Qaanaaq

Qaanaaq lies at around seventy-seven degrees north in the far northwest, one of the northernmost towns in the world, with around six hundred people. The community was moved here in 1953 from Uummannaq at Thule when the American air base there expanded, a relocation that remains a live and painful subject. Hunting with dog sled and kayak continues here more than anywhere else in Greenland, and the sea ice is the working surface for months.

What you actually see

• The dog sledding - hunting by sled still central to the community's life.
• The sea ice - the frozen surface used as the working ground for months.
• The latitude - one of the northernmost towns in the world at 77 degrees north.
• The kayak tradition - the hunting craft still built and used here.

When to go

March to May is the sledding season with light and firm ice. June to August has open water and midnight sun. Winter is dark for months.

Honest expectations

The 1953 relocation is a painful subject in the community and should be approached with care. Flights are infrequent and cancelled routinely; being stuck for a week is normal. Prices are extremely high and supplies limited.

Nearby

Siorapaluk is north, and Upernavik is south.