Tourist MICE Business and Investment Press & Agents

The Official Tourism and Business Site of Greenland

English dansk deutsch
TouristTravel offersTravel infoTowns & RegionsCultureNature & ClimateActivitiesCruise
 
  • Greenlandic cuisine
  • The Greenlandic language
  • The history of Greenland
  • Arts & Crafts
    • Soapstone art
    • The soapstone lamp
    • Greenlandic jewellery
    • Tupilak
  • Greenlandic music
  • Visual art
  • Festivals
  • Traditional dress
  • Hunting culture of Greenland
  • Kaffemik
Print pagePrint pageSend linkSend linkBookmark and Share

The soapstone lamp

The soapstone lamp - photo by Greenland.com
The soapstone lamp
The Inuits’ source of heat and light
For hundreds of years the soapstone lamp has held enormous importance for the Inuit people. The soapstone lamp has provided warmth and light to the Inuits wherever needed during their hunting trips. Its usefulness can be compared to that of a modern spirit or gas burner, which is of course completely indispensable on a camping trip.

The lamp’s design
In former times the Inuits had large soapstone lamps and mess tins, whilst the earliest Inuit cultures probably only used it to provide light in the turf hut, hide tent or the igloo. In the lamp there were two vessels, one of which was filled with blubber from a seal or whale. When the blubber turned to liquid it ran over the ridge to the wick, which at that time was usually dried mountain hare excrement. The wick was lit in a clever way by one person – or two together – using a couple of simple tools to rapidly rub two pieces of wood together. The friction energy created enough heat to ignite dry moss and heather.

Souvenir models create a cosy atmosphere
The majority of tourist offices and souvenir shops today sell miniature models of the soapstone lamp, which are filled with lamp oil. A soapstone lamp can become exceptionally hot, and it is therefore usually placed on an insulated wooden base with a small tripod. Soapstone lamps provide a pleasant light in the home and are a reminder of a past that is actually not all that distant.
 





click here

Review / feedback

Did you receive the information you required or do you still require some more information?
Help us to improve Greenland.com by providing your comments to the article above.
My comments:
Captcha billede
Please enter the text from the picture:


Pages
My journey
You have  pages in your booklet
What is this?
Go to my journey

Most read articles

  • 1. Northern Lights - Aurora Borealis
  • 2. The weather in Greenland
  • 3. Package tours to Greenland
  • 4. Nuuk
  • 5. Traditional dress
  • 6. Travel Routes
  • 7. Ilulissat Icefjord: A UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • 8. South Greenland
  • 9. Hiking
  • 10. Ilulissat

Travel offers

Settlements and Icebergs of the Disko Bay
Settlements and Icebergs of the Disko Bay
  • Description
  • Details
12 days of adventure in the Disko Bay, including whale safari
Type: Package tour
Duration: from 12 days
Prices from: DKK 22980,-
Date(s) of departure: 7/9/2010
Topas Travel
www.eastgreenland.com
www.eastgreenland.com
  • Description
... is the official tourism portal of East Greenland
Destination East Greenland
Make dreams come true!
Make dreams come true!
  • Description
  • Details
The beauty of the arctic nature - find it all here!
Type: Package tour
Duration: from 8 days
Prices from: EUR 1675,-
Nordwind Reisen Gmbh
Easy hike package. 8 days.
Easy hike package. 8 days.
  • Description
  • Details
Tour package for individual travellers in the best hiking area in Greenland!
Type: Other
Duration: from 8 days
Prices from: DKK 2975,-
Blue Ice Explorer
This ad space can be yours...
This ad space can be yours...
  • Description
Be visible on Greenland's official tourism portal. Buy an ad space to a very favourable price!
Grønlands Turist- og Erhvervsråd
The mystery of the dogsled in the winter paradise Ilulissat
The mystery of the dogsled in the winter paradise Ilulissat
  • Description
  • Details
8 days in February-April from DKK 14,495 per person in double room. Tour 9006.
Type: Package tour
Duration: from 8 days
Grønlands Rejsebureau A/S - Greenland Travel
Zoom in on snow and ice
Zoom in on snow and ice
  • Description
  • Details
8 days in February-April in Ilulissat and Kangerlussuaq from DKK 14,995 per person in double room. Tour 7040.
Type: Package tour
Duration: from 8 days
Grønlands Rejsebureau A/S - Greenland Travel
Stay at Ice Camp Eqi by the calving glacier
Stay at Ice Camp Eqi by the calving glacier
  • Description
  • Details
June - September, DKK 1295 full board included – Book online
Location: Ilulissat
World of Greenland
Exclusive adventure tours and expeditions to East- and North Greenland
Exclusive adventure tours and expeditions to East- and North Greenland
  • Description
  • Details
Expeditions in THULE or East Greenland - tremendous experiences!
Type: Expedition
Duration: from 18 days
Prices from: EUR 3610,-
polar-travel.com
www.eastgreenland.com
www.eastgreenland.com
  • Description
... is the official tourism portal of East Greenland
Destination East Greenland

 

 

About GTBC Disclaimer Privacy Sitemap
info@greenland.com Contact Greenland Tourism & Business Council