Greenland

Midnight Sun Tracking Across Arctic Sky

Nov 28th, 2010
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Alaska is not a land of ice and snow. It is in the same latitudes as Norway, Sweden and Scotland. In the Arctic and in the area around Fairbanks, it is dry and cold with subzero temperatures in the winter, but quite warm and sunny during the summer months. Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula area have weather comparable to the Midwestern states of the United States. The southern coastal are are warmed by the Japanese currents. Although the temperatures are not extremely warm or cold, much rain falls the year in these cities. The days of rain on the chart above are for southeastern Alaska only, and do not reflect the weather conditions in the interior. Best months to visit are May trough October.

Climber Watches the Midnight Sun Set from High Camp on Denali, Alaska

Climber Watches the Midnight Sun Set from High Camp on Denali, Alaska Photographic Print
Hatcher, Bill
12 in. x 9 in.
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Multiple, Hourly Exposure of Midnight Sun Tracking Across Arctic Sky

Multiple, Hourly Exposure of Midnight Sun Tracking Across Arctic Sky Photographic Print
Dunn, John
12 in. x 9 in.
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Disko Bay, Greenland Photographic Print

Nov 28th, 2010
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Disko Bay, Greenland

Disko Bay, Greenland Photographic Print
Panoramic Images
24 in. x 8 in.
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North Greenland & Disko Bay

This is the land of dog sleds and the Midnight Sun. The region stretches from Kangaatsiaq in the south to Qaanaaq in the north. During the summer, the sun is in the sky twenty-four hours a day – and the further north you travel, the longer this period of endless light will last.

This means, of course, that there is a corresponding period of darkness in the winter. The day that the sun reappears in Ilulissat is 13 January, which is a festival that everyone looks forward to. Even though there are airports at Aasiaat, Ilulissat, on the Nuussuaq peninsula near Uummannaq and at Upernavik, many people travel the long distances between towns by passenger ship – these jounreys are great adventures in themsleves, and allow fantastic exposure to the full variety of Greenland’s nature.

The coast is dotted with countless rocky islands, and the mountains in the south are relatively low. Disko Island is famed for its huge basalt mountains, and the highest peaks on the west coast are found near near Uummannaq. The cliffs around Upernavik are home to spectacular colonies of seabirds, and the whole coast abounds with glaciers and ice fields. Some of the world’s most productive and fast-moving glaciers are to be seen around Uummannaq and Ilulissat.

Seal hunting is the most important source of income for a large part of North Greenland’s population, and this is why the settlements here are different from those in the rest of Greenland. There are many settlements in the region, and as a visitor you will be able to experience a different Greenland from the one you will find in the busy towns. During the winter, when the fjords freeze over, the dog sled is an indispensable means of transport for the fishermen and hunters. Long lines are set through holes in the ice for Greenland halibut. These fish are frequently caught at a depth of 600 metres, and the lines are pulled up by hand! The importance of dog sleds is clearly indicated by the fact that there are more dogs than people in many places.

Greenland: Exploring the world’s largest island

Nov 28th, 2010
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Greenland, Polar Regions

Greenland, Polar Regions Photographic Print
Jackson, Jack
12 in. x 9 in.
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Greenland may be North America’s closest geographical neighbor (just 16 miles from the coast of Canada at the closest point), but reaching the Arctic landmass has been, until very recently, quite a difficult and expensive venture for American travelers. With the May 24 inauguration of Air Greenland’s first direct route between the United States and Greenland, reaching the world’s largest non-continental island from the States has become much easier, though no less expensive.

For years, American travelers heading to Greenland had to first fly to Iceland or Denmark before catching a connecting flight to their final destination. On Air Greenland’s new, seasonal flight from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Kangerlussuaq, travelers touch down on the icy island in just five hours. The flights run during peak season, mid-June through mid-August, on Mondays and Thursdays. Roundtrip fares range from about $1,100 for a restricted economy class ticket to $2,600 for an unrestricted business class ticket.

Of course, visiting any of Greenland’s major towns besides Kangerlussuaq itself requires more travel – and more cash. With 85 percent of the island covered by an imposing sheet of ice, there are no roads running between the towns. Instead, travelers get around the country via domestic flights, helicopters and boat.

With a permanent population of approximately 56,000, it should come as no surprise that lodging and activity options are more limited than those offered in many other destinations in the world. But therein lies the beauty of an adventure in Greenland. We’ve put together a short guide to get you started planning a trip to this exotic destination.
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