Greenland - Narsarsuaq, Denmark

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Since Narsarsuaq means' the great plain', it stands to reason that South Greenland's international airport is located here. It was built back in 1941 by the USA and was initially a military base. It did not change over to civil traffic until 1959. Narsarsuaq is the junction for air traffic in and out of South Greenland. In summer, there are several weekly flights from Denmark, while helicopters and boats handle the further transport to towns and settlements. Around 160 people live in the airport area, which also includes a hotel, youth hostel, grocery shop, a café and a nurse station. The mountains surrounding the great plain rise up to a height of 400 or 500 m. The ice cap is some nine km away - three to four hours on foot - and is a beautiful hike that also passes through the lush 'Flower Valley'. The ice can also be experienced by sailing to the Qooroq Fjord where the boat sails very close to the glacier, which occasionally sends gigantic icebergs into the water. Narsarsuaq offers a beautiful view of the Qassiarsuk sheep farms on the other side of the fjord. The green fields and slopes explain why Erik the Red chose the name Greenland. He settled at this very spot in Qassiarsuk with his family in 985 and named the site Brattahlid. To this very day the ruins from the Norse era are clearly visible, as are the elegant reconstructions of Erik's farmstead and Thjodhildur's Church. Gravel roads connect Qassiarsuk with the sheep farms in the area, which also offer overnight accommodation. Many stay at them during hiking trips, horseback rides and angling trips in the area. Itilleq is one hour by boat from Narsarsuaq to the south-east. From here it is a six km walk to the settlement of Igaliku. The Norse named the locality Gardar, and an Episcopal residence was founded here in 1126. The ruins of the cathedral and bishop's place have been renovated in recent years, and today constitute a beautiful memorial to Greenland's Norse Era.

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