• Things to Do
  • Destinations
  • Plan Your Trip
  • About Greenland
  • Events
Visit Greenland
  • Home
  • Things to Do
  • Destinations
    • All destinations
    • North Greenland
    • Disko Bay
    • Destination Arctic Circle
    • Capital Region
    • South Greenland
    • East Greenland
    • The National Park
  • Plan Your Trip
  • About Greenland
  • Articles
  • Events
  • Cruise
  • Practical Questions
  • Package tours & providers
  • Your Local Travel Agency
  • Contact
  • Search

The Ice Sheet

The vast scale of the ice cap puts the world in its proper perspective – whether you see it from a dog sled, the sea, on a pair of skis or in a pair of walking boots.

A GREENLANDIC NATURAL ATTRACTION

The Greenlandic ice sheet is a gigantic ice cap that both overwhelms and astounds nature-lovers. The impressions of the magnificence of the ice and the deafening silence are memories you will never forget from your first encounter with the ice sheet.

You can fly, sail, drive and walk to the fringe of the ice which at its edge can be up to 100,000 years old.

ACCESS TO THE ICE SHEET

In some places you can walk on this permanent historical monument from the last ice age, for instance at Kangerlussuaq. It is an experience that is out of this world!

Travellers looking for an extreme experience also have the chance to cross the ice sheet. It is a great challenge, requiring special permission and competence, which only a handful of bureaus have specialised in offering to customers.

Several well-known sports events in Greenland contain stages to the ice sheet.

"You can fly, sail, drive and walk to the fringe of the ice which at its edge can be up to 100,000 years old."

Package Tours

Disko Line: Icefjord Cruise

Disko Line

Icefjord Cruise

Get closer to the impressive Greenlandic nature with Icefjord Cruise.

FROM €93
Blue Ice Explorer – UNESCO sites 5 days

Blue Ice Explorer

UNESCO sites 5 days

Visit Hvalsey, Igaliku and Qassiarsuk – 3 of the UNESCO sites – together with South Greenland’s colourful town Qaqortoq.

FROM €867
Greenland Tours: Northern Lights & Icebergs

Greenland Tours

Northern Lights & Icebergs

4 days in Ilulissat incl. dog sledding & Northern Lights tour

FROM €830
Greenland Travel: Zoom in on Ice and Snow

Greenland Travel

Zoom in on Ice and Snow

Winter Bestseller! Greenland Ice Sheet at Kangerlussuaq and Ilulissat Ice Fjord. Winter activities, great nature, culture, and thousands of sled dogs.

From €1,875
Show More

THE SIZE OF THE ICE SHEET

Greenland’s ice sheet creates enormous glaciers, which under the influence of the force of gravity are forced out towards the coasts.

Here the ice breaks off and forms the icebergs that are one of Greenland’s major natural attractions.

The ice’s total area of 1.8 million km² (695,000 square miles) corresponds to 14 times the size of England. The ice-free area amounts to 350,000 km² (135,000 square miles) – equivalent to the area of Germany.

FROZEN FRESHWATER

The ice sheet has covered large parts of Greenland for the last 2-3 million years, but active glaciers and constant melting have meant that the ice has been recycled many times.

The aging ice sheet is only a few metres thick at the ice fringe, but more than 3,200 metres (10,500 feet) thick at its highest point.

The ice contains 10 per cent of the world’s reserves of fresh water as well as atmospheric particles which scientists can use to gain an insight into the climate of both Greenland and the Earth going back some 250,000 years. “

THE MELTING ICE SHEET

“Greenland’s ice sheet is melting today far more rapidly than at the turn of the millennium. Many researchers think that every year the ice is losing more mass than is being created.

If the entire ice sheet melted, the world’s oceans would rise by approx. 6-7 metres (20-23 feet). Fortunately this will not happen from one day to the next.

However, at a time characterised by heated debate on global warming, a visit to the fascinating ice sheet gives even more food for thought.

Explore related articles, offers and tour providers:

  • Anything
  • Anytime
  • Anywhere
  • Destination Arctic Circle
  • Expeditions
  • Hiking
  • Kangerlussuaq
  • Natural Expereinces
  • Natural Experiences
  • Summer
  • The Ice Sheet
  • Winter

By Visit Greenland

Behind Greenland's largest travel site is the Visit Greenland that is 100% owned by the Government of Greenland, who is responsible for marketing the country's adventures and opportunities for guests wishing to visit the world's largest island

https://visitgreenland.com

Editors' pick

Walk on path along coastline of Nuuk. Photo - Peter Lindstrom, Visit Greenland

Greenland’s modern path to independence

Many people ask if Greenland is considered a country. Others question, Why does Denmark own Greenland? Read on to get a snapshot of Greenland’s political status and the historical background of Greenland’s road to independence.

  • #Anytime
  • #Capital Region
  • #East Greenland
  • #Expeditions
  • #History
  • #North Greenland
  • #Regions
  • #Seasons
  • #The National Park
  • #Things to do & About
Whale Art by Aka Høegh, Qaqortoq. Photo - Peter Lindstrom, Visit Greenland

The Greenlandic hunting culture and the Bowhead Whale – a portrait

The Bowhead Whale can boast not only of its appearance in Season 4 of Borgen, but also of its status as the world's most padded baleen whale, and its history of coming close to extinction.

  • #All destinations
  • #Anytime
  • #Anywhere
  • #Cultural Experiences
  • #Culture vs Nature
  • #Hunting
  • #Inuit Culture
  • #Natural Experiences
  • #Regions
  • #Seasons
  • #Things to do & About
  • #Towns & settlements
  • #Whale Watching
Nukissiorfiit worker is moving ice with poclain in Qaanaaq. Photo by Aningaaq R Carlsen - Visit Greenland

When ice becomes (drinking) water: Greenland’s energy heroes

Employees of Greenland's utility company, Nukissiorfiit, work every day to ensure that residents across the country have access to vital energy, water and heat.

  • #Anytime
  • #Icebergs
  • #Ilulissat
  • #Meeting Greenlanders
  • #North Greenland
  • #Providers
  • #Public Facilities
  • #Qaanaaq
  • #Regions
  • #Seasons
  • #Things to do & About
  • #Towns & settlements
  • #Uummannaq
Muskox under the sun in Jameson Land. Photo by Bo Normander

Musk oxen and sandstone mountains in Jameson Land

A hike in the northeastern Greenlandic wilderness in Jameson Land offers incredible mountain landscapes and intimate experiences with the large musk oxen that dig into the local vegetation.

  • #Camping
  • #Cultural Experiences
  • #Culture vs Nature
  • #East Greenland
  • #Fauna
  • #Flora
  • #Hiking
  • #Natural Expereinces
  • #Regions
  • #Seasons
  • #Summer
  • #Things to do & About
  • #Towns & settlements
More related articles

Keep Exploring

Things to Do

Browse culture and nature (outdoor, hunting, fishing, cruises) related activities, as well as combination of both types.

Plan your trip

Read about practical information on how to get to Greenland, how to get around, when to travel or where to stay.

Destinations

Explore the regions and towns around Greenland and dig deeper into the experiences in each destination.

About Greenland

All about art, music, history, as well as animals, climate change and other interesting information about Greenland.

Visit Greenland

About Visit Greenland

Behind Greenland's largest travel site is the Visit Greenland that is 100% owned by the Government of Greenland, who is responsible for marketing the country's adventures and opportunities for guests wishing to visit the world's largest island.
The VisitGreenland.com website is created by Visit Greenland and Kathart Interactive.
The Privacy Policy for Visit Greenland

Frequently Visited Pages

  • Things to Do
  • Destinations
  • Nature & Climate
  • When to go
  • Greenlandic Culture
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Other Websites By Visit Greenland:

  • Travel Trade
  • Cruise Call List
  • Media Database

Newsletter

Receive inspiring stories, travel deals and news from Greenland via email.

SIGN UP HERE

GREENLAND – contact us:

Mon. - Fri: 8 am - 4 pm

Visit Greenland
Hans Egedesvej 29
P.O. Box 1615
3900 Nuuk
Greenland

Direct phone Greenland:
(+299) 34 28 21

info@visitgreenland.com

DENMARK – Contact us:

Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 4 pm

Visit Greenland
Strandgade 91
1401 Copenhagen
Denmark

Direct phone Denmark:
(+45) 32 83 38 80

info@visitgreenland.com
The northern lights Northern lights over mountains. By Mads Pihl The National Park
Scroll to top