Friday 14 June 2013

Ilulissat, the iceberg capitol of the World

It is no wonder that the Greenlandic name Ilulissat means icebergs. The Kangia Icefjord, which is also an UNESCO World Heritage Site, south of Ilulissat, is the most productive glacier on the northern hemisphere. Each day the glacier calves enormous icebergs straight into the fjord leaving it packed with ice for more than 50 km.
Esther Kokmeijer
Esther Kokmeijer
For many of us onboard Fram Ilulissat was the most anticipated place on our fantastic explorer cruise. And the cruise among the colossal iceberg was truly phenomenal.
Esther Kokmeijer
Ilulissat is also the Greenlandic sledge dog capitol, there are several thousand dogs all around the outskirts of the town. The dogs are used for the fishing of the halibut, which is the main fishery of the town.
Most of us went on the amazing cruise among the huge icebergs. We have seen quite a few icebergs on our journey along the cost, but seeing them up close from the local excursion boats was another story. The size and amount of these gigantic ice sculptures was astounding.
Esther Kokmeijer
On the hike to the Sermermiut Icefjord we could see the icebergs from land and passed through the remains of the old Inuit settlement, which back 300 years ago was the largest settlement in Greenland.
Esther Kokmeijer
At 18.30 Fram gently passed the icebergs of Ilulissat and set out on the Disco Bay. There on the calm waters we enjoyed a splendid show in the Observation Lounge presented by the ever smiling and brilliant crew of MS Fram.  
Esther Kokmeijer