Sarfannguit

Sarfannguit (old spelling: Sarfannguaq / Sarfánguaq) is a settlement in the Qeqqata municipality in central-western Greenland. Its population was 96 in 2020.[2] The settlement was founded in 1843.[3] The town is located within the Aasivissuit – Nipisat UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2018 for its outstanding archeological sites representing the human occupation of Greenland for over 4000 years.[4]

Sarfannguit
Sarfannguit is located in Greenland
Sarfannguit
Sarfannguit
Location within Greenland
Coordinates: 66°53′50″N 52°51′40″W
State Kingdom of Denmark
Constituent country Greenland
Municipality Qeqqata
Founded1843
Government
[1]
 • MayorNajaaraq Goliathsen
Population
 (2020)
 • Total96
Time zoneUTC-03
Postal code
3911 Sisimiut

Geography

Sarfannguit is located on the eastern promontory of an island of the same name,[5] approximately 36 km (22 mi) east of Sisimiut, facing the mainland of Greenland across the Imartuninnguaq Strait, at this point only 200 m (660 ft)[5] wide. The strait opens into the Amerloq Fjord in the west, which then heads to the west, emptying into Davis Strait south of Sisimiut. Ikertooq Fjord bounds the island from the south.[5]

Economy

The first wind turbine in Greenland was constructed in Sarfannguit in 2010. The wind turbine is 10 m (33 ft) tall, providing 6,000 liter of petrol worth of savings per month for the village.[6]

Transport

Air

The closest aerodrome is Sisimiut Airport in Sisimiut, with connections to Ilulissat, Kangerlussuaq, Maniitsoq, and Nuuk operated by Air Greenland.[7] There are no helicopter services to coastal settlements of Davis Strait in the Qeqqata and Sermersooq municipalities. The AIP references a 20m round helipad (ICAO code: BGSA) with gravel surface[8] at Sarfannguit.

Sea

Royal Arctic Line provides weekly ferry services to Itilleq and Sisimiut,[9] a port of call for the Arctic Umiaq Line, with connections to Ilulissat and Aasiaat in the Disko Bay region, and to coastal towns in southwestern and southern Greenland.[10]

Land

There is no road reaching Sarfannguit, but it would be connected to the proposed Sisimiut-Kangerlussuaq road, which has been discussed for several years, but not built. Snowmobiles are used in winter to connect to Sisimiut, roughly 50 km away.

Population

The population of Sarfannguit has been stable in the last four decades.

Population of Sarfannguit on 1 January each year.[11]

In 1986, the leading cause of death for young people in this city was suicide.[12]

References
  1. Qeqqata Municipality (in Danish)
  2. "Population by Localities". Statistical Greenland. Archived from the original on 2020-07-19. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  3. Qeqqata Municipality Archived 2012-03-06 at the Wayback Machine (in Greenlandic)
  4. "Aasivissuit – Nipisat: Inuit Hunting Ground between Ice and Sea". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 7 Aug 2021.
  5. Vandrekort Vestgrønland: Sisimiut (Map) (1996 ed.). Cartography by Compukort, Denmark. Greenland Tourism a/s.
  6. "Sus i Sarfannguaq". Sermitsiaq (in Danish). 28 August 2010. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  7. Air Greenland, Departures and Arrivals Archived 2010-03-09 at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Home | AIM".
  9. Royal Arctic Line, Angaju Ittuk schedule Archived 2011-07-03 at the Wayback Machine (in Danish)
  10. AUL, Timetable 2009
  11. "Population of Sarfannguit on January 1st". Statistics Greenland. Retrieved 2019-09-02.
  12. George, Jason (9 October 2009). "The Suicide Capital of the World". Slate. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
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