Maniitsoq
Encyclopedia
Maniitsoq is a town in the Qeqqata
municipality in western Greenland
. With 2,784 inhabitants as of 2010, it is the sixth-largest town in Greenland. The name means "place of rugged terrain" in the Greenlandic language.
settlement is located today, but was moved to its present-day location in 1782. Archaeological finds indicate that the area has been settled for more than 4,000 years.
aluminium smelting
plant. Sisimiut
, the largest town in the municipality, is another proposed location alongside Maniitsoq. The plant would provide employment for 600-700 people, or more than 10 percent of the population. As it is a vital decision for the town, wide public consultations were carried out in 2008-2010 by both the town authorities and the Government of Greenland in order to address potential environmental and social concerns.
with flights to Nuuk
, Kangerlussuaq
, and Sisimiut
.
Migrants from the smaller settlements such as rapidly depopulating Kangaamiut
choose to migrate to Sisimiut
, the capital in Nuuk
, and sometimes to Denmark
, rather than Maniitsoq. Kangerlussuaq
and Sisimiut are the only settlement in the Qeqqata municipality exhibiting stable growth patterns over the last two decades.
Qeqqata
Qeqqata is a new municipality in western Greenland, operational from 1 January 2009. The municipality was named after its location in central-western part of the country. Its population is 9,677 as of January 2010. The administrative center of the municipality is in Sisimiut...
municipality in western Greenland
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...
. With 2,784 inhabitants as of 2010, it is the sixth-largest town in Greenland. The name means "place of rugged terrain" in the Greenlandic language.
History
The town was built in 1755 as a colony on the site where the KangaamiutKangaamiut
Kangaamiut is a settlement in the Qeqqata municipality in central-western Greenland, with a population of 357 as of 2010.- Geography :...
settlement is located today, but was moved to its present-day location in 1782. Archaeological finds indicate that the area has been settled for more than 4,000 years.
Industry
There are advanced plans for the AlcoaAlcoa
Alcoa Inc. is the world's third largest producer of aluminum, behind Rio Tinto Alcan and Rusal. From its operational headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alcoa conducts operations in 31 countries...
aluminium smelting
Aluminium smelting
Aluminium smelting is the process of extracting aluminium from its oxide alumina, generally by the Hall-Héroult process. Alumina is extracted from the ore Bauxite by means of the Bayer process at an alumina refinery....
plant. Sisimiut
Sisimiut
Sisimiut is a town in central-western Greenland, located on the coast of Davis Strait, approximately north of Nuuk. It is the administrative center of the Qeqqata Municipality and the second-largest town in Greenland, with a population of 5,460 people as of 2010. The site of the present-day town...
, the largest town in the municipality, is another proposed location alongside Maniitsoq. The plant would provide employment for 600-700 people, or more than 10 percent of the population. As it is a vital decision for the town, wide public consultations were carried out in 2008-2010 by both the town authorities and the Government of Greenland in order to address potential environmental and social concerns.
Air
Maniitsoq is served by Air GreenlandAir Greenland
Air Greenland A/S is the flag carrier airline of Greenland, jointly owned by the government of Greenland, the SAS Group, and the government of Denmark...
with flights to Nuuk
Nuuk
Nuuk, is the capital of Greenland, the northernmost capital in North America and the largest city in Greenland. Located in the Nuup Kangerlua fjord, the city lies on the eastern shore of the Labrador Sea and on the west coast of Sermersooq. Nuuk is the largest cultural and economic center in...
, Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq is a settlement in western Greenland in the Qeqqata municipality, located at the head of a fjord of the same name. It is Greenland's main air transport hub, being the site of Greenland's largest commercial airport....
, and Sisimiut
Sisimiut
Sisimiut is a town in central-western Greenland, located on the coast of Davis Strait, approximately north of Nuuk. It is the administrative center of the Qeqqata Municipality and the second-largest town in Greenland, with a population of 5,460 people as of 2010. The site of the present-day town...
.
Population
With 2,784 inhabitants as of 2010, Maniitsoq has experienced a decline in population over a long period of time. The town lost over 11 percent of its population relative to 1990 levels, and nearly 5 percent relative to 2000 levels.Migrants from the smaller settlements such as rapidly depopulating Kangaamiut
Kangaamiut
Kangaamiut is a settlement in the Qeqqata municipality in central-western Greenland, with a population of 357 as of 2010.- Geography :...
choose to migrate to Sisimiut
Sisimiut
Sisimiut is a town in central-western Greenland, located on the coast of Davis Strait, approximately north of Nuuk. It is the administrative center of the Qeqqata Municipality and the second-largest town in Greenland, with a population of 5,460 people as of 2010. The site of the present-day town...
, the capital in Nuuk
Nuuk
Nuuk, is the capital of Greenland, the northernmost capital in North America and the largest city in Greenland. Located in the Nuup Kangerlua fjord, the city lies on the eastern shore of the Labrador Sea and on the west coast of Sermersooq. Nuuk is the largest cultural and economic center in...
, and sometimes to Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, rather than Maniitsoq. Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq is a settlement in western Greenland in the Qeqqata municipality, located at the head of a fjord of the same name. It is Greenland's main air transport hub, being the site of Greenland's largest commercial airport....
and Sisimiut are the only settlement in the Qeqqata municipality exhibiting stable growth patterns over the last two decades.
Notable people
- Mimi KarlsenMimi KarlsenMimi Karlsen is a Greenlandic politician. A member of the Inuit Ataqatigiit she is currently Minister for Culture, Education, Research and Church Affairs.-References:...
(b. 1957), politician - Sofie PetersenSofie PetersenSofie Petersen is the Lutheran bishop of Greenland.She was born on November 23, 1955 in Maniitsoq, Greenland. She studied theology and graduated from the University of Copenhagen in 1986. On May 28, 1995, at the age of 39, Petersen was ordained as the Bishop of Greenland in the Evangelical...
(b. 1955), Lutheran Bishop of Greenland