Savissivik
Savissivik Havighivik | |
---|---|
Savissivik | |
Coordinates: 76°01′10″N 65°06′50″W / 76.01944°N 65.11389°WCoordinates: 76°01′10″N 65°06′50″W / 76.01944°N 65.11389°W | |
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]
References
- ↑ Statistics Greenland (Danish)
- ↑ quarkexpeditions.com
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Lured by iron meteorite". Suluk (Air Greenland) 4: 6. 2010.
- ↑ "Booking system". Air Greenland. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
- ↑ Air Greenland
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Statistics Greenland