Maps & Geography

Useful Maps for Your Journey

Greenland, the world’s biggest island
Stretching approximately 2,800 kilometres (1,750 miles) from north to south and approximately 1,000 kilometres (625 miles) from east to west, Greenland is the world’s biggest island. Some people would probably claim that Australia and Africa are bigger islands, but according to international definitions they are regarded as continents.

Such an enormous landmass, of which 85% is actually the ice sheet and is therefore white on the map, requires a lot of space when making maps. However, there are many types of map that are all interesting to study regardless of whether you are hiking inland or sailing along Greenland’s coastline.

Key map of Greenland
Scanmaps is the place from where you can obtain a full range of maps of Greenland, from 1:75,000 to 1:500,000, and they can of course be ordered online. Scanmaps can also help to get hold of aerial photos if you know that you will be going outside the areas that are covered by the maps.

Town Maps
You might get lost in London, Paris or New York City, but don't worry in Greenland: Our towns are relatively small and easy to walk. In most towns, the local tourist office can provide you with a free map. If however you want to prepare a bit in advance, you can study or print these pdf-maps of selected towns: Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat, Qeqertarsuaq, Qaqortoq, Maniitsoq, Narsarsuaq, Narsaq, Qasigiannguit and Tasiilaq.

Hiking maps of popular areas
Greenland Tourism has published a number of hiking maps that cover the most popular hiking areas in Greenland in 1:100,000.

Routes and levels of difficulty are marked on the map, and on the reverse there are detailed descriptions of the routes themselves, natural conditions, fauna and whatever else you may need to know.

On the majority of the maps there is also a view of the local area in 1:10,000. Even if you are not planning to go on a long hike, it is a good idea to get hold of a map. The maps are sold in Greenland at bookshops and tourist offices, at Nordisk Korthandel in Copenhagen and at selected outlets abroad.

Regional maps of Greenland
Saga Maps publishes maps in 1:250,000 of all the inhabited areas in Greenland. These maps cannot be used as trail maps for hikers, but they provide a good overview of the area you are visiting and are indispensable when on a sailing trip. Some of Saga Maps’ products are built up around a particular theme and on the reverse contain detailed information about the Viking settlers, American airbases, Inuit culture and so on.

RED: 1:250.000 (around towns)

BLUE: 1:500.000 (big land areas, South Greenland for instance or the Disko Bay area incl. Uummannaq).

GREEN: 1:2.500.000, 1:5.000.000, 1:7.100.000, 1:10.000.000, 1:11.800.000, 1:16750.000 Greenland in several different sizes.

YELLOW: 1:500.000 From Thule to the farthest of Greenland.

The maps can be purchased here:

Edward Stanfords
12-14 Long Acre
London WC2E 9LP
England

Arktis Verlag N. Schehle
Keselstr. 1a
D87435 Kempten
Germany

Grand Nord Grand Large
Maison du Groenland
Rue de Richelieu 75,
2. arrondissement
F75005 Paris
France