenlands second biggest municipality today. A high-tech factory, where prawns and crabs are processed, is evidence of the fact that fishing continues to be the main industry in Sisimiut.
The oldest part of Sisimiut is now a museum. You can see different kinds of structures, from the early peat huts to the Blue Church, which until the newest red church was built in 1926 was in active service.
Sisimiut, Greenland, has a population of 5,300 and is Greenland's second largest town. Sisimiut lies some 47 miles north of the Arctic Circle and is Greenland's northernmost all year ice-free harbor. Sisimiut is also the most southern town for dog-sledding. This has made Sisimiut a trading center between north and south Greenland. Today, Sisimiut is the major town in Greenland for shrimping.
Sisimiut, Greenland, has a population of 5,300 and is Greenland's second largest town. Sisimiut lies some 47 miles north of the Arctic Circle and is Greenland's northernmost all year ice-free harbor. Sisimiut is also the most southern town for dog-sledding. This has made Sisimiut a trading center between north and south Greenland. Today, Sisimiut is the major town in Greenland for shrimping.
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The oldest part of Sisimiut is now a museum. You can see different kinds of structures, from the early peat huts to the Blue Church, which until the newest red church was built in 1926 was in active service.
Sisimiut, Greenland, has a population of 5,300 and is Greenland's second largest town. Sisimiut lies some 47 miles north of the Arctic Circle and is Greenland's northernmost all year ice-free harbor. Sisimiut is also the most southern town for dog-sledding. This has made Sisimiut a trading center between north and south Greenland. Today, Sisimiut is the major town in Greenland for shrimping.
Sisimiut, Greenland, has a population of 5,300 and is Greenland's second largest town. Sisimiut lies some 47 miles north of the Arctic Circle and is Greenland's northernmost all year ice-free harbor. Sisimiut is also the most southern town for dog-sledding. This has made Sisimiut a trading center between north and south Greenland. Today, Sisimiut is the major town in Greenland for shrimping.
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