Atlantica - 01.09.2000, Page 45

A T L A N T I C A 43
Leifur the Lucky to its next landfall in Newfoundland. A
special service was also held at Gardar (Igaliku), the
ancient bishop’s seat of the Norse colony in Greenland.
The lively programme of events attracted a large
turnout. Among those attending were Queen
Margarethe Thórhildur II of Denmark, Ólafur Ragnar
Grímsson, President of Iceland, and Jonathan
Motzfeldt, Prime Minister of Greenland’s Home Rule
Government. Greenland received the right to home rule
from the Danes in 1979.
Greenland is an enormous country with stupendous
scenery. Here in the south, the contrasts are breathtak-
ing. Green grass, blue sea studded with giant icebergs
and impossibly sheer mountains frame an unforget-
table view. Further attractions include the natural hot
pools on Uunartoq island and the museum at
Nanortalik with its ancient artefacts and Inuit boats. Last
testimony to the vanished Norse colony are the evoca-
tive ruins of Hvalsey church, not far from Qaqortoq, the
regional capital. Here the descendants of the Norsemen
worshipped until as late as the 15th century when they
finally died out, their fate shrouded in mystery. PS
A replica church, named after Eiríkur’s Christian wife, Thjódhildur, has recently been raised at Qassiarsuk.
The Viking ship Íslendingur is greeted by Inuits on arrival at Brattahlíð.
Icelandair offers direct flights between Reykjavík and
Ilulissat this summer.
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