Iceland review - 2013, Page 87

ICELAND REVIEW 85
Greenlanders say that “our backyards are like your national
parks” and there’s certainly truth to that. In a country the
size of Western Europe, nearly all of it covered by a mas-
sive icecap, with a population so miniscule that it could fit into
a football stadium, Greenlanders live along the island’s coast in
harmony with the wild and vast nature all around.
Being home to approximately 16,500 of Greenland’s 57,000 in-
habitants, Nuuk is the country’s largest city but one of the world’s
smallest capitals by population. Established in 1728, Nuuk is also
the country’s oldest city, serving as its cultural, economic and po-
litical center. Meaning ‘headland,’ Nuuk is located at the end of
the Nuup Kangerlua fjord on Greenland’s western coast just below
the Arctic Circle, basked in the glory of the midnight sun in sum-
mer and graced by dazzling northern lights in winter.
Brimming with life, visitors to Nuuk can enjoy a range of city
tours, learning about Greenlandic nature, history, art and culture,
before heading out to the wilderness on longer or shorter hikes,
sightseeing by boat or air, whale watching tours and visits to
Inuit villages to get to know the local food and lifestyle. Vari-
ous hunting and fishing trips can also be arranged, and visitors
should not fail to witness the calving glacier in the Nuuk fjord.
For the adrenaline kick of a lifetime, try heliskiing in pristine
conditions.
To learn more about all these amazing adventures go to
issuu.com/sermersooqtourism and browse a free guide on
available tours and local travel agents in Nuuk. Also check out
a guide to identifying the 11 humpback whales that return to
Nuuk every summer—a truly special whale watching experi-
ence.
How many capital cities boast such extraordinary inhabitants
and surroundings? Indulge yourself and start planning your trip
to discover the magic of Nuuk.
Vestnorden
DiSCover the MagiC of nuuk
The capital of Greenland is an Arctic metropolis with unique
untouched nature in its backyard, just waiting to be explored.
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Nuuk
our arctic metropolis
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