There are many small settlements on the coast and they are truly fascinating as they are completely different to what we know in the UK. Or anywhere really! The towns vary in size from 30 to a few thousand and even the capital city, Nuuk, has a population of less than 20,000. It isn’t possible to drive from town to town so boats or Greenland Air planes/helicopters provide transport over and round the ice sheet.
Most of the villages only have one paved road and there are tracks or walkways between the houses. They aren’t on streets as we know them. Most of the coastline is made of granite or gneiss so the houses have to be built where there is a flat area big enough to provide a base. The houses are multi and brightly painted which provides a bit of light relief in the dark winters. No houses have gardens or land around the building; the residents can only lay claim to the footprint of the building.
The other interesting thing is that most of the utilities have to be provided through overground pipes as it isn’t possible to drill through the rock. Consequently everywhere you look are pipes winding around providing energy and water to the homes.
The towns included in this gallery include Marsak, Sisimiut, Qeqertarsuaq, Uummannaq, Igaliku and the tiny settlement of Aappilatoq in Prinz Christian Sound.
