South Greenland’s natural pools

Uunartoq’s hot springs
Hot springs in Greenland are a common natural phenomenon, but the island of Uunartoq is home to the only place where the springs are warm enough to bathe in. On the uninhabited island between Alluitsup Paa and Nanortalik in South Greenland there are three naturally heated springs which run together to a small stone-dammed pool. Surrounded by mountain peaks and drifting icebergs, you can lie in the warm water and enjoy the almost surrealistically beautiful natural surroundings. It is a great experience for both the body and the soul!

On Disko Island there are thousands of hot springs, whilst on the other side of the country in East Greenland the springs only number just over the hundred mark. On the other hand, several of them are considerably warmer than on Disko Island. The hottest are between 50-60 degrees Celsius (122-140 degrees Fahrenheit). None of these have been dammed up, however, and therefore they are not as well known as the hot springs in South Greenland.

Warmer than the surroundings
The hot springs in Greenland are not due to volcanic activity, as is the case on Iceland. It appears that the water is heated by deep layers in the earth’s crust rubbing against each other.

The definition of a hot spring is that it has the same temperature all year round and is warmer than the location’s mean temperature. The hottest spring in Greenland is around 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit), whilst the hot springs on Uunartoq provide water with a temperature of 37-38 degrees (98-100 degrees Fahrenheit) – an absolutely perfect bathtub temperature!