Paamiut

Paamiut
Paamiut in 1980
Paamiut
Location within Greenland
Coordinates:
State Greenland
Constituent country Denmark
Municipality Sermersooq
First settled 1500 BCE
Founded 1742
Population (2010)
 • Total 1,619
Time zone UTC-03
Postal code 3940
Twin cities
 • Frederikshavn Denmark
Website [1] Dead link

Paamiut (old spelling: Pâmiut, Danish: Frederikshåb) is a town in the Sermersooq municipality in southwestern Greenland. The name of the town means "they who reside by the mouth" in Greenlandic.

Contents

Geography

Paamiut is located on the coast of Labrador Sea in the southern end of a small estuary called Kuannersooq, the inlet.

History

People have lived in the Paamiut area since around 1500 BCE. The town was established in 1742[1] and later prospered on trading fur and whale products. It also became known for its soapstone artists. In the 1950s Paamiut developed a booming cod industry that lasted until 1989 when the cod populations dwindled.[1] In connection with a development plan called G60 Paamiut was chosen as to be the place to live for the entire population of the former Paamiut municipality. Therefore the number of people living there rose significantly during that period.

The town has one of the finest churches in Greenland built in 1909.[1] It is made of wood and is of Norwegian style.[1] The absorbing local museum is located in the centre, in original buildings from the previous century, among these a carpenter workshop and a salt warehouse.

Economy

As is the case for other towns of western Greenland, the sea is free of ice during the winter,[2] whilst fishing is the primary occupation of the inhabitants of the region. Icebergs, coming adrift along the east coast of Greenland with the East Greenland Current and continuing up along the west coast with the West Greenland Current normally arrive in the autumn, bringing numerous seals marking this season as a great time for the local hunters.

Population

With 1,619 inhabitants as of 2010,[3] it is the eighth-largest town in Greenland, down from the seventh in 2005. Paamiut has been losing population for almost every year in the last two decades: more than a quarter population relative to 1990 levels, over 14% relative to 2000, and more than a tenth relative to 2005,[4] and still decreasing.[4]

Transport

Paamiut is a port of call for the Arctic Umiaq Line coastal ship.[5] In November 2007, the Paamiut Airport was built by Mittarfeqarfiit. Connections to Nuuk and Narsarsuaq are served by Air Greenland STOL aircraft.[6]

Climate

Climate data for Paamiut
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) −3.4
(25.9)		 −3
(27)		 −2.7
(27.1)		 0.6
(33.1)		 4.2
(39.6)		 6.5
(43.7)		 8.8
(47.8)		 8.2
(46.8)		 6.2
(43.2)		 2.9
(37.2)		 0.3
(32.5)		 −2.3
(27.9)		 2.2
(36.0)
Average low °C (°F) −10.1
(13.8)		 −10.2
(13.6)		 −9.9
(14.2)		 −5.7
(21.7)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 1.1
(34.0)		 2.8
(37.0)		 2.7
(36.9)		 0.7
(33.3)		 −2.8
(27.0)		 −6.1
(21.0)		 −8.9
(16.0)		 −4
(25)
Precipitation mm (inches) 66
(2.6)		 64
(2.52)		 64
(2.52)		 58
(2.28)		 58
(2.28)		 67
(2.64)		 91
(3.58)		 92
(3.62)		 80
(3.15)		 71
(2.8)		 84
(3.31)		 83
(3.27)		 878
(34.57)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 10 9 10 9 8 10 11 10 11 10 11 11 120
Source: [7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d O'Carroll, Etain (2005). Greenland and the Arctic. Lonely Planet. pp. 141. ISBN 1-74059-095-3. 
  2. ^ Air Greenland, Destination overview: Paamiut
  3. ^ Statistics Greenland, Greenland in Figures, 2010
  4. ^ a b Statistics Greenland
  5. ^ AUL, Timetable 2009
  6. ^ Air Greenland, Departures and Arrivals
  7. ^ "Klimanormaler for Grønland". Danish Meteorological Institute. http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/index/gronland/klimanormaler-gl.htm. Retrieved 3 November 2008. 
Kujalleq
Qaasuitsup
Qeqqata
Sermersooq