Explore Greenland’s glorious history as President-elect Trump shines a spotlight on the island
Before President-elect Trump got the limelight, Greenland was already on the cruise industry’s radar, with many ships choosing beautiful Greenlandic cities for their ports of call.
Cruise ship passengers take photos of the fjords in Greenland. (Danuta Hamlin)
One of its ports is Qaqortoq, the largest city in southern Greenland.
Kakortok means “white” in the Greenlandic language. (Danuta Hamlin)
He followed in the footsteps of Erik the Red, a Norseman who had set sail from Iceland in 982.
80 percent of the island is covered with snow and the rest of the island does not look very green.
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The majestic beaches of Greenland (Danuta Hamlin)
According to some historians, Eric the Red came up with the name simply to promote it.
He set out to attract more settlers from Iceland and promoted the island as a green land. Some experts say that Greenland may have been warm at the time, but since the 15th century it has experienced what is called the “Little Ice Age”.
Children in Nanortalik, Greenland (Danuta Hamlin)
Life in Greenland became very difficult for the Europeans. But the islanders found ways to persevere.
The Juliannehb River runs through the center of Greenland’s Kakartok. (Danuta Hamlin)
Nestled in the middle of a stunning fjord system, with a stream running through the town, and snow covering the mountain peaks even in spring, Qaqortoq is a wonderful place to visit.
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Qaqortoq is the fourth largest city in Greenland. (Danuta Hamlin)
Building highways in Greenland is expensive, so Kakortok is not connected to any other town or village by road. However, the climate is warm and the region offers ample opportunities for nature walks, kayaking and fishing.
Greenland ice sheet (Danuta Hamlin)
The city was founded in 1775 as a trading colony by Norwegian explorer Ander Olsen. With a population of just over 3,000, it offers a glimpse of Greenlandic life, Viking history and Nordic-inspired architecture.
The hills are peppered with colorful houses, creating a pleasant contrast to the stark heights of the surrounding fjords.
Road sign in Greenland. Greenland is an Eskimo-Aleut language with about 57,000 speakers. (Danuta Hamlin)
Greenland is an independent territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, but the official language is Greenlandic. It is a polysynthetic language, which means that, technically, there is no limit on Greenlandic word length.
Decoding environmental signals can be fun and challenging at the same time.
Stone and Man, an open-air art project in Qaqortoq, Greenland, features rock carvings and sculptures. (Danuta Hamlin)
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Although trees are not easy to find, the area is full of all kinds of rocks and boulders. Some are carved into faces and whales in a tribute to “Stone and Man.” This open-air gallery is the work of local Kakortok artist Aka Høegh.
Mindebrønden Waterfall is the larger of two public waterfalls in Greenland. (Danuta Hamlin)
Qaqortoq boasts the oldest fountain in the country – Mindebronden – a memorial fountain. The waterfall was completed in 1932 and disappeared during the winter months.
A fish market in Kakartok. Pack meat is a key ingredient in Greenland’s national dish, Suaasat. (Danuta Hamlin)
The town’s fish market sells everything caught by local fishermen. It could be fish, or whale meat, or maybe a seal.
Kakortok is a fishing town and seafood plays an important role in the Greenlandic diet.
Nanortalik is a village on Nanortalik Island with 1,072 inhabitants. (Danuta Hamlin)
The official religion of Greenland is Evangelical Lutheranism. At another port of call, the village of Nanortalik, members of the congregation welcomed the tourists with a musical performance.
The Nanortalik Choir is singing outdoors in Greenland in 2018. (Danuta Hamlin)
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Nanortalik means “place of the polar bears”. But no bears were seen roaming around the village.
Nanortalik is an open-air museum in the old colonial port area. (Danuta Hamlin)
Greenland is the world’s largest island – it’s food for any tourist adventure.
Beautiful cruises on Greenland’s fjords. Cruise ships anchor in Greenland during transatlantic voyages between North America and Europe. (Danuta Hamlin)
