Kujalleq
Encyclopedia
Kujalleq is a new municipality in the southern tip of Greenland
, operational from 1 January 2009. With 7,589 inhabitants as of January 2010, it is the least-populated municipality in Greenland. The administrative center of the municipality is in Qaqortoq
(formerly called Julianehåb). The municipality consists of the former municipalities of southern Greenland, each named after the biggest settlement:
In addition to the area of the former municipalities, the southernmost tip of Greenland was added to the new administrative entity. The land area stretches from the Kangerlussuatsiaq fjord (in Danish Lindenowfjorden) to the southeastern Atlantic coast and Cape Farewell
. The area previously belonged to Ammassalik Municipality and is uninhabited.
, in the north. The waters of the western coast are that of Labrador Sea
, which meet the open North Atlantic
at Uummannarsuaq
, the southern cape. The border on the western coast runs alongside Alanngorsuaq Fjord
. The entire municipal area is highly mountainous, with numerous fjord
s carving deeply into the land.
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
, operational from 1 January 2009. With 7,589 inhabitants as of January 2010, it is the least-populated municipality in Greenland. The administrative center of the municipality is in Qaqortoq
Qaqortoq
Qaqortoq is a town in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. With a population of 3,230 as of 2011, it is the most populous town in southern Greenland, and the fourth-largest town in the country. The name is western Greenlandic and means "[the] white [one]".- History :The area around...
(formerly called Julianehåb). The municipality consists of the former municipalities of southern Greenland, each named after the biggest settlement:
- Nanortalik Municipality
- Narsaq MunicipalityNarsaq MunicipalityNarsaq Municipality was a municipality in south Greenland until 31 December 2008. The municipality consisted of Narsaq, and the settlements Qassiarsuk, Igaliku, and Narsarsuaq. Its administrative center was the town of Narsaq...
- Qaqortoq Municipality
In addition to the area of the former municipalities, the southernmost tip of Greenland was added to the new administrative entity. The land area stretches from the Kangerlussuatsiaq fjord (in Danish Lindenowfjorden) to the southeastern Atlantic coast and Cape Farewell
Cape Farewell, Greenland
Cape Farewell , is a headland on the southern shore of Egger Island, Greenland. Located at it is the southernmost extent of Greenland, projecting out into the North Atlantic Ocean and the Labrador Sea on the same latitude as Stockholm and the Scottish Shetland Islands. Egger and the associated...
. The area previously belonged to Ammassalik Municipality and is uninhabited.
Coat of Arms
The coat of arms of the municipality depicts a ram's head, symbolising the sheep farming in the area, which has become one of the most important parts of Kujalleq's economy. The uppermost part of the shield contains the sun of the Greenlandic flag. Likewise the choice of colours matches those of the country's flag. The coat of arms was adopted in August of 2008.Geography
At 32000 square kilometre Kujalleq is the smallest municipality in Greenland by area. Straddling the southernmost end of the island of Greenland, it is bordered by only one municipality, SermersooqSermersooq
Sermersooq is a new municipality in Greenland, operational from 1 January 2009. It is home to Nuuk , the capital of Greenland, and is the most populous municipality in the country, with 21,232 inhabitants as of January 2010...
, in the north. The waters of the western coast are that of Labrador Sea
Labrador Sea
The Labrador Sea is an arm of the North Atlantic Ocean between the Labrador Peninsula and Greenland. The sea is flanked by continental shelves to the southwest, northwest, and northeast. It connects to the north with Baffin Bay through the Davis Strait...
, which meet the open North Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
at Uummannarsuaq
Cape Farewell, Greenland
Cape Farewell , is a headland on the southern shore of Egger Island, Greenland. Located at it is the southernmost extent of Greenland, projecting out into the North Atlantic Ocean and the Labrador Sea on the same latitude as Stockholm and the Scottish Shetland Islands. Egger and the associated...
, the southern cape. The border on the western coast runs alongside Alanngorsuaq Fjord
Alanngorsuaq Fjord
Alanngorsuaq Fjord is a fjord in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. At the mouth of the fjord the coastline of southwestern Greenland turns to the east towards Qaqortoq.- Geography :...
. The entire municipal area is highly mountainous, with numerous fjord
Fjord
Geologically, a fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created in a valley carved by glacial activity.-Formation:A fjord is formed when a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley by abrasion of the surrounding bedrock. Glacial melting is accompanied by rebound of Earth's crust as the ice...
s carving deeply into the land.
Towns and settlements
- AappilattoqAappilattoq, KujalleqAappilattoq is a village in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. The name means "sea anemone" in the Greenlandic language...
- Alluitsup PaaAlluitsup PaaAlluitsup Paa is a village in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. Founded in 1830, Alluitsup Paa had 303 residents in 2010....
(Sydprøven) - AmmassivikAmmassivikAmmassivik is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. The name means "plain" in the Greenlandic language. Its population is 74 as of 2010....
(Sletten) - EqalugaarsuitEqalugaarsuitEqalugaarsuit is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland, located southeast of Qaqortoq and northwest of Alluitsup Paa. Its population was 144 as of 2010....
- IgalikuIgalikuIgaliku is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. Present day Igaliku was founded in 1783 by trader and colonial administrator Anders Olsen and his Greenlandic wife Tuperna...
- NanortalikNanortalikNanortalik is a town in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. With 1,448 inhabitants in 2010, it is the tenth-largest town in the country. The name Nanortalik means "place of polar bears" or "place where the polar bears go" .- History :...
- NarsaqNarsaqNarsaq is a town in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. The name Narsaq is Greenlandic for "plain", referring to the beautiful plain on the shore of Tunulliarfik Fjord where the town is located.- History :...
- NarsarmijitNarsarmijitNarsarmijit is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. Its population is 97 as of 2010...
(Narsaq Kujalleq, or Frederiksdal) - NarsarsuaqNarsarsuaqNarsarsuaq is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. It had 158 inhabitants in 2010. There is a thriving tourism industry in and around Narsarsuaq, whose attractions include a great diversity of wildlife, gemstones, tours to glaciers, and an airfield museum...
- QaqortoqQaqortoqQaqortoq is a town in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. With a population of 3,230 as of 2011, it is the most populous town in southern Greenland, and the fourth-largest town in the country. The name is western Greenlandic and means "[the] white [one]".- History :The area around...
(Julianehåb) - QassiarsukQassiarsukQassiarsuk is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality, in southern Greenland. Its population was 89 in 2010.- History :Brattahlíð was the site of the Erik the Red's estate in the times of the Norse Eastern Settlement...
- QassimiutQassimiutQassimiut is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. The settlement was founded in 1835 as a trading station...
- SaarloqSaarloqSaarloq is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. Its population is 44 as of 2010. It is located on a small island with the same name off the Labrador Sea coast at approximately , at the mouth of the Qaqortoq Fjord, west of Alluitsup Paa and 20 km south of Qaqortoq.The...
- TasiusaqTasiusaq, KujalleqTasiusaq is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. It is located at the Tasermiut Fjord , east of Nanortalik. Its population is 90 as of 2010...