Savissivik

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Savissivik
Havighivik
Savissivik
Location within Greenland
Coordinates: 76°01′10″N 65°06′50″W / 76.01944°N 65.11389°W / 76.01944; -65.11389Coordinates: 76°01′10″N 65°06′50″W / 76.01944°N 65.11389°W / 76.01944; -65.11389
State  Kingdom of Denmark
Constituent country  Greenland
Municipality Qaasuitsup
Population (2010)
  Total 66
Time zone UTC-04
Postal code 3970 Pituffik

Savissivik (West Greenlandic; old spelling: Savigsivik) or Havighivik (Polar Eskimo) (IATA: SVR) is a settlement in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northern Greenland. Located on the northern shores of Melville Bay, the settlement had 66 inhabitants in 2010.[1]

History

In the Greenlandic language, the name Savissivik means "Place of Meteoric Iron" or "Knives",[2] alluding to the numerous meteorite fragments that have been found in the area dating to about 10,000 years ago.[3] The Cape York meteorite is estimated to have weighed 100 tonnes before it exploded.[3] The iron from the meteorite is believed to have attracted migrating Inuit from Arctic Canada.[3]

Transport

Air Greenland operates settlement flights to Qaanaaq Airport via Thule Air Base.[4] The twice-weekly flights are subsidized by the Government of Greenland. Transfers at the airbase are subject to access restrictions by the Danish Foreign Ministry.[5]

Population

The population of Savissivik decreased by over 40 percent relative to the 1990 levels, and by 10 percent relative to 2000 levels.[6]

Savissivik population dynamics
Savissivik population growth dynamics in the last two decades. Source: Statistics Greenland[6]

References

  1. Statistics Greenland (Danish)
  2. quarkexpeditions.com
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Lured by iron meteorite". Suluk (Air Greenland) 4: 6. 2010. 
  4. "Booking system". Air Greenland. Retrieved 9 June 2010. 
  5. Air Greenland
  6. 6.0 6.1 Statistics Greenland
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