A gorgeous first day of our wild escape to Western Greenland! Sunny skies, beautiful small towns, and a great opportunity to get a sense of the unique culture of this part of the world.
7/16/2022
Read
National Geographic Resolution
Ataneq Fjord, Greenland
This morning, National Geographic Resolution positioned in the calm waters of Ataneq Fjord. Passing by the small community of Ikerasarssuk (population of 2, according to the last census), one could not help but wonder what it would be like to live in such a remote region on the world’s largest island. About 60% of the population (56,000) live in the five largest towns: Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat, Aasiaat, and Qaqortoq. All the towns and settlements in Greenland are located along the coastline, and no roads exist between the communities. Needless to say, it helps to have a boat if you are living on a coastline that has no roads and stretches for more than 24,000 miles! After breakfast we enjoyed time closer to the waterline exploring the glacially rounded coastline either in a kayak or Zodiac. A variety of birds fluttered about as we explored serene, pure waters and soaked up our last outing in Greenland. Leaving the fjord, we threaded the needle of crab pots. From the bridge, we watched fishermen throw back undersized snow crabs. Fishing is Greenland's single most important trade with halibut, cod, and shrimp making up most of the catch. It has been an incredible few days exploring the west coast of Greenland, and this trip has certainly whet our appetites for more explorations in this part of the world.
