Narsaq
Encyclopedia
Narsaq 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.
can be found in the area. The church ruins of Dyrnes
can be found on the north-western outskirts of the town. The Landnám
homestead, Landnamsgaarden, can be found immediately to the west of the town. Dated to the year 1000, the homestead is among the oldest of the Norse ruins in the area. The wider Narsaq area has some of the most striking Norse artefacts and ruins. Erik the Red
's Brattahlid is located in present-day Qassiarsuk
, and the Gardar bishop seat is in present-day Igaliku
.
Present day Narsaq was founded as Nordprøven in 1830. The settlement did not experience significant population growth until 1953, when its first fishing factory of Royal Greenland
was established. The factory was subsequently closed in 2010.
In 1959 Narsaq achieved town status, with the population exceeding 600. With 1,613 inhabitants as of 2010, it is the ninth-largest town in Greenland. Several hundred people live in the surrounding community.
Until December 31, 2008, the town was the administrative center of Narsaq municipality
in the Kitaa
amt. In addition to the town, the municipality consisted of the Qassiarsuk
, Igaliku
and Narsarsuaq
settlements, as well as several sheep and reindeer farms. On January 1, 2009, Narsaq became part of Kujalleq municipality, when the Kitaa amt, as well as the municipalities of Narsaq, Qaqortoq
, and Nanortalik
ceased to exist as administrative entities.
, and seals. Other marine animals in Narsaq are harp seals, and walruses.
, and Sillisit are located in former Norse areas.
, hiking
and whale watching.
, was established in Narsaq in 2004.
The town hospital is housed in a two-storey building and has 14 beds. The town health services also include a dental clinic.
Narsaq church was designed by local carpenter Pavia Høegh in 1927. The church was refurbished and expanded in 1981.
The only Food Science College in the country is located in Narsaq. The school, INUILI, is the main education center for chefs in Greenland, and it has a staff of 20.
operates year-round, linking Narsaq with Qaqortoq
on the shores of Labrador Sea
, and thus with Arctic Umiaq off-season route endpoint. It also links Narsaq with the large Narsarsuaq Airport, and indirectly with the rest of Greenland and Europe.
coastal ship in the summer season. The port can accommodate deep sea going vessels due to the steep depth of the shore. The port authority for Narsaq is Royal Arctic Line
, located in Nuuk
. Port pilotage is available upon request, and is recommended.
, and connects the sheep farms of Qassiarsuk with the airport of Narsarsuaq. The roads are generally of poor construction, lacking crossfall for drainage, and using softer sandstone instead of harder granite, creating severe dust problems in the summer. For general transportation all-terrain vehicles are recommended. During winter dog sled
routes are important transport links to the surrounding area.
Kujalleq
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...
municipality in southern 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...
. The name Narsaq is Greenlandic
Kalaallisut language
Greenlandic is an Eskimo–Aleut language spoken by about 57,000 people in Greenland. It is closely related to the Inuit languages in Canada, such as Inuktitut...
for "plain", referring to the beautiful plain
Plain
In geography, a plain is land with relatively low relief, that is flat or gently rolling. Prairies and steppes are types of plains, and the archetype for a plain is often thought of as a grassland, but plains in their natural state may also be covered in shrublands, woodland and forest, or...
on the shore of Tunulliarfik Fjord
Tunulliarfik Fjord
Tunulliarfik Fjord is a fjord in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. In times of the Norse settlement in southern Greenland, it was known as Eiriksfjord.- Geography :...
where the town is located.
History
People have lived in the area for thousands of years, but not continuously. Remains of the Norse settlementEastern Settlement
The Eastern Settlement was the largest and first of the three areas of Greenland, settled in approximately 985 AD by Norse farmers from Iceland . At its peak it contained approximately 4,000 inhabitants...
can be found in the area. The church ruins of Dyrnes
Dyrnes
Dyrnes is a village in the municipality of Smøla in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located on the northwestern part of the island, just east of Råket, and southwest of Veiholmen. The Smøla Wind Farm is located southeast of the village....
can be found on the north-western outskirts of the town. The Landnám
Landnám
Landnám is old Norse which literally translates to taking land. It is used in the North Atlantic to describe the time when land and islands in this area were first populated.Landnám may refer to:* Landnámabók* Landnám of Iceland...
homestead, Landnamsgaarden, can be found immediately to the west of the town. Dated to the year 1000, the homestead is among the oldest of the Norse ruins in the area. The wider Narsaq area has some of the most striking Norse artefacts and ruins. Erik the Red
Erik the Red
Erik Thorvaldsson , known as Erik the Red , is remembered in medieval and Icelandic saga sources as having founded the first Nordic settlement in Greenland. The Icelandic tradition indicates that he was born in the Jæren district of Rogaland, Norway, as the son of Thorvald Asvaldsson, he therefore...
's Brattahlid is located in present-day Qassiarsuk
Qassiarsuk
Qassiarsuk 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...
, and the Gardar bishop seat is in present-day Igaliku
Igaliku
Igaliku 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...
.
Present day Narsaq was founded as Nordprøven in 1830. The settlement did not experience significant population growth until 1953, when its first fishing factory of Royal Greenland
Royal Greenland
Royal Greenland A/S is a fishing company in Greenland. The company operates in a number of towns and settlements in Greenland, with 20 fish processing plants and ship bases of local subsidiary units...
was established. The factory was subsequently closed in 2010.
In 1959 Narsaq achieved town status, with the population exceeding 600. With 1,613 inhabitants as of 2010, it is the ninth-largest town in Greenland. Several hundred people live in the surrounding community.
Until December 31, 2008, the town was the administrative center of Narsaq municipality
Narsaq Municipality
Narsaq 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...
in the Kitaa
Kitaa
Kitaa/Vestgrønland was the most populous of the three counties of Greenland, being home to almost 90% of the total population. The county seat was the Greenlandic capital, Nuuk....
amt. In addition to the town, the municipality consisted of the Qassiarsuk
Qassiarsuk
Qassiarsuk 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...
, Igaliku
Igaliku
Igaliku 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...
and Narsarsuaq
Narsarsuaq
Narsarsuaq 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...
settlements, as well as several sheep and reindeer farms. On January 1, 2009, Narsaq became part of Kujalleq municipality, when the Kitaa amt, as well as the municipalities of Narsaq, 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...
, and Nanortalik
Nanortalik
Nanortalik 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 :...
ceased to exist as administrative entities.
Fishing
Fishing is the mainstay of the local economy. Local fjords are full of marine life, including whales, salmonSalmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
, and seals. Other marine animals in Narsaq are harp seals, and walruses.
Sheep farming
Uniquely in Greenland, farming is possible on the plains to the north of the town, with several actively maintained arable fields. Of the 53 registered sheep farms in Greenland, 31 are located in the Narsaq area. The farms produce meat for domestic consumption, and the Narsaq slaughterhouse Neqi A/S, a subsidiary of Arctic Green Food A/S, is the only slaughterhouse in the country. The sheep farming areas of Nunataaq, TasiusaqTasiusaq
Tasiusaq may refer to the following placenames in Greenland:* Tasiusaq, Kujalleq, a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland.* Tasiusaq, Qaasuitsup, a settlement in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland....
, and Sillisit are located in former Norse areas.
Tourism
The third major part of the economy is tourism. South Greenland has experienced a decline in tourist revenue in recent years, but tourism still supports a significant percentage of the viable workforce. Popular activities include divingDiving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
, hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
and whale watching.
Services and infrastructure
Today Narsaq has a town hall, two supermarkets, a church, a police station, a firestation, a primary school, several educational facilities, an internet café, a hospital, and several small shops. Greenland's first brewery, Greenland BrewhouseGreenland Brewhouse
Greenland Brewhouse is Greenland's first brewery. It's located in Narsaq in Southern Greenland and was founded in December 2004. The beer is brewed from water derived from melted icebergs. Melt water is collected from icebergs and transported to the brewery by local fishermen on their fishing boats...
, was established in Narsaq in 2004.
The town hospital is housed in a two-storey building and has 14 beds. The town health services also include a dental clinic.
Narsaq church was designed by local carpenter Pavia Høegh in 1927. The church was refurbished and expanded in 1981.
The only Food Science College in the country is located in Narsaq. The school, INUILI, is the main education center for chefs in Greenland, and it has a staff of 20.
Air
Narsaq HeliportNarsaq Heliport
Narsaq Heliport is a heliport in the northwestern part of Narsaq, a town in the Kujalleq municipality, in southern Greenland.The route of the Arctic Umiaq Line no longer extends to Narsarsuaq during summer, hence the need for Europe-bound passengers to transfer in Narsaq Heliport, with several...
operates year-round, linking Narsaq with 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...
on the shores 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...
, and thus with Arctic Umiaq off-season route endpoint. It also links Narsaq with the large Narsarsuaq Airport, and indirectly with the rest of Greenland and Europe.
Sea
The harbor of Narsaq is a natural coastal harbor with steep depth. Narsaq is a port of call for the Arctic Umiaq LineArctic Umiaq Line
Arctic Umiaq Line A/S or Arctic Umiaq is a passenger and freight line in Greenland. Its name derives from the Greenlandic word for a traditional Inuit boat, the umiaq. The sea connection provided by Arctic Umiaq is a lifeline for the entire western and southwestern Greenland...
coastal ship in the summer season. The port can accommodate deep sea going vessels due to the steep depth of the shore. The port authority for Narsaq is Royal Arctic Line
Royal Arctic Line
Royal Arctic Line A/S or Royal Arctic is a freight company in Greenland, formed in 1992 and headquartered in Nuuk. It has 650 employees and is owned by the Government of Greenland...
, located 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...
. Port pilotage is available upon request, and is recommended.
Land
In contrast to the rest of Greenland, the wider Narsaq area has a relatively extensive network of traversable dirt and gravel roads, totalling over 120 kilometers and requiring DKK 500,000 annually for service. The longest stretch of road envelopes the northern end of Tunulliarfik FjordTunulliarfik Fjord
Tunulliarfik Fjord is a fjord in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. In times of the Norse settlement in southern Greenland, it was known as Eiriksfjord.- Geography :...
, and connects the sheep farms of Qassiarsuk with the airport of Narsarsuaq. The roads are generally of poor construction, lacking crossfall for drainage, and using softer sandstone instead of harder granite, creating severe dust problems in the summer. For general transportation all-terrain vehicles are recommended. During winter dog sled
Dog sled
A dog sled is a sled pulled by one or more sled dogs used to travel over ice and through snow. Numerous types of sleds are used, depending on their function. They can be used for dog sled racing.-History:...
routes are important transport links to the surrounding area.