Uummannaq is located about half-way up the west coast of Greenland, 590 km north of the Arctic Circle, at 70° 40'N, 58° 08' W
(see map).
The main community, also called Uummannaq, is located on an island about 12 square kilometers in size, dominated by an 1175-meter high
mountain, "Hjertefjeldet" ("Heartshaped Mountain").
The entire district has a population of about 2,800 (1998), with about 1,200 of those living in 8 villages:
- Niaqornat
- Qaarsut
- Niaqornat
- Ikerasak
- Saattut
- Ukkusissat
- Illorsuit
- Nuugaatsiaq
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Uummannaq and Hjertefjeldet ("Heartshaped Mountain")
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In Inuit culture, children are given special respect, to the degre that some non-Inuit consider them to be "spoiled". Each June, the children of Uummannaq are honoured with
special ceremonies and events during Meeqqat Ulluat.
In 1972, Uummannaq came to the world's attention when hunters found the best preserved human reamins ever discovered in North America. The "Greenland Mummies" were found at an abandoned settlement called Qilakitsoq, and
have been dated to about A.D. 1475 ± 50 years. A six-month-old baby, a four-year-old boy and six women were found in a remarkable state of preservation, having been protected by an overhanging rock. They were mummified by
the very dry, constantly sub-zero temperatures. Found with the bodies were 78 articles of clothing, most of them sewed from sealskin. The Intestines of one of the women contained meat, plant remains, and pollen (grasses,
dwarf birch, white arctic bell-heather, crowberry, willow, mountain sorrel), plus some wood fragments, and lice.
Most of the residents of Uummannaq still support themselves and their families by fishing and hunting.
In the summer, they have lots of time to fish and hunt, since the midnight sun is present from the 16th of May to July 28th.
There has been some mining in the region, but current world prices have closed the mines. For about 20 years before World War II, marble was mined near Marmorilik, and some say it's quality was as Italian
Carrara marble. From about 1973 until 1990, one of the most inaccessible mines in the world operated near the marble quarry. The Black Angel Mine was working a high-grade
lead-zinc outcropping until world prices fell.
From the end of May until December you can get to Uummannaq on the Arctic Umiaq Line's M/S Sarfaq Ittuk, and Greenlandair offers year-round service with both
fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. There are also sea tours, including one on a 49-foot sailing ketch operated by Dykkerselskabet Viking (see links page).
In late September 1999, air access was made a bit easier when a new airport opened at Qaarsut. It has an 899-meter gravel runway, a terminal, a garage, a shelter for stranded passengers and housing
for employees. The airport is actually a little community itself, with seperate water supply, electricity and heating.
You can stay in the youth hostel (bring your own sleeping bag) for about $30 US per night, or the Hotel Uummannaq offers double rooms with breakfast for about $125 US.
When looking for information on Uummannaq, be aware that you will sometimes see simplified spellings, Umanak or Umanaq, used by non-Greenlanders.
To see a great deal more information, including well over a hundred photos, please see the Uummannaq Links page.
Uummannaq Links
Municipality of Uummannaq
Drambuie World Ice Golf Championship
Held on the sea ice at Uummannaq in March/April each year, the 2000 event drew golfers from Greenland, Denmark, Norway,
Sweden, Germany, England, Scotland, Holland, Canada, New Zealand and the USA.
Dykkerselskabet Viking
Cruise from Nuuk to Uummannaq on a 49-foot sailing ketch.
Grillbaren Uummannaq
This may be the world's furthest-north fast-food restaurant. In English, Danish and Greenlandic.
Hotel Uummannaq
This modern hotel has full facilities, including a restaurant, pub and meeting room.
Siissisoq
This heavy metal band from Uummannaq cut their first CD in 1998, and spent 2 months on the country's Top 20.
The site has sample MP3s. Siissisoq means "The Rhino" in Greenlandic.
TAAQ
The "most famous Greenlandic rock band", whose specialty is love ballads, is from Uummannaq. In English, Danish and Greenlandic.
Uummannaq - Grønland
Notes on the community by a resident - in Danish only.
Uummannaq Tourist Service
Tours and logistical support are offered year-round, from sealskin boot and snowmobile rental to shark fishing and cultural tours.
Further Reading
The Greenland Mummies - originally published in 1985 in Danish and Greenlandic by The Greenland Museum, edited by J. P. Hansen, J. Meldgaard and J. Nordqvist.
Published in English in 1991 by British Museum Publications, London, England.
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Photographs are © 1999-2007 by the Government of Greenland, publishers of "This is Greenland '99", and are used here with permission.
