Stunning Greenland

Greenland, the largest island on Earth, is situated in the Arctic Circle off the northeastern coast of Canada between the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.  The destination is culturally Inuit with warm Greenlandic traditions and heavy influences of Scandinavian customs. It is home to some of the most diverse cultures, and boasts some of the most impressive nature in the world. Greenland’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ilulissat Icefjord, is one of the most preserved destinations in the world with unspoiled landscape. With a population of just 56,000, over a quarter of whom live in the capital Nuuk, Greenland is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world.  

Greenland is an island of outstanding beauty and contrasting landscapes. Go there to see the northern lights which appear all year round, although they can only be seen against a dark, clear night sky. Or experience the midnight sun, the opposite of the northern lights, which shows off the scenery in an array of beautiful colours.

The dog sled remains an important form of transport in Greenland. Able to travel as far as 100km in a day, there are 12 dogs per sled arranged in a fan shape, with the lead dog at the top. The sled is controlled by the commands of the driver and can take up to four passengers. Sled dogs are found north of the Arctic Circle on the west coast and down the east coast. The best time for dog sled trips is March and April. However, on Disko Bay Island it is possible to make dog sled trips the whole year round. Whale watching is one of the main attractions of Greenland and there are 15 species that are regular visitors to Greenlandic waters. The most popular species include Humpback, Minke, Fin, Blue and Killer whales. The best time to go on a whale safari is from May – November from the capital, Nuuk.

Greenland has some of the best and freshest food in the world. Seasonal food is used simply, often cooked with blueberries and crowberries. Delicacies include reindeer, musk ox, snow crab, halibut and prawns amongst other fish and sea-food. There is also the famous Greenlandic coffee which comprises whisky, kahula, grand marnier, coffee and whipped cream!

Greenland has been a hot topic of conversation in recent years and is a country where the effects of climate change can most drastically be seen. The melting of the ice sheet is often debated and with temperatures continuing to rise this will continue to have an impact upon the environment. The UNESCO-protected ice fjord near Illulissat has retreated almost 10km in the last five years. However, new ice is still being created and there still is, and will always be, ice to admire in Greenland, it just depends how much.

There are also many sports and events that take place annually in Greenland. These include the World Ice Golf Championships, Polar Circle Marathon, Nuuk Snow Festival and the Arctic Circle Race. The Arctic Circle Race takes place in April and is a marathon cross-country event covering 160km over eight days. This year sees the 12th Arctic Circle Race take place, with competitors from all over the world.

With Air Greenland flights from Copenhagen (and internally throughout Greenland), this pristine destination can be reached in under five hours.  For more information about Greenland, visit www.greenland.com or www.greenlandexpo.com

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For more information contact Sarah Burns or Sara Milne at
Clareville Communications, 315-317 New Kings Road, London, SW6 4RF
T: 020 7736 4022 F: 020 7736 3504 E: sarahburns@clareville.co.uk