Ilulissat means iceberg in Greenlandic and the town is beautifully situated at the mouth of the almost 60 km long ice fjord, filled with enormous icebergs from the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere, Sermeq Kujalleq. The largest icebergs run aground at the mouth of the fjord at depths of 225-250 m and they only break free during high tide or when they are so eroded that the iceberg's point of balance changes. In 2004, Ilulissat Ice Fjord was included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites
Rich cultural history
Just a few kilometres from Ilulissat, is the idyllic Sermermiut valley out towards the fjord. In 1727, it was Greenland's largest settlement with more than 250 people. Excavations have since shown that over thousands of years the beautiful valley has been inhabited at times by all the cultures that have migrated from North America to the west coast of Greenland.
Sled dogs, fish and tourism
In Ilulissat, formerly also known as Jakobshavn, 4600 people live today and at least 3500 sled dogs. The large number of dogs helps to emphasise how important dogsled is for transport, even in a large modern town. The harbour is filled with fishing boats and trawlers that bear witness to the importance of fishing for Ilulissat. Tourism is also an important industry for the town and the iceberg town boasts a wide variety of excursions focusing on nature and culture.
Facts about
Ilulissat
Population: 4606 in the town and 417 inhabitants spread over four settlements.
The iceberg's muffled roar mingles with the howling from thousands of sled dogs in Ilulissat. A town where nature never rests.