From Snowflake to Iceberg
Icebergs are unique works of nature whose magnificence and majesty cannot be adequately captured on film – they must be experienced first hand! No two icebergs are alike, and when you see an iceberg for the first time, you may be seeing shapes and sizes that no-one has seen before.
It also gives food for thought that icebergs were originally created in a slow transformation from snowflake to ice during a period predating modern history.
Glaciers give Birth to Icebergs
Icebergs consist of heavily compacted snow that fell on the Greenlandic ice cap several thousand years ago – in some cases more than 15,000 years ago.
The ice cap is in a constant state of change and movement, and every year it produces thousands of icebergs that are primarily formed in the sea from glaciers in the central and north-western region of Greenland and on Greenland’s east coast.
“The tallest icebergs tower over the surface of the ocean at a height corresponding to a 15-storey building, whilst the smallest are only about the size of a hut.
Greenlanders once used icebergs to distinguish the seasons and even to identify towns, a testament to their steadfast presence and to the intertwined character of Greenlandic culture with our country’s powerful nature. Media stress that the ice in Greenland is melting, and while this is absolutely true, as long as the Greenland Ice Sheet exists, icebergs of all sizes and shapes will fill these Arctic waters.
- There are two types of ice in Greenland’s waters – freshwater icebergs that calve from glaciers into the sea and saltwater pack ice that forms at sea.
- Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has the largest concentration of icebergs in Greenland.
- The portion of an iceberg visible above water is only about 10% of the total iceberg.
- Icebergs can be white or blue and even have dark stripes.
- Blue icebergs have very little air inside while white icebergs have many air bubbles or a snowy surface. Dark stripes in icebergs come from dirt that glaciers pick up as they move from land to sea.
Iceberg Capital of the World
Many of the picturesque icebergs along Greenland’s west coast calve from two North Greenland glaciers, and as luck would have it, they share the same name!
The largest collection of icebergs in Greenland exists at the Ilulissat Icefjord, thanks to one of the fastest glaciers in the world called Sermeq Kujalleq. True to its “iceberg capital of the world” nickname, Ilulissat is home to thousands of icebergs that can be seen year round by hiking, sailing, or flightseeing.
A bit further north, another Sermeq Kujalleq glacier gives travelers in Uummannaq quite an impressive iceberg display. Here, one really can tell the seasons based on the changing icebergs. An eastern horizon with a thin white glow is the spring view while summer sees a harbor packed with towering icebergs finding their way to sea. And as the winter sea ice forms, any straggling iceberg gets frozen in place until next year, creating a great icy maze perfect for dog sledding and ice fishing.
Iceberg Hubs ind Greenland
In East Greenland, the Sermilik Fjord stands just around the mountain from Tasiilaq, and it is particularly loaded with icebergs during the spring thaw. With so much ice to navigate, getting to the nearby village of Tiniteqilaaq by boat can be more of a thrilling icebreakers trip than smooth sailing! But not to worry – the alternative is a breathtaking helicopter charter that puts the entire fjord full of icebergs into view.
Nuuk and Paamiut, too have their own fjords with iceberg filled waters. In short, keep one golden rule in mind – wherever a glacier meets water, one will find icebergs!
South Greenland is a special place for iceberg watching for not one, but two, phenomena! Blue ice is rampant in South Greenland, and it appears so vibrant against a backdrop of lush green hills. Also, large sheets of pack ice are truly unique to South Greenland towns like Nanortalik and Qaqortoq. Unlike a freshwater iceberg that calves from a glacier, this is frozen ocean water that has traveled all the way from the east coast.
Icebergs Up Close
Sailing tours are the most popular and comfortable way to see icebergs, but in this one of a kind environment, why not satiate your adventurous spirit and meet an iceberg in a unique way? Take the rare opportunity to kayak through Greenland’s icy waters and to charge yourself with strong Arctic energy with every iceberg you pass.
Or really take the road less traveled and SCUBA dive alongside icebergs in Greenland. Seeing the foot of a massive iceberg and being within arms reach of extraordinary aquatic life are experiences of a lifetime. At the day’s end, when you look out at the icebergs in the water and know that you have experienced them in a way that few others have, you just might have to pinch yourself to believe it’s real.
The ice moves
Gravity and pressure from the enormous weight of ice cause the massive glacier to move. The smaller glaciers, like blue-white tongues of ice, slowly gravitate down all slopes. They carry stones with them, crevices and lakes are formed, whilst meltwater moves through, over and under the ice.
The journey ends in the Greenlandic fjords, where the glaciers calve and a new journey then begins. An enormous rumble and a great splash accompany the birth of an iceberg as fragments of ice break off the glacier. Such icebergs can be as high as 15-story buildings – with just 1/9 or so visible above the surface of the water.
Only in the Arctic or Antarctic
Icebergs are a natural phenomenon that can only be experienced in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Travel to the Ice Sheet and the icebergs in Greenland, which are one of the Big Arctic Five experiences. Let yourself be enthralled by the magnificence of the icebergs, the magical interplay of colours and the sculptural shapes. And by their incredible history. Remember: Once they were once just tiny snowflakes.
Visit the ice
Need some ideas for how to experience ice in Greenland? Perhaps kayaking around icebergs in South Greenland is something for you, or even ice diving in East Greenland for the very adventurous. Otherwise, the standby of taking a boat tour at the mouth of Ilulissat Icefjord is a timeless favourite.
