 | ||
| South Greenland | ||
| Commune | Kujalleq | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | approx. 7,400 | |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | ||
| height | unknown | |
| no value for height on Wikidata: | ||
| Tourist info web | southgreenland.gl | |
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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South Greenland is a region on the southern tip of the island Greenland. It lies between the Labrador Sea in the west and the Irminger Sea in the east. The southernmost point is that on an island Cape Farvel (English: Cape Farewell, Greenland. Uummannarsuaq). The region consists of the Kujalleq municipality, which was formed in 2009 from the formerly independent communities of Qaqortoq, Nanortaliq and Narsaq as well as several smaller associated towns.
background
The Greenlandic word Kujalleq stands for south, and due to its location, the municipality of Kujalleq has the mildest climate on the island. Even if the locals jokingly use the term "Sineriak Bananeqarfik" (banana coast) for this region, summer temperatures between 5 ° C and 15 ° C are not exactly tropical. But it is the only region of the island that can rightly be called "grassland". The ram's head in the municipality's coat of arms indicates the numerous sheep farms and there are also reindeer farms. And near Qaqortoq is the 1 Upernaviarsuk experimental station, which successfully cultivates crops both in greenhouses and in fields.
The first agriculture developed around the year 1000, when Nordic hunters settled here and practiced grazing, farming and hunting marine mammals. An approximately 100 km long area to the left and right of the Tunulliarfikfjord in the area of the municipalities Qaqortoq and Narsaq was published in 2017 under the keyword Kujataa Greenland - Nordic and Inuit farming on the edge of the ice cap to the UNESCO world cultural heritage.
places
The three largest towns in the region are
- 1 Qaqortoq, approx. 3,200 PE.
- 2 Nanortalics, approx. 1,300 PE
- 3 Narsaq, approx. 1,400 PE
In 2009 these formerly independent municipalities became the Kujalleq municipality formed (Kujalleq = south), is an economic and administrative center Qaqortoq. There are still some quite small settlements belonging to the municipality:
- 4 Qassimiut
- 5 Qassiarsuk, this is where Erik the Red founded the settlement Brattahlíð.
- 6 Narsarsuaq with the international airport
- 7 Igaliku, at the time of the Vikings the place was called Gardar, the remaining ruins come from a former bishopric
- 8 Eqarlugaarsuit.
- 9 Ammassavik
- 10 Saarloq
- 11 Alluitsup Paa (Sydprøven), approx. 270 PE. The island is also nearby Uunartoq with their 38 ° C hot springs.
- 12 Tasiusaq (Nanortalik). Not far from there is the lake 2 Tasersuaq, and in the neighboring 3 Quinnqua Valley is the only forest in Greenland.
- 13 Aappilattoq, the settlement has approx. 120 inhabitants, it is located in Prins-Christian-Sund
- 14 Narsarmijit or Narsaq Kujalleq, also known under the name Friedrichstal
Other goals
- 1 Alluitsoq, (Lichtenau), abandoned settlement. Founded in 1774 by the Moravian Brethren, later used as a social station.
- 2 Hvalsø Kirke(Hvalsey Church), it is Greenland's best preserved church ruin. Around the year 1000 Christianity came to Greenland to the Vikings. The church was probably built around 1300. There is evidence that it was in use until 1408. There are other Viking-era ruins near the church.
- 3 Uunartoq, on the small island there are springs with 38 ° C hot water for bathing.
- Prins Christian Sund. The approximately 100 km long passage is surrounded by snow-capped mountains up to 1,400 m high. During a trip through the sound you will discover numerous glacier tongues, and with a little luck you can experience the calving of an iceberg. The small settlement lies in the midst of this grandiose landscape Aappillatoq, it has about 130 inhabitants who live from fishing. The sound separates mainland Greenland from the offshore Cape Farvel Islands.
language
Kalaallisut, (Greenlandic), Danish
getting there
- 1 Narsarsuaq airport. There are regular connections to Nuuk and Copenhagen, in summer also after Reykjavik.
- By ship: The coastal passenger ship operates in the summer months Sarfak Ittuk once a week along the southwest coast of Greenland and also lays in Qaqortoq and Narsaq at. For timetable see website of Arctic Umic Line. Occasionally, cruise ships also come to Qaqortoq, they are then mostly in roadsteads.
mobility
Dynamic cards- The fastest connection is by helicopter, there are heliports in all major towns. For current plans see Air Greenland.
- The main means of transport is the ship. The Arctic Umiaq Line connects with the ferry in summer Sarfaq Ittuk once a week the cities of Narsaq and Qaqortoq, otherwise it goes with fishing boats and kayaks from place to place.
- The road links are mostly only suitable for all-wheel drive vehicles, if they exist at all. Sled dogs or snowmobiles are popular in winter.
Tourist Attractions
The Arctic Five are dog sleds, snow and ice (inland ice), whales, northern lights and the ruins of the Vikings. They are one of the main attractions on the island, even if they are not available all year round. After all, South Greenland is roughly the width of Oslo and therefore more south than Iceland.
