World News
Greenland Cruises Draw Tourists to Remote Beauty
Clear Facts
- Greenland’s scenic towns, like Qaqortoq, have become popular destinations for cruise ships.
- The majority of Greenland is covered in ice, and its harsh environment has shaped life there for centuries.
- Qaqortoq is known for Nordic history, an open-air art project, and the oldest fountain in Greenland.
Before President-elect Trump brought renewed attention to Greenland, cruise ship tourism had already begun to grow, bringing visitors to its striking coastal towns.
Qaqortoq, the largest town in southern Greenland, sits among fjords and is noted for its colorful houses and snow-capped peaks even in spring.
“Qaqortoq means ‘white’ in the Greenlandic language.”
Sailing from Iceland, visitors follow the path of Eric the Red, the Norse explorer who gave Greenland its name as a strategy to draw more settlers from Iceland.
About 80% of Greenland is covered by ice, and the landscape remains rugged and mostly untamed by large infrastructure like highways.
“Some experts say that Greenland could have been warmer at the time, but starting in the 15th century it experienced what is known as ‘The Little Ice Age.'”
Despite a difficult climate that once forced European settlers to leave, the island’s native population developed ways to thrive.
The Julianehåb River flows through the center of Qaqortoq, which was established as a trade colony in 1775 by Norwegian explorer Anders Olsen. The town has a population just over 3,000.
Qaqortoq is known for its vibrant art, including “Stone & Man,” an open-air gallery of rock carvings and sculptures by local artist Aka Høegh.
The Mindebrønden fountain, built in 1932, is Greenland’s oldest and is turned off in winter for protection against the elements.
Greenlandic is the official language and is spoken by about 57,000 people. The language is polysynthetic, allowing for extremely long words with detailed meanings.
Seafood is central to local culture, with Qaqortoq’s fish market offering daily catches that may include fish, whale, or seal. “Seal meat is a key ingredient in Greenland’s national dish, Suaasat.”
Greenland remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark, though it is autonomous and maintains its own traditions.
Nanortalik, meaning “Place of Polar Bears,” is another village visited by cruises. The local Evangelical Lutheran congregation often welcomes tourists with musical performances.
Nanortalik also showcases Greenland’s colonial history with an open-air museum in its old port area.
Greenland is the world’s largest island, offering adventure and picturesque landscapes for intrepid travelers.
Many visitors are captivated by its natural wonders, historic towns, and rich traditions.
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