Narsarsuaq means "the great plain" and in a mountainous country like Greenland, with few large, flat areas, it was very natural that South Greenland's international airport was located right here. Narsarsuaq was founded in 1941, as an American airbase just 9 km away from the ice sheet - or about 3-4 hours on foot through the lush 'Flower Valley", where South Greenland sheep farmers grow grass for winter fodder
Surrounded by mountains and glaciers
About 160 people live and work in the airport area, where there is also a hotel, hostel, shop, café and a nurse station. The mountains that surround the great plain are up to 500 metres high, but you don't have to go so high up to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Ice sheet's glaciers. Even the runway is almost a direct extension of one of these ice streams.
Facts about
Narsarsuaq
Population: 160 inhabitants in the settlement.
The place is littered with Norse ruins and it was here that Erik the Red settled. He called the place Brattahlid and Greenland's and North America's first Christian church was erected here.