Tasiusaq Bay is a bay

Bay

A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...

 in the Upernavik Archipelago

Upernavik Archipelago

Upernavik Archipelago is a vast archipelago of small islands in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland, on the coast of northeastern Baffin Bay...

 in the Qaasuitsup

Qaasuitsup

Qaasuitsup is a new municipality in Greenland, operational from 1 January 2009. As of January 2010 its population is 17,749. The administrative center of the municipality is in Ilulissat...

 municipality in northwestern 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...

. It is an indentiation of northeastern Baffin Bay

Baffin Bay

Baffin Bay , located between Baffin Island and the southwest coast of Greenland, is a marginal sea of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is connected to the Atlantic via Davis Strait and the Labrador Sea...

. The name of the bay derives from the name of the settlement of the same name

Tasiusaq, Qaasuitsup

Tasiusaq is an island settlement in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. It had 248 inhabitants in 2010...

 in the bay.

Geography

The bay is located in the north-central part of Upernavik Archipelago, between Sugar Loaf Bay

Sugar Loaf Bay

Sugar Loaf Bay is a bay in the Upernavik Archipelago in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. It is an indentiation of northeastern Baffin Bay...

 in the north, and Upernavik Icefjord

Upernavik Icefjord

Upernavik Icefjord is a fjord in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :The long fjord flows to the northwest between two chains of islands, emptying into Baffin Bay...

 in the south. At its widest − from the Cape Shackleton

Cape Shackleton

Cape Shackleton is a cape in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. The cape is the western promontory on Apparsuit Island, delimiting the northern end of Tasiusaq Bay, an indentiation of Baffin Bay in the Upernavik Archipelago....

 promontory on Apparsuit Island

Apparsuit Island

Apparsuit Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. Cape Shackleton, the western promontory of the island, marks the northernmost extent of Tasiusaq Bay, an indentiation of Baffin Bay.- History :The island is characteristic for its cliffs falling to...

 in the north at 73°48′13"N 56°49′57"W, to the mouth of Upernavik Icefjord in the south − Tasiusaq Bay stretches for approximately 93 km (57.8 mi).

Islands

There is a large number of islands and skerries

Skerry

A skerry is a small rocky island, usually defined to be too small for habitation. It may simply be a rocky reef. A skerry can also be called a low sea stack....

 in the bay, scattered over the entire area. They can be divides into several groups:

Northern band

The northernmost group of islands lies between the Nasaussap Saqqaa

Nasaussap Saqqaa

Nasaussap Saqqaa is a fjord in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :The long fjord is an inlet of Sugar Loaf Bay, flowing to the west-north-west between Qullikorsuit Island in the southwest, and the Amitsorsuaq and Nasaussaq islands in the north...

 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...

 emptying into Sugar Loaf Bay in the north, and the Kangerlussuaq Icefjord

Kangerlussuaq Icefjord

Kangerlussuaq Icefjord is a fjord in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :...

 in the south. The major islands, listed from north to south, are:

• Qullikorsuit Island
  Qullikorsuit Island
  Qullikorsuit Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. It is located in the northern part of Upernavik Archipelago.- History :...
  
  
• Apparsuit Island
  Apparsuit Island
  Apparsuit Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. Cape Shackleton, the western promontory of the island, marks the northernmost extent of Tasiusaq Bay, an indentiation of Baffin Bay.- History :The island is characteristic for its cliffs falling to...
  
  
• Paornivik Island
  Paornivik Island
  Paornivik Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :The horseshoe-shaped Paornivik Island is located in Tasiusaq Bay, in the north-central part of Upernavik Archipelago...
  
  
• Mernoq Island
  Mernoq Island
  Mernoq Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- History :With brief intervals of no permanent settlement, Mernoq Island was inhabited between 1891, when the Kuuk settlement was founded, and 1972, when it was abandoned...
  
  

Central band

The central group of islands lies between the Kangerlussuaq Icefjord in the north, and the mouth of Upernavik Icefjord in the south. The major islands, listed from north to south, are:

• Tuttorqortooq Island
  Tuttorqortooq Island
  Tuttorqortooq Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :...
  
  
• Horse Head Island
  Horse Head Island
  Horse Head Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :Horse Head Island is an outlying island in Tasiusaq Bay, an indentiation of Baffin Bay in the north-central part of Upernavik Archipelago. The closest island is Tuttorqortooq Island in...
  
  
• Qallunaat Island
  Qallunaat Island
  Qallunaat Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- History :Qallunaat Island was briefly inhabited between 1898, when the Sarfaq settlement was founded, and 1919, when it was abandoned...
  
  
• Mattaangassut Island
  Mattaangassut Island
  Mattaangassut Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :Mattaangassut Island is located in Tasiusaq Bay, in the north-central part of Upernavik Archipelago...
  
  
• Nutaarmiut Island
  Nutaarmiut Island (Tasiusaq Bay)
  Nutaarmiut Island is an island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :Nutaarmiut Island is located in Tasiusaq Bay, in the north-central part of Upernavik Archipelago...
  
  
• Saattorsuaq Island
  Saattorsuaq Island
  Saattorsuaq Island is a small, uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- History :...
  
  
• Nuuluk Island
  Nuuluk Island
  Nuuluk Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :Nuuluk Island is located in Tasiusaq Bay, in the north-central part of Upernavik Archipelago, on the shores of the inner reaches of Kangerlussuaq Icefjord, which in the northeast separates...
  
  
• Anarusuk Island
  Anarusuk Island
  Anarusuk Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :Anarusuk Island is located in Tasiusaq Bay, in the north-central part of Upernavik Archipelago, on the shores of the inner reaches of Kangerlussuaq Icefjord, which in the northeast...
  
  
• Aappilattoq Island
  Aappilattoq Island (Tasiusaq Bay)
  Aappilattoq Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. It is one of two islands of the same name in the Upernavik Archipelago.- Geography :...
  
  
• Uigorlersuaq Island
  Uigorlersuaq Island
  Uigorlersuaq Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :...
  
  
• Tasiusaq Island
  Tasiusaq Island
  Tasiusaq Island is an island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland, home to the Tasiusaq settlement.- Geography :...
  
  
• Aukarnersuaq Island
  Aukarnersuaq Island
  Aukarnersuaq Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :...
  
  
• Paagussat Island
  Paagussat Island
  Paagussat Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :Paagussat Island is located in the outer belt of islands in Tasiusaq Bay, in the central part of Upernavik Archipelago. Ikerasak Strait separates it from Uigorlersuaq Island in the...
  
  
• Qaqaarissorsuaq Island
  Qaqaarissorsuaq Island
  Qaqaarissorsuaq Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :...
  
  
• Illunnguit Island
  Illunnguit Island
  Illunnguit Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :...
  
  
• Kangaarsuk Island
  Kangaarsuk Island
  Kangaarsuk Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :...
  
  
• Ateqanngitsorsuaq Island
  Ateqanngitsorsuaq Island
  Ateqanngitsorsuaq Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :...
  
  
• Qaarsorsuatsiaq Island
  Qaarsorsuatsiaq Island
  Qaarsorsuatsiaq Island is an island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :...
  
  
• Innaarsuit Island
  Innaarsuit Island
  Innaarsuit Island is an island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland, home to the Innaarsuit settlement.- Geography :...
  
  
• Naajaat Island
  Naajaat Island
  Naajaat Island is a small island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland, home to the Naajaat settlement.- Geography :...
  
  

Upernavik Icefjord islands

The southern group of islands bounds the Upernavik Icefjord from the north. The major islands, listed from east to west, are:

• Maniitsoq
  Maniitsoq Island (Upernavik Archipelago)
  Maniitsoq Island is a island of Greenland. It is located in Tasiusaq Bay in the Upernavik Archipelago....
  
  
• Puugutaa
  Puugutaa Island
  Puugutaa Island is a island of Greenland. It is located in Tasiusaq Bay in the Upernavik Archipelago....
  
  
• Qaneq
  Qaneq Island
  Qaneq Island is a island of Greenland. It is located in Tasiusaq Bay in the Upernavik Archipelago....
  
  
• Sisuarissut
  Sisuarissut Island
  Sisuarissut Island is a island of Greenland. It is located in Tasiusaq Bay in the Upernavik Archipelago....
  
  
• Tussaaq
  Tussaaq Island
  Tussaaq Island is a island of Greenland. It is located in Tasiusaq Bay in the Upernavik Archipelago....
  
  

Glaciers and nunataks

The coastline of mainland Greenland in the region is a series of alternating nunatak

Nunatak

A nunatak is an exposed, often rocky element of a ridge, mountain, or peak not covered with ice or snow within an ice field or glacier. The term is typically used in areas where a permanent ice sheet is present...

s and glacier

Glacier

A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...

s draining the Greenland ice sheet

Greenland ice sheet

The Greenland ice sheet is a vast body of ice covering , roughly 80% of the surface of Greenland. It is the second largest ice body in the world, after the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The ice sheet is almost long in a north-south direction, and its greatest width is at a latitude of 77°N, near its...

 . the major features, from north to south, are:

• Giesecke Glacier
  Giesecke Glacier
  Giesecke Glacier is a glacier in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. Its outflow is split in the center by a nunatak. Through two tongues it drains the Greenland ice sheet westwards into Kangerlussuaq Icefjord. The northern tongue reaches the fjord at . The southern tongue ...
  
   with its two tongues: Qeqertarsuup Sermia and Kakiffait Sermiat
• Nunatarsuaq
  Nunatarsuaq (Tasiusaq Bay)
  Nunatarsuaq is a nunatak in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :Nunatarsuaq is one of several nunataks in the Upernavik Archipelago, and one of the few named nunataks in Tasiusaq Bay. To the north, it is bounded by Qaaneq fjord, the innermost waterway of...
  
   nunatak
• Alanngorsuup Sermia
  Alanngorsuup Sermia
  Alanngorsuup Sermia is a tidewater glacier in the Qaasuitsup municipality on the northwestern shore of Greenland. It drains the Greenland ice sheet northwestwards into Tasiusaq Bay. The glacier front is located to the south of the Nunatarsuaq nunatak, and to the north of the Qassersuaq Peninsula...
  
   glacier
• Qassersuaq Peninsula
  Qassersuaq Peninsula
  Qassersuaq Peninsula is a mainland peninsula in northwestern Greenland, located in the south-central part of Upernavik Archipelago- Geography :...
  
  
• Upernavik Glacier
  Upernavik Glacier
  Upernavik Glacier is a large tidewater glacier in the Qaasuitsup municipality on the northwestern shore of Greenland. It drains a large portion of the Greenland ice sheet westwards into Upernavik Icefjord....
  
  

Waterways

The major waterways of Tasiusaq Bay are the Nasaussap Saqqaa

Nasaussap Saqqaa

Nasaussap Saqqaa is a fjord in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.- Geography :The long fjord is an inlet of Sugar Loaf Bay, flowing to the west-north-west between Qullikorsuit Island in the southwest, and the Amitsorsuaq and Nasaussaq islands in the north...

 fjord in the north, Kangerlussuaq Icefjord, and Upernavik Icefjord in the south.

Settlement

The mainland is uninhabited, and only some of the islands are settled. Tasiusaq

Tasiusaq, Qaasuitsup

Tasiusaq is an island settlement in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. It had 248 inhabitants in 2010...

 is the largest settlement in the bay. Other settlements are Nutaarmiut

Nutaarmiut

Nutaarmiut is an island settlement in the Qaasuitsup municipality, in northwestern Greenland. It had 36 inhabitants in 2010.- Upernavik Archipelago :...

, Innaarsuit

Innaarsuit

Innaarsuit is an island settlement in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. Located on an island of the same name, the settlement had 161 inhabitants in 2010.- Upernavik Archipelago :...

, and Naajaat

Naajaat

Naajaat is a settlement in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland...

. The former settlement of Tussaaq has one inhabitant left.