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Arctic Wonderland Tours
Greenland
is the largest island of the world and a part of the North American continent. The northernmost point of Greenland, Cape Morris Jesup, is only 740 kilometres from the North Pole and is the northernmost piece of land in the world. The southernmost point of Greenland, Nunap Isua (Cape Farewell), is approximately on the same latitude as Oslo. The distance from north to south is 2,670 kilometres. The distance from east to west at the widest point is 1.050 kilometres.
The total area of Greenland is 2.166.086 square kilometres. About 81 percent of the country is covered by ice. 19 percent, or 410.449 square kilometres, is ice-free.
The total area of Greenland is 2.166.086 square kilometres. About 81 percent of the country is covered by ice. 19 percent, or 410.449 square kilometres, is ice-free.
East Greenland
East Greenland district is intersected by the arctic circle (about 66°30° N) almost 100 km/ 60 miles north of the town Ammassalik (or Tasiilaq).
In the middle of the summer the sun is visible for almost 24 hours, while at Christmas the days are short and dark. Like the rest of East Greenland the district of Ammassalik is marked by a cold sea current running along the coast from north to south, often carrying huge amounts of broken winter ice from the sea around North Greenland and the North Pole. This is called Pack-ice and for long periods of the year navigation is extremely hazardous and often impossible. Until recent times the district has therefore been largely isolated from the outside world. 2000 years ago Eskimos (Sarqaq" and later "Dorset people") did reach the area - presumably from the North - by rowing along the shore in boats made from skin. During periods of unfavourable climatic conditions the isolated communities died out and the area would be deserted until the next immigration. It would appear that the district was uninhabited during most of the Middle ages, and that the latest arrival of Eskimos (this time from a tribe of the "Thule people") happened during the 14th or 15th century. During The 18th century several Danish trading stations ("colonies") were established on the West coast of Greenland and the inhabitants gradually became Christian. Due to the isolation by the Pack-ice no such colonisation of East Greenland took place, and the area remained practically unknown to anyone outside the local population. In the 1890s the Eskimos in the Ammassalik district were only marginally influenced by European culture, as opposed to their counterparts in West Greenland; even after the establishment of a trading station, the Eskimo way of life continued for decades, especially among the people.
In the middle of the summer the sun is visible for almost 24 hours, while at Christmas the days are short and dark. Like the rest of East Greenland the district of Ammassalik is marked by a cold sea current running along the coast from north to south, often carrying huge amounts of broken winter ice from the sea around North Greenland and the North Pole. This is called Pack-ice and for long periods of the year navigation is extremely hazardous and often impossible. Until recent times the district has therefore been largely isolated from the outside world. 2000 years ago Eskimos (Sarqaq" and later "Dorset people") did reach the area - presumably from the North - by rowing along the shore in boats made from skin. During periods of unfavourable climatic conditions the isolated communities died out and the area would be deserted until the next immigration. It would appear that the district was uninhabited during most of the Middle ages, and that the latest arrival of Eskimos (this time from a tribe of the "Thule people") happened during the 14th or 15th century. During The 18th century several Danish trading stations ("colonies") were established on the West coast of Greenland and the inhabitants gradually became Christian. Due to the isolation by the Pack-ice no such colonisation of East Greenland took place, and the area remained practically unknown to anyone outside the local population. In the 1890s the Eskimos in the Ammassalik district were only marginally influenced by European culture, as opposed to their counterparts in West Greenland; even after the establishment of a trading station, the Eskimo way of life continued for decades, especially among the people.
The pack ice
The East Greenland Polar Current, southbound current along the east coast of Greenland. It is driven by the fact that the surplus of fresh water from the land areas of the Arctic Ocean (Arctic Ocean) mainly leaves the Arctic Ocean through Fram Strait (the opening between Greenland and the island of Spitsbergen).
The East Greenland Current carries the pack ice and polar waters from the Arctic Ocean to Cape Farewell, where part of it continues up the west coast as the West Greenland Current. On the southernmost stretch, the Polar Stream runs parallel to the western branch of the warm Irmingerstrøm, and the two streams vary greatly in strength and depth from year to year, which is crucial for the climate in West Greenland.
Buch, Erik: Den Østgrønlandske Strøm i Den Store Danske på lex.dk. Hentet 24. januar 2022 fra https://denstoredanske.lex.dk/Den_%C3%98stgr%C3%B8nlandske_Str%C3%B8m
The East Greenland Current carries the pack ice and polar waters from the Arctic Ocean to Cape Farewell, where part of it continues up the west coast as the West Greenland Current. On the southernmost stretch, the Polar Stream runs parallel to the western branch of the warm Irmingerstrøm, and the two streams vary greatly in strength and depth from year to year, which is crucial for the climate in West Greenland.
Buch, Erik: Den Østgrønlandske Strøm i Den Store Danske på lex.dk. Hentet 24. januar 2022 fra https://denstoredanske.lex.dk/Den_%C3%98stgr%C3%B8nlandske_Str%C3%B8m
Average temperature
Tasiilaq / Kulusuk
Average sunshine
Tasiilaq / Kulusuk
Weather
Spring is not as cold as you may expect. On a sunny day the temperatures may reach above freezing, yet cold enough for the snow not to melt. Everything is covered in snow, and will begin to melt away around the months of May-June.
Summer is, for most, surprisingly warm. All the snow from winter has melted, and the beautiful landscape is revealed after a hiding in the snow. It doesn't really get dark because of the midnight sun. The weather is mostly dry in the summertime.
Autumn comes around September, and temperatures drop bellow freezing and the snow comes once more.
Winter is cold and dark. Every where you look there is snow, and on a clear night, if the conditions are right, there will be northern lights in the night sky.
Summer is, for most, surprisingly warm. All the snow from winter has melted, and the beautiful landscape is revealed after a hiding in the snow. It doesn't really get dark because of the midnight sun. The weather is mostly dry in the summertime.
Autumn comes around September, and temperatures drop bellow freezing and the snow comes once more.
Winter is cold and dark. Every where you look there is snow, and on a clear night, if the conditions are right, there will be northern lights in the night sky.
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