Few places inspire the imagination to wander as far and wide as the great expanses of North East Greenland where the tiny community of Ittoqqortoormiit serves as a gateway to the world’s largest national park.
Drifting sea ice, abundant wildlife, rugged mountains, and abandoned hunting stations are the hallmark of one of the most isolated regions on the planet and very few people venture into this region every year.
Tasiilaq
East Greenland’s main town, with a population of 1,899 (2016). The town has a relatively large hotel, a museum, and a visitor centre with a souvenir shop. Tasiilaq has many great hiking trails, of both short and long distance. Wandering around in town, you will see sled dogs, dog sleds, small fishing boats, dried fish hanging from drying racks, kids playing outside, and just how the local lifestyle takes place.
Read more about Tasiilaq.
Kulusuk
The settlement, which is also the location of East Greenland’s main airport, has around 240 residents. It’s a popular starting point for both hikes, ski touring trips, mountaineering trips, boat trips, dog sled trips and more. The settlement has a general store and a small hotel. You can sometimes also experience performances of inuit drum-singing.
Read more about Kulusuk.
Ittoqqortoormiit
One of the most isolated inhabited places in the world. With over 525 miles to the nearest town, Tasiilaq, this settlement with around 360 people, is a harsh, but beautiful place to live. It’s located at the mouth of one of the world’s largest fjord systems, Scoresby Sound. The world’s largest national park has it’s southern border just 106 miles north of Ittoqqortoormiit.
Read more about Ittoqqortoormiit.
Constable Point
A small isolated airfield 24 miles west of the small town Ittoqqortoormiit. It was built in 1985 by oil company ARCO, as a part of their oil exploration activities in the area, but was sold to Greenland in 1990. About 15 employees of the airport live close to the airport, which also has a small harbour. There is an Air Greenland AS350 helicopter permanently stationed at the airport, that also takes care of passenger transport to and from Ittoqqortoormiit.