Greenland It is located in the Arctic, east of the Canadian Arctic archipelago and northwest of Europe. Its surface is 2,175,600 square kilometers, of which 81% is covered by the perpetual ice of the Northeast Greenland National Park, the second largest frozen desert in the world.
The best time to visit Greenland is during the summer months of July and August, when the weather is at its best. Between April and June there are more daylight hours. March, although colder, is the best month to see the Northern Lights. Just over 56,000 people live in Greenland, of which almost 90% are Inuit.
Photo safaris through the fjords, visits to Inuit villages, excursions to the frozen mountains, cruises on Disko Bay to see walruses and whales, dog sledding trips, helicopter rides and trekking of different difficulty are some of the activities you can do in Greenland for your audiovisual project.
In Greenland there is no railway and there are hardly any roads. Therefore, transfers between cities are made by plane, helicopter, boat or kayak, a factor to take into account if you are thinking of doing a photographic shoot or an audiovisual production there.
1. Nuuk
Nuuk is the administrative capital of Greenland. It has the largest population in the country, with 16,464 inhabitants, and is the smallest capital in the world. The city is also the northernmost capital in the world. Nuuk is the municipality of Sermersooq.
The medieval settlement of Nuuk was first inhabited by the Paleo-Eskimos in 2200 BC, after which it was successively occupied by the Dorset culture, the Vikings, the Inuit and the Norse.
The modern city was established in 1728 as the Godt-Haab fort by Claus Paarss, the then royal governor. The city was renamed Nuuk in 1979. Nuuk has a tundra climate characterized by cool, short summers and cold, long, snowy winters. The city’s population has increased nearly 21% since 2000.
Citizens of Greenland are attracted by the employment opportunities and high salaries of Nuuk. The city of Nuuk supports industries such as shipping and trade business.
2. Sisimiut
The city of Sisimiut has 5,598 inhabitants. It is located in the central-western region of Greenland, along the coast of the Davis Strait. The area has been occupied since 2500 BC by peoples such as the Inuit, the Dorset culture and the Thule people.
The General Company of Commerce created the urban settlement of Sisimiut in 1764. In the 20th century, Sisimiut became industrialized thanks to the creation of a seaport and a fish processing factory. Fishing remains the main industry in the city and the main species harvested are halibut, prawns, cod and salmon. Tourism has also been gaining ground in Sisimiut.
3. Ilulissat
The city of Ilulissat is located in the western region of Greenland, in the municipality of Qaasuitsup. Its 4,541 inhabitants make it the third largest city in Greenland. The term Ilulissat is a direct translation of the word Kalaallisut, which means icebergs.
The Ilulissat Icefjord has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has boosted Ilulissat’s tourism to become the most visited destination in Greenland. Ilulissat is connected to other cities in the country by the Ilulissat airport and the Arctic Umiaq ferry.
4. Qaqortoq
Qaqortoq is the most populous city in the southern region of Greenland, with 3,229 inhabitants. It is located in the municipality of Kujalleq. The settlement was first occupied by the Saqqaq culture 4,300 years ago. Later occupations were from the Dorset culture, the Norse culture and the Thule people.
The urban city of Qaqortoq was established by Anders Olsen, a Danish-Norwegian merchant acting on behalf of the General Trading Company in 1774. Qaqortoq’s heliport links the city with Narsarsuaq airport, which connects with the rest of the country and Europe. The city’s economy is mainly based on the seaport and trade, as well as tourism.
What did you think of the greenland cities? Without a doubt, this inhospitable place deserves to be visited at least once in a lifetime.