Kangerlussuaq

Understand

Kangerlussuaq began as an important stopover point for aircraft between North America and Europe during World War II. During the Cold War the airfield served as a U.S. early warning facility before being decommissioned in 1992. Today, the airfield is one of the largest in Greenland and still serves as the main staging area for scientific personnel manning Greenland's many research facilities and base camps. An area to the east of town was the launch site for several sounding rockets used in upper atmospheric studies in the 1970s and 1980s. A radar facility used for ionospheric studies was operated by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Danish Meteorological Institute to the west of town at Kellyville until 2018. The town itself is roughly be divided into two halves: the original settlement and the former military area on the opposite side of the airfield. With the closure of the military base, many of the former barracks are slowly being converted for civilian use.

Getting there

Over land As with most settlements in Greenland, ground transportation is very limited. Hiking maps of the area from Sisimiut to Kangerlussuaq are available from Scanmaps and small huts are placed strategically along the route. Some experience in hiking is necessary, as traffic is sparse, and trails disappear. In the winter, the same route can be used for transport on dog sleds. Contact the tourist office to arrange a trip.

By plane 1 Kangerlussuaq Airport (SFJ IATA). Air Greenland operates scheduled flights between Greenland and abroad. Air Greenland flies to destinations in Greenland and Copenhagen from Kangerlussuaq Airport, utilising Boeing 757 and Airbus A330-planes. Air Greenland is the only company flying between Kangerlussuaq and domestic destinations. Scientific and technical personnel flying into Greenland for research purposes will typically fly into Kangerlussuaq via New York Air National Guard C-130s from Stratton ANG Base in Schenectady, New York, USA.

By boat Arctic Umiaq Line launched a weekly coastal ferry connection between Nuuk, Kangerlussuaq and Uummannaq in Spring 2006. The Norwegian line Hurtigruten uses Kangerlussuaq as the start and endpoints for their Disko Bay cruises.

Getting around

There is a bus that drives a circular route around town, there are two buses each hour. Tickets 12 kr.

See

Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). Kangerlussuaq is located under a spot known for strong auroral activity. Visitors during the winter months should be able to see spectacular displays of the Aurora Borealis at night. Kangerlussuaq's stable weather conditions give a 99% chance of visual between November and March. (updated Nov 2018) 1 Greenland Ice Sheet. It begins at the upper end of the valley to the east of town and is a spectacular sight to behold. The ice sheet can be reached at the end of the gravel road which leads out of town from near the east end of the runway. The nearest point of ice is Russel's Glacier, about 20 km (14 mi) from town, but the road is fairly flat so that the entire hike can be completed in a good Kangerlussuaq summer day, though it is generally more fun to take 2-3 days and spend some time near the ice, and perhaps continue further up the road to some of the lakes edging the ice, with small icebergs floating in them. Be prepared for colder temperatures near the ice, as it can significantly decrease the temperature of the surrounding air, and set up a constant daytime "ice breeze" of cold air blowing from the glacier. The image at the top of the article shows that glacier. (updated Nov 2018) 2 Kangerlussuaq Museum, 3910 Kangerlussuaq (across the road from the airport), [email protected]. Local history museum administered by the museum in Sisimiut. (updated Jun 2023) Western Greenland is Semi-Urban along the coasts and rural deeper inside the region, It has beautiful glaciers and lots of arctic scenery.

Do

Excursions (Depart from the parking lot at the airport; book in the souvenir shop), ☏ +299 841648, [email protected]. It is often possible to do the short excursions while you wait for a connecting flight. They include northern lights watching, dog sledding, hiking trips and ice fishing. 550 kr for the short excursions, more for the multi-day excursions. (updated Dec 2017) Hike through the tundra around town, and observe the local wildlife including caribou, musk ox, and arctic hares. The Arctic Circle Trail is by far the most popular of all of the hikes in Greenland, and is frequented by 700-1000 hikers annually, most of them walking towards Sisimiut. The trail is 167 km long and takes typically 7-11 days to complete. Most hikers complete it in time period it from end of June until mid-September. Horseback riding on the rugged Icelandic ponies kept at the stable in town can be arranged at the tourist office in the airport building. Cycle to the Russel glacier (25 km one way) or to the ice cap at "point 660" (35 km one way on gravel road). Bike rental costs 200 kr at Kanger market, on the other side of the airport. Take a snowmobile trip across the Icecap. Take a boat tour of the fjord. Fish for cod through holes drilled in the fjord ice during winter months. Go dog sledding with the huskies on the fjord during winter months. Kangerlussuaq formerly had one of the most northernmost golf courses in the world to the east of the town. As of 2022 the course is defunct, although the former clubhouse and several of the holes are still visible.

Buy

Very few businesses are located in Kangerlussuaq. Supplies can be purchased at a small local supermarket, 1 Pilersuisoq Supermarket, across the street from the airport terminal. Note that this closes at 2pm and 1pm on Saturday and Sunday, although a mini-market on the southern side of the runway opens in the afternoon of a weekend. Souvenirs are available for purchase at a gift shop in the airport terminal and from a smaller shop in the Albatros hotel immediately southwest of the airport terminal. Musk-ox wool and Christmas items (such as stockings) may be purchased from the "Musk Ox" shop immediately opposite the airport terminal, next door to the Post Office. There is no foreign currency exchange in Kangerlussuaq. Visitors may purchase Danish Kroner using a credit card at a small transfer facility in one of the airport buildings. However, as of May 2022, the main supermarket and most of the smaller shops accept international credit cards, with contactless payment.

Eat

Budget The cafeteria at the Kangerlussuaq Airport is probably the largest of the few eateries in town. The cafeteria typically serves sandwiches, burgers, curries and European fare. Food quality and variety are good, with prices reasonable, given you are in the north where everything flown in, is expensive. As of May 2022 the 'AniButik Og Cafe' at the Polar Bear Inn has relocated into the Mini Market convenience store south of the runway, serving a mixture of hot dogs, burgers, and also fast foods. The Pilersuisoq supermarket also has a small range of hot foods, which are reheated at the