Kangerlussuaq

Discover a stunning location nestled in beautiful surroundings, offering activities like hiking on the Ice Sheet, fjord sailing, and dog sledding. It is a po...

Kangerlussuaq is all about the Greenland Ice Sheet, UNESCO World Heritage, fjord sailing, dog sledding, hiking, and more Greenland Ice Sheet! You will find plenty of Greenland gems to enjoy in this area! At the head of a 180-kilometer-long fjord, you find Kangerlussuaq, well protected in lovely surroundings. It is one of the most popular places in Greenland to visit because you can drive to the Greenland Ice Sheet. Kangerlussuaq is at the far end of a fjord that stretches 180 kilometers. It is well-protected and surrounded by beautiful landscape. The Greenland Ice Sheet is just one of several attractions in Kangerlussuaq. An amazing Arctic tundra with a variety of species can be found here. Kangerlussuaq offers exploration opportunities all year long. Some activities, such as dog sledding and viewing the northern lights, depend on the season since they need snow and a bright, starry night sky. Other activities are available year-round. Active tourists who enjoy lacing their hiking boots and venturing into the wilderness with a lunchbox in their backpack should consider summer trips. American military base to settlement The American military base, Blue West-8, later known as Sondre Strom Air Base, was located in Kangerlussuaq from 1941 to 1992. This Americanized name for the fjord is derived from its Danish name, Søndre Strømfjord. Flights between North America and Europe depended on the American military base during World War II. The American airplane warning system DEW Line installed the radar stations DYE-2 and DYE-3 on the Ice Cap in 1960. Servicing these became the base's primary responsibility during the Korean War and the Cold War. There were 1,400 soldiers stationed at the site during its busiest periods. The modern town of Kangerlussuaq, which serves as Greenland's entryway Today, most of those living in the settlement work at the airport. You can find a well-stocked supermarket selling everything from food to clothing directly behind the airport, and there are a couple of good restaurants. Kangerlussuaq is a fairly unusual Greenlandic settlement because it boasts many facilities that one would often only find in larger towns despite having a small population. This is understandable, given the former American airbase, and it has a busy airport where many people arrive and depart daily. This will change in 2024/25 when new, larger airports in Nuuk and Ilulissat will open.