Greenland 2013 - Sailing Expedition - Over Green Islands
Leg: N 06
Cruise rout: Qaanaaq (New Thule) - Ilulissat
Dates:
from 2013.07.24
to 2013.08.11
Duration:
18 daysNM:
900 (average 50 per day)Skipper:
Zbigniew JałochaVacancies:
---Flying via Copenhagen we will land in Qaanaaq (130 km north of airbase Thule) on July 25th.
Qaanaaq is a modern community with a hotel, shop, and a post office. It offers magnificent views of Inglefield Fiord with its massive Icebergs. It has a museum which is housed in the former home of the famous Arctic explorer Knud Rasmussen, named Amundsen museum. Between 1952 and May 1953, all residents of Pituffik and nearby Dundas (Uummannaq) (curent area of Thulse Airbase) were forcibly relocated 130 km (81 mi) north to the new town of Qaanaaq, commonly known at the time as "New Qaanaaq" or "New Thule". We will board on Nashachata II and from this place we will explore surrounded area, visiting (depends of ice conditions):
Situated on the north coast of Robertson Fiord, only 1362 km from the North Pole, the villigae Siorapaluk is the most northerly natural community in the world. The most northerly settlements still remains Ny Alessund in Svalbard (Spitsbergen), however there it is only a scientist base, where during summer stay no more than 30 people of staff. Siorapaluk, which means "little Sands", was named after the small sandy beach in front of the village.
Qeqertat is small community which lies on an island at the bottom of Inglefield fiord, 40 NM west of Qaanaag. Once the ice is gone in summer, it is possible to see large numbers of Narwhals which enter the fiord to feed and breed. The north and east coasts of Qeqertat Island offer magnificent views on glaciers that flow down from the icecap.
On the way to Caap York we will try to find Moriussaq which is situated some 30 Kms North of Thule Airbase just south of Granville Fiord. About 1km north of the village there are some old turf houses by a stream that can be seen in the summer months. From Moriussaq it is also possible to make an excursion to Nugdlit where there are the remains of several turf houses, some of which are several hundred years old.
Savissivik is the most southerly community in Avanersuaq which lies on the south of Cap York where a 19 metre high monument to the American Explorer Robert E. Peary was erected on the cliff top. The name Savissivik means "the place where one gets iron". The Inughuit found a number of meteorites in the area, the iron from which they used to make knives and other tools. Savissivik is another wonderful place to see icebergs.
From Caap York we will take southern course for about 250 Nm, heading to Upernavik, famous from its world's northernmost open-air museum. A unique wildlife dominates the Upernavik area, which also has the world's largest bird cliff, Apparsuit. Another famous mountain is the town's landmark, Qaarsorsuaq at 1100 metres. Hunting still plays a significant employment role in the settlements. Narwhals are still caught in the traditional way by kayak in Melville Bay, where beluga whales and polar bears are also hunted. In Greenland the hunting is a tradition and it is allowed only for local needs. Not any sales nor export of meat or furs is allowed outside the Greenland area.
Still heading to the south after about 200Nm of sailing we will reach Uummannaq, located on Uummannaq Island located in the south-central arm of the Uummannaq Fjord. There are many artefacts and ruins at Uummannaq that provide concrete evidence to show that hunters and trappers have lived in the area for millennia. One of Greenland's most remarkable archaeological discoveries was made in 1972 at the old winter settlement at Qilakitsoq. A group of well-preserved mummies were found here dating from about 1475. The island is also home to Uummannaq Mountain, rising very sharply to the height of 1170m. Climbing it requires technical skills.
From there we will sail around Nuussuaq Peninsula trough Sullorsuaq Strait, a strait which separates Nuussuaq Peninsula in the northeast from Qeqertarsuaq Island in the southwest. The strait waterway connects inner Disko Bay in the southeast with Baffin Bay in the northwest. Qeqertarsuaq is also a port and town located on the south coast of Disko Island. The town was founded by whaler Svend Sandgreen in 1773. Whaling has been very important ever since for Qeqertarsuaq, also known as Godhavn in Danish. Hunting and fishing are still the main occupations of the island's inhabitants, of whom nearly 900 live in Qeqertarsuaq and about 40 in the settlement of Kangerluk, a few hours sailing north-west. It's around here in 1999 that researchers discovered a "galloping" glacier that moves up to 100 metres a day. The town is now home to a campus of the University of Copenhagen.
We will finish our trip around August 10th, after 1000 Nm of sailing, in the most magnificent world’s northern area, popular for sailing and a touristic place – in Ilulissat (Jakobshavn). With its population of 4,546 as of 2010, it is the third-largest settlement in Greenland, after Nuuk and Sisimiut. The town was established as a trading post by Jacob Severin's company in 1741 and named in his honor. The name was sometimes anglicized as Jacobshaven. The Zion Church (Zions Kirke) constructed in the late 18th century was the largest man-made work on Greenland in its time.
Ilulissat means iceberg in Greenlandic and the town is beautifully situated at the mouth of the almost 60 km long ice fjord, filled with enormous icebergs from the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere, Sermeq Kujalleq. The largest icebergs run aground at the mouth of the fjord at depths of 225-250 m and they only break free during high tide or when they are so eroded that the iceberg's point of balance changes. In 2004, Ilulissat Ice Fjord was included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.
Sermeq Kujalleq glacier is one of the fastest (19 m per day) and most active glaciers in the world. It annually calves over 35 km3 of ice, i.e. 10% of the production of all Greenland calf ice and more than any other glacier outside Antarctica.
Qaanaaq is a modern community with a hotel, shop, and a post office. It offers magnificent views of Inglefield Fiord with its massive Icebergs. It has a museum which is housed in the former home of the famous Arctic explorer Knud Rasmussen, named Amundsen museum. Between 1952 and May 1953, all residents of Pituffik and nearby Dundas (Uummannaq) (curent area of Thulse Airbase) were forcibly relocated 130 km (81 mi) north to the new town of Qaanaaq, commonly known at the time as "New Qaanaaq" or "New Thule". We will board on Nashachata II and from this place we will explore surrounded area, visiting (depends of ice conditions):
Situated on the north coast of Robertson Fiord, only 1362 km from the North Pole, the villigae Siorapaluk is the most northerly natural community in the world. The most northerly settlements still remains Ny Alessund in Svalbard (Spitsbergen), however there it is only a scientist base, where during summer stay no more than 30 people of staff. Siorapaluk, which means "little Sands", was named after the small sandy beach in front of the village.
Qeqertat is small community which lies on an island at the bottom of Inglefield fiord, 40 NM west of Qaanaag. Once the ice is gone in summer, it is possible to see large numbers of Narwhals which enter the fiord to feed and breed. The north and east coasts of Qeqertat Island offer magnificent views on glaciers that flow down from the icecap.
On the way to Caap York we will try to find Moriussaq which is situated some 30 Kms North of Thule Airbase just south of Granville Fiord. About 1km north of the village there are some old turf houses by a stream that can be seen in the summer months. From Moriussaq it is also possible to make an excursion to Nugdlit where there are the remains of several turf houses, some of which are several hundred years old.
Savissivik is the most southerly community in Avanersuaq which lies on the south of Cap York where a 19 metre high monument to the American Explorer Robert E. Peary was erected on the cliff top. The name Savissivik means "the place where one gets iron". The Inughuit found a number of meteorites in the area, the iron from which they used to make knives and other tools. Savissivik is another wonderful place to see icebergs.
From Caap York we will take southern course for about 250 Nm, heading to Upernavik, famous from its world's northernmost open-air museum. A unique wildlife dominates the Upernavik area, which also has the world's largest bird cliff, Apparsuit. Another famous mountain is the town's landmark, Qaarsorsuaq at 1100 metres. Hunting still plays a significant employment role in the settlements. Narwhals are still caught in the traditional way by kayak in Melville Bay, where beluga whales and polar bears are also hunted. In Greenland the hunting is a tradition and it is allowed only for local needs. Not any sales nor export of meat or furs is allowed outside the Greenland area.
Still heading to the south after about 200Nm of sailing we will reach Uummannaq, located on Uummannaq Island located in the south-central arm of the Uummannaq Fjord. There are many artefacts and ruins at Uummannaq that provide concrete evidence to show that hunters and trappers have lived in the area for millennia. One of Greenland's most remarkable archaeological discoveries was made in 1972 at the old winter settlement at Qilakitsoq. A group of well-preserved mummies were found here dating from about 1475. The island is also home to Uummannaq Mountain, rising very sharply to the height of 1170m. Climbing it requires technical skills.
From there we will sail around Nuussuaq Peninsula trough Sullorsuaq Strait, a strait which separates Nuussuaq Peninsula in the northeast from Qeqertarsuaq Island in the southwest. The strait waterway connects inner Disko Bay in the southeast with Baffin Bay in the northwest. Qeqertarsuaq is also a port and town located on the south coast of Disko Island. The town was founded by whaler Svend Sandgreen in 1773. Whaling has been very important ever since for Qeqertarsuaq, also known as Godhavn in Danish. Hunting and fishing are still the main occupations of the island's inhabitants, of whom nearly 900 live in Qeqertarsuaq and about 40 in the settlement of Kangerluk, a few hours sailing north-west. It's around here in 1999 that researchers discovered a "galloping" glacier that moves up to 100 metres a day. The town is now home to a campus of the University of Copenhagen.
We will finish our trip around August 10th, after 1000 Nm of sailing, in the most magnificent world’s northern area, popular for sailing and a touristic place – in Ilulissat (Jakobshavn). With its population of 4,546 as of 2010, it is the third-largest settlement in Greenland, after Nuuk and Sisimiut. The town was established as a trading post by Jacob Severin's company in 1741 and named in his honor. The name was sometimes anglicized as Jacobshaven. The Zion Church (Zions Kirke) constructed in the late 18th century was the largest man-made work on Greenland in its time.
Ilulissat means iceberg in Greenlandic and the town is beautifully situated at the mouth of the almost 60 km long ice fjord, filled with enormous icebergs from the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere, Sermeq Kujalleq. The largest icebergs run aground at the mouth of the fjord at depths of 225-250 m and they only break free during high tide or when they are so eroded that the iceberg's point of balance changes. In 2004, Ilulissat Ice Fjord was included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.
Sermeq Kujalleq glacier is one of the fastest (19 m per day) and most active glaciers in the world. It annually calves over 35 km3 of ice, i.e. 10% of the production of all Greenland calf ice and more than any other glacier outside Antarctica.
Back to expedition
NEWS
- Lotnisko Kangerlussuaq
2013.08.11
Chyba ostatnie chwile etapu N 06 na grenlandzkiej ziemi. Radiostacja Thule 2013 FM kończy nadawanie. Życzymy miłego dalszego życia. - Kapitański spacer
2013.08.10
Góry lodowe pod kościółkiem. Qajaqi. Inuiciątko z dużą strzelbą. W warsztacie "artysty ludowego". Ceny 40 % tych z Main Street. Ostatnie wyjście w morze. Fotograf po długiej wędrówce na przybrzeżnej skale. Sesja foto wśród lodów. Modelka najpierw całkiem goła, potem pod żaglami. - Ilulissad
2013.08.09
Po & godzinach przedzierania się przez labirynty growlerów i gór lodowych ( czasem jak małe miasto z wieżowcami), niekiedy we mgle, jesteśmy w Ilulissacie. Po wycieczce do fiordu Ilulisat ( lista UNESCO), gdzie cieli największy producent lodu na półkuli północnej (jakieś 20 milionów ton dziennie). A teraz z okazji ocalenia oddajemy sie kulinarnej rozpuście. Świeże halibuty i dorsze ( po morskim kursie 0,6 paczki/szt.) i krewetki Brata Alberta.
