Upernavik Archipelago

Aappilattoq, one of several island settlements in the archipelago

Panorama of Naajaat, the second-smallest settlement

Upernavik Archipelago is a vast archipelago of small islands in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland, on the coast of northeastern Baffin Bay. The archipelago extends from the northwestern coast of Sigguup Nunaa peninsula in the south at approximately 71°50′N 56°00′W / 71.833°N 56.000°W / 71.833; -56.000^[1] to the southern end of Melville Bay (Greenlandic: Qimusseriarsuaq) in the north at approximately 74°50′N 57°30′W / 74.833°N 57.500°W / 74.833; -57.500.^[2]

The coastline of Greenland is at its most developed in this region, markedly different from that of the Nuussuaq Basin^[3] of Uummannaq Fjord and Nuussuaq Peninsula. In the northern part of the archipelago, the coastal mountains disappear altogether, with the Greenland ice sheet (Greenlandic: Sermersuaq) reaching the sea level across nearly the entire length of the perennially frozen Melville Bay.^[1]

Map of the archipelago

Geography of the Upernavik Archipelago, with marked settlement locations

History

The children of Upernavik town have their first day in class.

The archipelago belongs to the earliest-settled areas of Greenland, the first migrants arriving approximately 2.000 years B.C.E.^[4] All southbound migrations of the Inuit passed through the area, leaving behind a trail of archeological sites.^[5] The early Saqqaq culture diminished in importance around 1.000 BCE, followed by the migrants of Dorset culture, who spread alongside the coast of Baffin Bay,^[4] being in turn displaced by the Thule people in the 13th and 14th centuries. The area has been continuously inhabited since then.

Today the Upernavik Archipelago is sparsely populated, despite the relatively high number of settlements scattered across its entire length. All but one of these settlements are located on the islands.^[6] Upernavik town is the largest settlement with 1.129 inhabitants as of 2010, formally founded in 1772^[5] by the Danes during the colonization era.

Settlements

From north to south, the following are the towns and villages in the archipelago:

Upernavik Kujalleq is the southernmost settlement

Economy

Muskox head on display in Upernavik Kujalleq

Fishing is the mainstay of the area,^[4] although the more northern settlements still rely on traditional hunting of fur seals, walruses, and whales to supplement the family economy. In that, the northern region is culturally linked with the far north of Greenland, the Qaanaaq region.

Outside of Upernavik town, the average level of income is amongst the lowest in Greenland. Four of the settlements in the archipelago (Naajaat, Nuussuaq, Kullorsuaq, and Upernavik Kujalleq) are listed in the top 10 poorest within Greenland.^[7]

Transport

Air

Air Greenland services the settlements with a Bell 212 helicopter

The supply ship Vestlandia of Royal Arctic Line is the lifeline link for the archipelago

Air Greenland operates government contract flights to nearly all villages in the Upernavik archipelago. These mostly cargo flights are not featured in the timetable of the airline,^[8] although they can be pre-booked.^[9] Departure times for these flights as specified during booking are by definition approximate, with the settlement service optimized on the fly depending on local demand for a given day. Upernavik is the only settlement with an airport.

Sea

Until 2006, Arctic Umiaq Line had provided ferry services from Upernavik to Nuuk, calling at Uummannaq, Ilulissat, and Aasiaat within the Qaasuitsup municipality.^[5] M/S Sarpik Ittuk−which serviced Disko Bay, Uummannaq Fjord and Upernavik−was sold in 2006 to Nova Cruising, a company from the Bahamas.^[10] Since then the ferry services of AUL are available only southwards from Ilulissat, operated with the remaining ship, M/S Sarfaq Ittuk.

Cargo/passenger boat Vestlandia of Royal Arctic Line links Upernavik with Uummannaq.^[11] Tourism is very undeveloped, but charter boats for individual travellers and small groups are available in all settlements.

References

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