Greenland
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==Greenland Cruising Guide== | ==Greenland Cruising Guide== | ||
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| - | + | == ANCIENT HISTORY, HISTORY AND MODERN TIMES == | |
| - | + | The first people to set foot in Greenland arrived around 4-5000 years ago from the North American continent via Canada when the sea froze in the narrow strait at Thule in northern Greenland. | |
| - | + | No less than six different Inuit cultures have immigrated in several waves. Greenland's population today is descended from the last immigration, the Thule culture, which arrived here in around the 9th century AD. | |
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| - | + | == THE NORSE SETTLERS AND THE VIKING PERIOD IN GREENLAND == | |
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| - | + | This final Inuit immigration took place at around the same time as the arrival in Greenland of the Norse settlers and Erik the Red, which was in 982 AD. This is described in detail in the Icelandic sagas. | |
| - | + | The Norse population disappeared from Greenland in around 1500 AD for reasons that have never been fully explained - although countless well-founded theories about their disappearance still flourish today. Many of the Norse settlers' ruins are still visible on plains and mountainsides in South Greenland and at Nuuk. | |
| - | + | They are therefore popular destinations that attract tourists wishing to gain an insight into an exciting culture from the Viking period. | |
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| - | + | == THE ENCOUNTER WITH DANES, NORWEGIANS AND WHALERS == | |
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| - | + | Following the disappearance of the Norse population, expeditions from England and Norway came to Greenland throughout the 16th and 17th centuries and from the 17th and 18th centuries it was primarily the European whalers who came into contact with the Inuits. | |
| - | + | This resulted in extensive trade, and the Inuits were particularly taken with the Europeans' small glass beads, which today are used in the national costume. | |
| - | + | The missionary Hans Egede from the joint kingdom of Denmark-Norway arrived in what is today known as Nuuk in 1721 in his search for the Norse settlers. He never found them, but instead converted the Inuits to the Christian faith. The Inuits today are Lutheran evangelists. | |
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| + | == TOOLS FROM THE PAST UNTIL THE PRESENT DAY == | ||
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| + | The hardy Inuit cultures have survived in Greenland by inventing and developing essential tools and implements that have been adapted and refined over generations, and which are in fact still in use today. | ||
| + | This applies to, for example, the qajaq - the Greenlandic sea kayak - which is perhaps the best symbol of an Arctic culture that has lived on, by and from the sea and its resources. | ||
| + | The ulo, which is a special, curved knife used by the women to cut up the prey the men brought home from the seal hunt, is also worthy of mention. | ||
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| + | == FROM DOGSLED TO SNOWMOBILE == | ||
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| + | Like the qajaq and the ulo, the dogsled is also a tool from the past, although it is probably the traditional appliance that is most used in today's modern society. | ||
| + | Indeed, Greenland has become a modern society, where snowmobiles have in some cases replaced the sleds and where mobile phones and the Internet have become common means of communication for young and old alike. | ||
| + | However, some things never disappear from even the most modern cultures, and the traditional myths and legends still hold a key place in the Greenlandic consciousness. | ||
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| + | '''Source: http://www.greenland.com/en/about-greenland/culture-spirit/history/''' | ||
{{GreenText|Add here any background, cruising, and historical comments.}} | {{GreenText|Add here any background, cruising, and historical comments.}} | ||
Revision as of 11:55, 15 April 2016
Greenland Cruising Guide
ANCIENT HISTORY, HISTORY AND MODERN TIMES
The first people to set foot in Greenland arrived around 4-5000 years ago from the North American continent via Canada when the sea froze in the narrow strait at Thule in northern Greenland. No less than six different Inuit cultures have immigrated in several waves. Greenland's population today is descended from the last immigration, the Thule culture, which arrived here in around the 9th century AD.
THE NORSE SETTLERS AND THE VIKING PERIOD IN GREENLAND
This final Inuit immigration took place at around the same time as the arrival in Greenland of the Norse settlers and Erik the Red, which was in 982 AD. This is described in detail in the Icelandic sagas. The Norse population disappeared from Greenland in around 1500 AD for reasons that have never been fully explained - although countless well-founded theories about their disappearance still flourish today. Many of the Norse settlers' ruins are still visible on plains and mountainsides in South Greenland and at Nuuk. They are therefore popular destinations that attract tourists wishing to gain an insight into an exciting culture from the Viking period.
THE ENCOUNTER WITH DANES, NORWEGIANS AND WHALERS
Following the disappearance of the Norse population, expeditions from England and Norway came to Greenland throughout the 16th and 17th centuries and from the 17th and 18th centuries it was primarily the European whalers who came into contact with the Inuits. This resulted in extensive trade, and the Inuits were particularly taken with the Europeans' small glass beads, which today are used in the national costume. The missionary Hans Egede from the joint kingdom of Denmark-Norway arrived in what is today known as Nuuk in 1721 in his search for the Norse settlers. He never found them, but instead converted the Inuits to the Christian faith. The Inuits today are Lutheran evangelists.
TOOLS FROM THE PAST UNTIL THE PRESENT DAY
The hardy Inuit cultures have survived in Greenland by inventing and developing essential tools and implements that have been adapted and refined over generations, and which are in fact still in use today. This applies to, for example, the qajaq - the Greenlandic sea kayak - which is perhaps the best symbol of an Arctic culture that has lived on, by and from the sea and its resources. The ulo, which is a special, curved knife used by the women to cut up the prey the men brought home from the seal hunt, is also worthy of mention.
FROM DOGSLED TO SNOWMOBILE
Like the qajaq and the ulo, the dogsled is also a tool from the past, although it is probably the traditional appliance that is most used in today's modern society. Indeed, Greenland has become a modern society, where snowmobiles have in some cases replaced the sleds and where mobile phones and the Internet have become common means of communication for young and old alike. However, some things never disappear from even the most modern cultures, and the traditional myths and legends still hold a key place in the Greenlandic consciousness.
Source: http://www.greenland.com/en/about-greenland/culture-spirit/history/
Add here any background, cruising, and historical comments.
Cruising the region
Add any cruising recommendations. If not applicable delete this section.
Climate in Greenland
The world's largest island is 2.2 million square kilometers and spans over nearly 24 latitudes from north to south. 80 percent is covered by a massive, continuous and slightly convex ice sheet, the so-called inland ice.
The remaining fifth of the island is home to the country's flora and fauna, and this is where people live - on the brink of the ice age, so to speak - primarily in coastal areas that grant access to open water.
It is, however, the country's northern location and the surrounding cold and icy sea that all contribute to the cold climate.
Climate in Greenland varies greatly, but since it is primarily arctic, no forest can exist in the area.
Especially the northern part of the island is linked closely to the North American continent only separated by a narrow and icy sea.
Southern Greenland, on the other hand, is situated between the continent to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
Temperature
Summer temperatures at both the west and east coast of Greenland differs only a few degrees when moving from north to south - quite astonishing when considering the total distance of approx. 2,600 km. The reason for this is the midnight sun of northern Greenland in summer. On the other hand, winter darkness and the absence of warm sea currents mean that the length of winter differs considerably from north to south.
There are also significant differences in temperatures from the outer coasts to the fjords in inner coastal areas. In summer, drift ice and cold water along the coast result in warmer fjords. In winter, the situation is reversed. The position close to open sea means that coastal areas are warmer.
The Foehn wind can disturb this picture in winter. Foehn winds are very common in Greenland. In winter, the warm and dry winds can cause temperatures to rise by 30°C in a relatively short time causing snow and ice to melt.
The warmest temperature recorded in Greenland since 1958 was 25.9°C in July 2013 in Manitsoq at the West Greenland coast. The coldest place in Greenland is the ice cap where temperatures are likely to fall below -70°C. In the 1950’s, a British research station measured -70°C and a DMI station measured below -63°C at Summit in the middle of the ice cap.
Apart from the ice cap, the coldest stations in Greenland are Hall Land and Cape Morris Jesup on the north coast with average mean temperatures of -19.6°C and -18°C, respectively. In January 1989, the lowest measured temperature at Hall Land was -52.1°C - possibly even lower as this type of station does not measure absolute minimum temperatures.
Over the past 130 years, temperatures in Greenland have shown a slight upward trend. Seen in a shorter time perspective, and apart from the warm decades of the 1930’s and 1940’s, temperatures have been decreasing. This trend is primarily observed on the west coast that not until recent years started showing an increasing trend.
On the east coast, a rising trend has been seen since the mid 1970’s. Current temperature level is now among the highest in the series. 2001-2010 was the warmest decade among all series. In 2010, record high annual temperatures were observed several places across Greenland.
In combined temperature series from southwest Greenland from the period 1784-2005, the 1930’s and 1940’s were the warmest decades and the 1810’s the coldest - not least due to unidentified large volcanic eruptions in 1809 and the Tambora eruption in 1815.
Source: Danish meteorological institute
Sources of weather forecasting here.
Charts
- Source
http://gronlandskehavnelods.dk/ (Only in danish)
http://dk.nunagis.gl/ (Only in danish)
http://www.dma.dk/ships/sider/greenlandwaters.aspx
- Source
- Chart Number - Chart Name
Navigation.gl is a portal for use by mariners who are not familiar with navigation in arctic waters, especially the waters surrounding Greenland. Mariners intending to navigate in the waters surrounding Greenland can use the portal to obtain an overview of the websites of relevant authorities and institutions that provide information about safe navigation in these waters.
The navigation.gl portal is developed in collaboration between Danish and Greenland authorities. The portal primarily features links to the websites of the Danish Maritime Authority, The Danish Geodata Agency and the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI).
http://eng.navigation.gl/navigational-planning/
Local Radio Nets
Also see World Cruiser's Nets.
Arrival/Departure procedures
Arrival
Details?
Departure
Details?
Customs and Immigration
Customs
Details?
Immigration
Details?
Fees and Charges
Restrictions
Health and Security
Health
Submit any health warnings/information. Remove any of these sections do not apply to this particular country.
Security
Details?
Ports & Popular Stops
Use this section to name ports and anchorages. Remove this section if this information is covered in Regions pages (above).
Ports
List ports and harbors. If there is more then 2 paragraphs for a given port, create a dedicated page for it (Port/Stop Template).
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
Use this section only if there are few marinas not covered in pages under Ports and Islands above. Remove if not applicable.
Anchorages
List anchorages except the ones covered under Offshore Islands below. If there is more then 2 paragraphs for a given anchorage, create a dedicated page for it (Port/Stop Template).
Offshore Islands
List islands and island groups belonging to this country. If there is more then 2 paragraphs for a given island, create a dedicated page for it (Island Template and/or Island Group Template).
Transportation
List transportation to other countries, etc.
Routes/Passages To/From
List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.
Cruiser's Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
List links external to the wiki such as in Wikipedia.
References & Publications
Books, Guides, etc. Use the Reference template or not at your discretion. For example:
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{{Reference|Rod Heikel|Greek Waters Pilot Imray||Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire|9780852889718}}, expands to - Rod Heikell, Greek Waters Pilot Imray, Laurie and Wilson, Cambridgeshire, ISBN 9780852889718
- Author, Title, Publisher, ISBN ISBN number
- Author, Title, Publisher, ISBN ISBN number
See also Denmark.
Comments
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Names: Lighthouse, Haiqu |
