Kangaamiut

Kangaamiut is a village of a few hundred people on a rocky island north of Maniitsoq, its painted houses scattered across the rock in the way Greenlandic settlements are, and it has kept a mask dancing tradition, uaajeerneq, that had largely disappeared elsewhere: a performer in black, red and white face paint improvises a physical and often confronting act built around fear, humour and sexuality. Demonstrations are given for visitors. The village sits at the mouth of the fjord system that runs inland towards the ice, and the boats that call here work water where humpback whales feed through the summer months.

What to look for

• The mask dancing - the uaajeerneq tradition the village kept.
• The painted houses - the settlement scattered across the rock.
• The fjord setting - the village on its island among the fjords.
• The ferry call - the coastal service that stops here.

When to go

June to September is the season for boats and the ferry. Demonstrations are arranged rather than scheduled. Winter access is limited.

Good to know

Mask dance demonstrations must be arranged in advance and are not always available. The village has almost no facilities. Ferry stops are brief.

Nearby

Maniitsoq is south, and Eternity Fjord is southeast.

Key facts