There is no downplaying that this gallery of enormous ice sculptures is a spectacular sight. But just as the majority of an iceberg lurks unseen beneath the water, there is more to the Ilulissat Icefjord than its natural beauty. It tells a profound story of the planet’s history, and it is humbling in a time of climate change debate.
There are a handful of ways to experience this wonder of the world, and we like to think we came up with the perfect combination of experiences to fully grasp the scale and significance of the Ilulissat Icefjord.
Icefjord flyby
For most things in life, it is best to start with an overview, and the Ilulissat Icefjord is no different. This icefjord, one of the northernmost UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is a massive collection of icebergs that have calved from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier one by one. It is necessary to first get a bird’s eye view so you know exactly how grand of a scale the Ilulissat Icefjord has.
Unless you arrive to Ilulissat on the coastal ferry, your first sight of the Ilulissat Icefjord will actually be from the window of an airplane. It’s a nice view, but get an even better look by flightseeing with a helicopter or fixed-wing plane. These smaller aircraft fly slower and lower all the way to the glacier wall, and with only a handful of seats, everyone has the best view in the cabin. You might even feel the rumble of the glacier calving beneath you, and then it really feels like an adventurous ride!
Sailing in Ilulissat Icefjord
After seeing the full picture of the Ilulissat Icefjord, one must get down to the water’s level to see the parts that create the whole. A 41-foot masted vessel may seem large sitting in the harbor, but once you start sailing between the skyscraper icebergs, taking minutes to get past a single one, the Ilulissat Icefjord comes into a different perspective.
Ice looks best during the ‘golden hour’, and in the land of the midnight sun, this happens late into the evening. After dinner, take a midnight cruise in the Ilulissat Icefjord and marvel at how the icebergs change from white and blue to shades of orange and red when struck by the midnight sun.
Icefjord really is full of life
The Ilulissat Icefjord is filled with icebergs that calve from Sermeq Kujalleq, the fastest moving glacier in the world (40 meters daily).
The Ilulissat Icefjord is the same area as 66,000 football fields. It reaches 6 km wide and approximately 55 km long, but it is growing longer as glacier retreat occurs due to climate change.
Sermeq Kujalleq runs directly from the Greenland Ice Cap, and it produces 10% of all icebergs in Greenland.
The Ilulissat Icefjord became one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2004.
Hike along Ilulissat Icefjord
Once you have had the thrills of hovering just overhead the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier and sailing through the maze of icebergs it creates, it is time to reflect on the Ilulissat Icefjord. Take the raised pathway to Sermermiut or hike along the marked Blue Route trail to claim your own plot of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Without a headset or the low chugging of a boat engine, the sounds of the Ilulissat Icefjord are suddenly clear – popping air as it escapes from the ice, icebergs colliding with one another as they find their way out to sea, and waves crashing on the rocky coastline. When you are sitting still, you can finally detect how the Ilulissat
Climate change ‘ground zero’
Climate change becomes more of a hot topic each day. The Ilulissat Icefjord, and the Greenland Ice Cap that produces it, are increasingly in the spotlight. We Greenlanders are thankful for the growing interest in an issue that we live with and adapt to constantly, but even more so, we are proud to be at the center of important research with global implications.
Visiting the Ilulissat Icefjord is not only about seeing a large calving glacier or melting icebergs before it’s too late. It is a unique opportunity to be active in the climate change conversation here at ‘ground zero’ and to let your experiences in Greenland inspire your life back home.
Ilulissat Icefjord Centre
On the border of the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord lies Kangiata Illorsua – Ilulissat Icefjord Centre. The Icefjord Centre is a visitor and dissemination centre which, through the exhibition “The Tale of Ice”, informs visitors about the history of ice, the culture in and around the icefjord, and climate change. The Icefjord Centre’s exhibition is based on research and data, and explains the area’s unique natural and cultural history, as well as the climate changes that can be clearly seen and felt.
Facts:
- The Icefjord Centre opened in July 2021.
- It was designed by the Danish architect Dorte Mandrup.
- The design is inspired by a snowy owl landing on a mountain.
- The exhibition “The Tale of Ice” is 400 m2 in size and designed by JAC Studios.
- Read more about the Icefjord Centre here.
A Sensory Experience
The Icefjord Centre’s exhibition is built around three themes: “The Lifecycle of the Ice”, “The rich life by the Icefjord” and “Climate changes”. The exhibition begins at the Icefjord Centre’s cinema, where a short film about the origin of ice is shown. The film runs every 10 minutes.
In the Icefjord Centre’s café, visitors can pick up an audio guide. The audio guide contains interviews with local residents from Ilulissat, who explain about their daily lives and climate changes. The audio guide can be listened to while moving around between the exhibition’s ‘prisms’, which show animations and illustrations of snow, ice, icebergs, and much more.
If visitors need a little rest, they can use the benches that are placed throughout the whole exhibition. From here, they can enjoy the view and the historic atmosphere which characterises this beautiful UNESCO site. The Icefjord Centre also has virtual reality glasses available, which can be used while sitting on the benches. The glasses take visitors on a virtual journey to the Greenlandic research station, EGRIP.
The Icefjord Centre also has its own “Explorer room”. This room is a contemporary art installation featuring sounds that are directly transmitted from the ice at all research stations in Greenland. The sounds, which are transformed inside the room, are experienced as a beautiful symphony, so that visitors can close their eyes and dream that they are out on the ice.
View over the Icefjord
If you visit the Icefjord Centre, it is impossible not to be captivated by the beautiful UNESCO-listed Kangia Icefjord, which is located just a stone’s throw from the Centre. Visitors can get an even better view of the beautiful surroundings by walking up on the roof of the Icefjord Centre, which is open for visitors around the clock during the summer months. From the top of the building there is a view over the icefjord and the whole of Ilulissat. At each end of the building there is also an open terrace area, where visitors can sit and enjoy the view, or discuss the impressions that the exhibition has left them with.
The leader of the Icefjord Centre, Elisabeth Momme, hopes that the exhibition will lead to reflection and discussion:
“We hope that those who visit the Icefjord Centre and the Icefjord will leave here with an awareness that humankind cannot put himself above nature – that nature and humankind are one, that we must take care of nature, and that it is only on loan,” explains Elisabeth Momme.
Practical Information
The Icefjord Centre has room for 150 guests at a time, so it is recommended that visitors buy their tickets in advance so that they are guaranteed admission. Tickets can be purchased on the Icefjord Centre’s website. During the summer season, tickets for the exhibition are valid for 1.5 hours. If you have not bought a ticket in advance, they can be bought in the Icefjord Centre’s café. The café does not accept cash payments – only debit cards or MobilePay. Read more here.
Dining options
Visitors can satisfy their hunger in the Icefjord Centre’s café, where light meals are sold such as sandwiches and cake. It will also be possible to buy a cup of coffee, tea, or other hot and cold drinks.
