The largest island country in the world, Greenland is known for its polar ice caps and rare Arctic wildlife. Though the maximum landmass is covered in snow and ice desert for the most part of the year, Greenland manages to lure tourists from around the world to experience the Arctic landscape and lifestyle. Greenland is surrounded by two major oceans providing the country with several alluring water bodies. Beaches in Greenland are one of the major tourist destinations in the country as it allows one to get up-close with the marine mammals. Read through this referential article to get an overview of beaches in Greenland.
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The Most Beautiful Beaches In Greenland
1. Disko Bay
Located in the west coast of Greenland, Disko Bay Beach remains the number one priority for people for sailing and whaling. Also known as the Siorarsuit Beach, this beach is surrounded by mesmerising red sand cliffs and black sand shores. With little or no greenery even in the summers, this beach stands apart for its great aquatic inhabitation and rare winter interest. It is probably the only Greenland beaches open for tourists even in the winter season. Winters bring along a few explorers and adventurers to the beach not to set sail but to ski over the frozen waters. It is a popular winter sport in the country and is thoroughly enjoyed by many. Summers allow one to spot the polar bears that drift along the coast on floating ice caps.
2. Rocky Beach
Considered as one of the best beaches in Greenland, Rocky Beach is located just a few kilometers away from the capital, Nuuk. Although the beach is inaccessible for most part of the year, summers bring many guided boat tours to the beach. As the name suggests, the beach shores are covered in boulders and stones which makes sunbathing not feasible. It is one of those Northwestern beaches of Greenland that is famous for whale watching and kayaking. One can spot whales, seals, and walruses across the shores in the summer. The town and villages nearby depend upon this beach for their livelihood. One should try their seafood soup and whale meat dishes when taking an adventure in Greenland.
3. Fauna
Around 15 types of whale species can be found around the oceans in Greenland. Though most of them migrate to Greenland during the summers, three of the whale species are native to Greenland. Narwhal, Beluga and bowhead species can be found taking residence in the country even during the long winter season. Whale watching and whale hunting are some of the popular summer activities in Greenland.
Apart from the gigantic mammal, Greenland shores are always filled with walruses and seals. Kayaking is the best activity to take part in if one wants a closer look at the sea mammals. Walruses are a subtype of seals differentiated by the huge tusks. The tusks play a defensive role and thus one should be careful not to get too close to the species. Apart from the land mammals, the coastal skies can be seen covered with predator birds like the white-tailed eagles and beautiful harmless species such as the Auk.
4. Ilulissat Icefjord
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Ilulissat Icefjord is one of the most active glaciers in the world. Whales frequently visit in the summer, thrilling the thousands of tourists who stop by on guided boat tours.
While this fjord is remarkable at any time of year, it’s an especially wonderful place to visit near the summer solstice from late May to late July. At this time, the Earth’s northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, and countries toward the tip of the globe enjoy an amazing phenomenon called the “midnight sun.” The name says it all: The sun stays in the sky late into the night, casting a pale glow that leaves viewers feeling calm and rejuvenated.
5. Water Bodies
Apart from the few known Greenland beaches, the country is suffused with many freshwater rivers and hot springs. Popularly known as fjords, freshwater rivers form a gorge in the mountain ranges and flow across the country. Most of the fjords are formed as a result of the glacial melt, especially during the summer season. The most popular fjord is the one located in Ilulissat and is easily accessible to tourists.
Greenland is also known to house a few hot springs amongst which Uunartoq near Ilulissat is the most visited by world travellers. One should even make sure to visit the tranquil Blue River that forms a valley in the Petermann Glacier and resonates a magical blue light across the valley. Kayaking is a good way to explore the Blue River and to spot polar bears.
