Uummannaq Explained

Uummannaq
Other Name:Ûmañak, Ũmánaĸ
Pushpin Map:Greenland
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Greenland
Pushpin Mapsize:300
Subdivision Type:State
Subdivision Type1:Constituent country
Subdivision Type2:Municipality
Subdivision Name2:Avannaata
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1763
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:1407[1]
Timezone:UTC-03
Coordinates:70.6747°N -52.1264°W
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:3961

Uummannaq[2] is a town in the Avannaata municipality, in central-western Greenland. With 1,407 inhabitants in 2020,[1] it is the eighth-largest town in Greenland, and is home to the country's most northerly ferry terminal. Founded in 1763[3] as Omenak,[4] the town is a hunting and fishing base, with a canning factory and a marble quarry.[5] In 1932, the Universal Greenland-Filmexpedition with director Arnold Fanck released the film S.O.S. Eisberg near Uummannaq.[6]

Geography

See main article: article and Uummannaq Island. Uummannaq is located 590 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle on Uummannaq Island located in the south-central arm of the Uummannaq Fjord. Uummannaq is also the general name given to the series of inlets north of the promontory at Niaqornat on the Nuussuaq Peninsula.

Uummannaq Mountain

See main article: article and Uummannaq (mountain). The island is also home to Uummannaq Mountain, rising very sharply to the height of 1170m. Climbing it requires technical skills.

Transport

Air Greenland operates helicopter services to Qaarsut Airport from Uummannaq Heliport. The neighbouring villages in the Uummannaq area are served by district cargo helicopters. In summer months, Royal Arctic Line operates its 'bygdeservice' with sailings by small ships to its neighbouring villages, including a service to Qaarsut.

Climate

Uummannaq has a tundra climate with short, cold summers and long, very cold winters.

Culture

Danish and Greenlandic children are told that Santa Claus lives in Spraglebugten Bay in the west of the island. A turf hut (Santa's Castle) was built there for a Danish television programme and remains Santa's home in the popular imagination.[7] [8]

Scottish singer KT Tunstall's third album Tiger Suit features the track "Uummannaq Song", which was inspired by her trip to the town in September 2008 with Cape Farewell.[9]

Uummannaq is home to Uummannaq Music – the world's northernmost music platform on sea ice.[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Notable people

Population

Uummannaq is the second-largest town in the Avannaata municipality. It had 1,407 inhabitants in 2020,[1] which was a decrease of more than 12% relative to the population in 2000.[1]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Population by Localities. Statistical Greenland.
  2. The pre-1973 spelling was Umanaq, Ũmánaq, or Umanak.
  3. http://www.qaasuitsup.gl/da-DK/Om-kommunen/Byer-og-bygder/Uummannaq
  4. Colton, G.W. "Northern America. British, Russian & Danish Possessions In North America." J.H. Colton & Co. (New York), 1855.
  5. http://explorenorth.com/library/communities/greenland/uummannaq.html
  6. Web site: 1932: In Greenland . Estate of Walter Riml . https://web.archive.org/web/20140222011941/http://www.walter-riml.at/walter-riml.at/-_1933_35_Greenland_-.html . 2014-02-22 . 2014-02-17 . dead . – About filming in Greenland. Lobbycards, photos, etc. of Walter Rimls estate
  7. Book: O'Carroll, Etain. Greenland and the Arctic. Lonely Planet. 194. 2005. 1-74059-095-3.
  8. Web site: Uummannaq Tourist Service, North Greenland. Attractions . Greenland-guide.gl . 2015-06-03.
  9. Web site: 2008 Expedition - Cape Farewell - The cultural response to climate change . Capefarewell.com . 2008-10-06 . 2015-06-03.
  10. http://uummannaqmusic.com
  11. Web site: Kyrgyz Culture Makes Its Way to Greenland . EurasiaNet.org . 2010-11-11 . 2015-06-03.
  12. http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/radio/radio_bbseva/2010/11/101117_bbseva_kirgiz_greenland.shtml
  13. Web site: Кыргызстан в айсбергах Гренландии! . Neweurasia.net . 2014-06-20 . 2015-06-03.
  14. Web site: KNR . Knr.gl . 2015-06-03.
  15. http://sermitsiaq.ag/kultur/article132375.ece