Ilimanaq

Ilimanaq is a settlement of around fifty people on the southern side of Disko Bay opposite Ilulissat, founded in 1741, and its old colonial houses and its church of 1908 have been renovated, while a small lodge development has put timber cabins along the shore. Icebergs from the icefjord drift past constantly. The settlement has no road connection and the boat from Ilulissat takes about an hour.

History

The old Danish name, Claushavn, comes from the Dutch whaler Klaes Pieterz Torp, one of the whalers active in the region from 1719 to 1732, and the settlement was founded in 1741, around the same time as Ilulissat. In 1752 Niels Brønlund Bloch, cousin of Poul Egede, set up a mission here; after 1880 the settlement lost its importance, and its church of 1908 and the old colonial houses have since been renovated (Wikipedia, Ilimanaq).

What you'll find

• The colonial houses - the settlement's old buildings, renovated.
• The church - built in 1908 and renovated.
• The drifting icebergs - ice from the icefjord passing constantly offshore.
• The settlement - a village of around fifty people with no road out.

When to go

June to September is the boat season. Sea ice closes the route in winter and spring. The lodge operates seasonally.

Practical notes

Access is by boat only and weather cancels crossings. The lodge is expensive and the settlement otherwise has no facilities. It is a very small place.

Nearby

Ilulissat is north across the bay, and Qasigiannguit is south.

Key facts