The Official Tourism and Business Site of Greenland
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Upernavik
On top of the world
Upernavik lies so far north that many visitors feel like they are standing on top of the world at a latitude of 72 degrees north. It is therefore no coincidence that the town’s highest point (151 metres or 500 feet) is called Life’s Summit. Its location also means that the open-air museum in Upernavik is the most northerly in the world. Unique fauna dominates the Upernavik area, which also has the world’s largest bird cliff, Apparsuit. Another well-known mountain is the town’s landmark, Qaarsorsuaq, which reaches a height of 1,100 metres (3,600 feet).
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Upernavik’s main area of business
More than half of the Municipality of Upernavik’s 3,000 inhabitants live in the ten settlements that are situated along the municipality’s 450 km (280 miles) of coastline. The primary business activity is fishing for Greenland halibut, which in winter is caught by means of long lines through the ice. As the sea is frozen from December to June, the fishing grounds can be accessed by dogsled or snowmobile. The frozen sea and the magnificent view of Davis Strait make a trip by dogsled an obvious choice for people visiting Upernavik between February and April.
Whaling and sealing trips at Upernavik
However, whaling also plays a central role in terms of employment in the settlements. Narwhals are still caught in the traditional manner from kayak in Melville Bay, where beluga whales and polar bears are also hunted. At the same time seals have been caught for thousands of years in nets under the ice or by hunting them while they are sunning themselves on the ice during the spring. Several hunting trips tailored for tourists can be organised in Upernavik, and the area is ideal for kayaking from settlement to settlement or chartering a boat for a unique sailing trip.
How do I get to Upernavik?
From the international airport in Kangerlussuaq there are several weekly Air Greenland flights via Ilulissat to Upernavik. Transport to and from the settlements usually takes place by helicopter. Depending on your actual wishes as regards a trip to Upernavik, it can be a good idea to plan your holiday itinerary and the journey itself in good time. Contact your local travel agency or the tourist office in Upernavik.
Upernavik weather:
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