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Maniitsoq - Culture |
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The community has 4.000
inhabitants. 3.000 live in the town of Maniitsoq, situated on the island
of the same name. Its distinctive look is due to the rugged area. From the
small centre by the sea, the town stretches along the narrow valleys with
wooden houses and even big apartment buildings clinging to the hillsides.
As a result the town is blessed with a labyrinth of stairways. The community also includes
three settlements, Kangaamiut, Napasoq og Atammik. The
weather in the Maniitsoq area, as well as most of the coast of Greenland,
changes a lot faster than in most other countries. Within 10-15 minutes
the weather can change from clear and sunny to cold and foggy. The
difference in the landscape creates a number of different local
conditions, which means that climate and precipitation can vary radically
within small distances. The
community covers a surface of 79.500 km², almost twice the size of
Switzerland. Only 17.000 km² are open lands. The rest is covered by ice.
In the northeast corner of the community lies the Kangerlussuaq Inland.
This arctic highland has an extreme climate, with temperatures ranging
from plus 20° C in summer to minus 40° C in winter. In this area lies the
valley of Arnangup Qooroa (Paradise Valley). The geology and wildlife of
this remote and isolated valley, makes it one of the most exciting and
beautiful places in Greenland. The valley has been National Reserve for
more than 20 years. At the head of the 180 km long Kangerlussuaq fjord
(Sdr. Strømfjord) lays the gateway to Greenland, Kangerlussuaq
International Airport. The wild mountains and the
isolated forefront of the inland ice, called “the Sukkertoppen Icecap”,
dominate the northwestern part. A number of fjords cuts deep into the
mountains. One of them is the impressive Kangerlussuatsiaq (Evighedsfjorden),
80 km long and up to 700 m deep. The mountains go vertically 2.000 m from
the banks of the fjord. At the mouth of Evighedsfiorden lies Kangamiut, a
settlement with 500 inhabitants.
Sdr.
Isortoq fjorden marks the frontier between the alpine north and the milder
and greener landscape of the southern part of the community. The mountains
are not so steep and are much more accessible for hikers. In the skerry at
the mouth of the fjord lies the Maniitsoq Island. Fiskefjorden marks the
southern frontier of the community. The fjord is actually a huge complex of
fjords and lakes. Due to the tide and the enormous amounts of water, that
have to pass the narrow straits, a couple of very impressive and dangerous
whirlpools makes sailing a harrowing affair. The main part of the area
consists of 3,5 billion-year-old bedrock. This makes the bedrock in the area
one of the oldest in the world. There are many sites where it is possible to find precious stones and semi-precious stones: for example diamonds, rubies, garnets, corundum and the Maniitsoq stone, a kind of lazurit. Fauna and flora During
the summer there are ample opportunities of seeing whale and seal,
especially at the mouth of the fjords. Among the most frequent visitors are
fin whale, minke whale and humpback whale. The most common seals are harp
seal and ringed seal. In the highland and the
mountains of the highland, large herds of reindeer can be seen. Hares and
polar foxes can be seen everywhere. In Arnangup Qooroa and near the
Kangerlussuaq Airport it is very easy to spot the musk ox. The area has a rich bird
life, especially in the fjords Kangerlussuatsiaq, Sermilinguaq and Sdr.
Isortoq, where you can see bird cliffs with thousands of murres and sea
gulls. The most common species are kittiwake, Atlantic murre, razorbills and
black guillemots. The ptarmigans can be seen everywhere. The raven is also
quite common and it is also possible to see the king of birds, the white
tailed eagle. As everywhere in the arctic, vegetation is sparse. However, if you look carefully, you can find many spots with very varied vegetation. In the head of the fjords Sdr. Isortoq and Fiskefjorden there are large areas with willow and green alder scrub. The most common plants and flowers are crowberry, Arctic blueberry, Labrador tea, fireweed and some heather plants. Another common plant is angelica that is used for salad and a spice for schnapps. The
town of Maniitsoq and the 3 settlements has been hunting and fishing
communities for ages. Fishing is still the lifeline of the community. The
shrimps are dominant, but lately attemps have been made to find new species
for commercial fishing, like crabs and sea urchins. The traditional hunt for sea
animals and birds has survived, though motorboats and rifles have replaced
kayak and spear.
On the local market, called " brædtet ", fresh fish, birds and various sea
animals are on sale. " Brædtet " also serves as meeting point for the
locals, and news and gossip are exchanged. During a visit in Greenland
you may here the word "kaffemik". A birthday in the family or any
other good opportunity will provoke a "kaffemik". Then anyone acquainted
with the family is invited at home for coffee and cake, normally 7 different
types of cakes tarts and biscuits are served. You come and go as you like,
and there is constant coming and going all day long. Don't miss it, if you
get the chance. The people
of Greenland like to sing. The Maniitsup community has 3 choirs, one of them
being the oldest choir in Greenland, founded in 1918. The production of arts and
crafts is very common. The handicraft products are made of sealskin, bones
from whales and reindeer and stone, especially soap stone. On special occasions like
christening, first day in school, confirmation and weddings many people wear
the beautiful national costume. The national day on June 21. is an important day in the community. People gather in the morning in front of the town hall to meet with the town council. Later almost everybody goes to church. The rest of the day and night there are various activities, music and dance. In between people will go for a picnic in the mountains, bringing the traditional Greenlandic food (dried fish, seal and whale meat, boiled seal soup, shrimps) and the specialty of the day, angelica.
Angling Halibut
the size of coffee tables, giant cod and mega-catfish weighing 10-20 kilos,
salmon of the deepest pink and king-size char eager to bite. Does that sound
like a dream? Well, it's not in Greenland." This is the way, the Danish
journalist and angling expert, Peter Steensen, begins his description of
angling in Greenland. This description goes for the
Maniitsoq area as well. The special thing about this area is the amount and
variety of rivers filed with Arctic char. Anglers value the Arctic char.
According to a group of Norwegian and Danish anglers testing the rivers in
the Maniitsoq area, some of these rivers are world top class, with the
combination of nature and the strength and size and amount of fish in these
rivers. The rivers of Greenland can
be divided in two groups, cloudy or unclear melt-water rivers, and clear
rivers, which, generally, originate from lakes. The rivers in the Maniitsoq
area are mainly of the last named category. High season for Arctic char
is from mid July until the end af August, when the fish returns from the
summers stay in the open sea. The Arctic char gains a lot of weight in these
6-10 weeks of summertime, gorging itself on capelin, krill, prawns and other
good things from the sea. For the 2000 season, we offer fishing tours to 2 of the most exciting rivers, the Kangia river and the Karra river.
Most local people have their
own boat, ranging from small dinghy’s to large and expensive motorboats
and yachts. During the summer everybody leaves for the countryside in
weekends. The boat is also used for evening cruises and if you are lucky,
you might get invited. Maniitsoq has a great
tradition for kayaking. The kayak disappeared in the early sixties, when the
dinghy became popular among the hunters, but young Greenlanders brought back
the kayak as a sport in the eighties. The Maniitsoq Kayak Associacion has
done much to promote the sport. In the summer of 1998 a new
kayaking centre will open in Maniitsoq. It will be the home of the local
kayak association, include a workshop for the making of traditional
greenland ic kayaks, and of course the rental of kayaks and starting point
of courses and excursions. 3 detailed maps of the
Maniitsoq area, published in 1998, will include suggestions for several
excursions. The Maniitsoq Kayaking Centre
has 10 sea kayaks for rental, so far. 5 from the Canadian company
"Current Design" and 5 from the Norwegian "Hasle
Explorer". They also rent wet suits and other useful equipment. Due
to the hilly terrain, the large amount of fjords and the fact, that the town
of Maniitsoq is situated on a small island, a boat will be necessary for
most excursions. 3 new detailed maps of the Maniitsoq area published in 1998
include a large number of suggestions for excursions. A. Hike to
the "pattefjeld" mountain. A 8 hour hike to the Pattefjeld mountain will lead through the very rugged
landscape of the Maniitsoq island. The mountain itself has an altitude of
520 m. From the top there is magnificent view of the Maniitsosq area. B. Cruise around Maniitsoq
island. A 3 hour trip round the island by boat will take us to the small bay of
Ataa,
through the strait of Angmarqoq where whales and seals are often seen. Later
we sail along the west coast of the Island, passing the impressive and very
steep island called Kin of Sal. C. Cruise to the deserted
village of Ikkamiut 8 hour trip to the deserted settlement of Ikkamiut, that lies between the
the Sermilinguaq fjord and the Ikkamiut fjord. Ikkamiut was abandoned in the
fifties, but people have lived here for thousands of years. In the
surroundings are ruins, graves and other remains from the earlier
settlements. The day will be spent looking at the historical sites, hiking,
fishing and enjoying the magnificent view of the surrounding mountains. D. Cruise and mountain hiking
in the Sdr. Isortoq fjord area 8 hour trip to Tupertalik in the Sdr. Isortoq fjord. The boat trip normally
takes 1 hour, but may take longer depending on how many whales we meet on
our way. We also pass the large birdcliff. In Tupertalik we walk along the
river to the Nakausaq waterfall and enjoy the beautiful landscape. |
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Hunting and fishing is also
the most commen leisure activity. From May to October there is an intense
traffic of small
boats in the skerry and fjords. Many families spent most of the summer
camping on the sites, where their family has had their hunting and fishing
grounds for centuries. Some have made cottages, others still prefer to stay
in tents. During the summer the catch is smoked, salted or dried for the
winter.
