Qaanaaq

Qaanaaq is a town in the far north of Greenland. It is the main settlement in the Avannaata municipality, located in the northwestern part of the country. As of 2020, the town had a population of 646 people.

Originally called New Thule, Qaanaaq’s people were moved from their traditional home in 1953. This happened because a United States Air Force base, now known as Pituffik Space Base, was built there. The community speaks the local Inuktun language, and many also speak Kalaallisut and Danish.

Qaanaaq is one of the northernmost towns in the world. Within Greenland, it is the northernmost major town, with only two smaller settlements, Qeqertat and Siorapaluk, located even farther north.

Geography

Qaanaaq is found at the northern end of the Inglefield Fjord. The village of Qeqertat lies in the Harvard Islands, close to where the fjord begins.

History

The area around Qaanaaq in northern Greenland was first settled around 2000 BCE by people moving from the Canadian Arctic. Later, new groups arrived and changed the area. By the 1600s, colder weather made life harder for these people, especially for hunting and traveling.

In 1818, an explorer named John Ross met local people living in the area. In 1910, two explorers set up a trading post at a place called North Star Bay, which they named "Thule." In 1953, the government moved the local community to a new place called Qaanaaq to make space for a military base. This move happened very quickly, within just four days during winter. Later, the government recognized this was unfair and provided compensation to those affected.

Culture

The people of Qaanaaq have learned to live in a very cold place by passing down skills and traditions from older generations. When the sea opens around August, they use strong motor-powered boats for hunting and travel. During this time, the sun never sets, a period called the midnight sun, which lasts from mid-April until the end of August. Because resources are scarce, they use every part of the animals they hunt. Animal skins make clothes and cover their boats, while the meat and inner parts are eaten by people and animals. Special tusks from narwhal and walrus are carved into beautiful figures, jewelry, and tools, and feathers are used in crafts.

Government

The town of Qaanaaq is part of the region of Avannaata. This region is led by a group of 17 people and a mayor who help make decisions for the area.

Population

Qaanaaq has 646 people living there as of 2020, making it the largest place in the far north of Greenland. The number of people has stayed about the same since the mid-1990s, with only small changes over the years.

Because Qaanaaq is a place where hunting is important, there are more huskies in the city than there are people.

Climate

Qaanaaq has a cold tundra climate, which means it experiences long and very cold winters. The warmest months are July and August, and the highest temperatures usually do not go above 20 °C (68 °F), often happening in June and July.

Infrastructure

Qaanaaq Airport is located five kilometres (three miles) along the coast from the town. Air Greenland operates fixed-wing aircraft services to and from Upernavik Airport, with further connections to Ilulissat Airport and Qaarsut Airport. Settlement flights operate to Siorapaluk, sporadically to Moriusaq, and to Savissivik via Pituffik Space Base.

There are a few unpaved dirt roads in Qaanaaq. Only the road to the airport leaves the town. Pickup trucks and SUVs are found, but skis, dogsleds and walking are better alternatives for getting around.

The town has a small hospital built in the 1950s and rebuilt in 1996, offering basic health care. For more advanced care, patients need to travel to other medical centers in Greenland by air. Dental care is provided by a dentist who visits the town twice a year. The hospital is part of the Avannaa health region.

A small local fire brigade receives support from firefighters at the Pituffik Space Base.

Qaanaaq is home to a remote CTBTO infrasound listening station called IS-18, which uses sensors to detect possible nuclear tests around the world. The station is maintained by the Danish Meteorological Institute.

Education

The local school, Avanersuup Atuarfia, has about 120 students in grades 1 to 10. There is also a boarding school that houses around 20 students from nearby villages. The town's kindergarten can accommodate up to 34 children, and the day nursery has space for up to 12.