Boarding Greenland, a vast expanse of white snow, dotted with colorful houses, is amazing, as if walking into a fairy tale world. The glacier is the main symbol of Greenland. Board a cruise ship and go to the sea to watch the glacier. The surroundings are silent, and only the sound of the glacier can be heard.
Greenland, located in the Arctic Ocean, is the world's largest island, sitting on the world's second largest ice sheet, storing 30% of the world's fresh water, and more than 80% of the land is under the ice. It is a veritable world of ice and snow.
The land on the island is dominated by permafrost, and many mosses grow. Only in limited ice-free areas, some dwarf birches and willows can survive, but cannot be cultivated. The local Inuit people can only live by hunting, using seals as their main food. It is no exaggeration to say that Greenland is one of the most difficult places on earth for humans to survive.
But interestingly, Greenland is called "Grönland" in Danish, which means "green land". It is obviously a vast snow field, why is it called "green land"? With curiosity, I happily set foot on this mysterious and beautiful "extremely northern land".
A beautiful island in the fjords: there are fairy tales in the Arctic
Because I have a special liking for the icy and snowy environment, I can't wait to enjoy the natural landscapes such as glaciers, icebergs, and ice fjords in Greenland. Greenland cannot be reached by direct flight, so I can only transfer in Denmark or Iceland, so I chose to take Air Greenland from Iceland to the island.
When it comes to the land of fjords, most people think of Norway in northern Europe. In fact, Greenland, farther north, is also an island of fjords. Its coastline is very tortuous, and there are more than 40 fjords along the coast of the island, many of which are "the most in the world".
There is such a story about the origin of the name Greenland. According to legend, in about 982, the Nordic Eric and his partner set off from Iceland and
sailed northwest to find the new continent when they accidentally discovered this large island. After two summers of expeditions, they found several flat spots along the island's southwest coast that could withstand the cold arctic winds. In the short summer, green vegetation can also grow here. So, Eric named this coastal area covered with green vegetation "Greenland", which means "green land".
Greenland is located in the extreme north of the earth and is a veritable kingdom of ice and snow. "Thousands of miles of ice are frozen, and thousands of miles of snow are floating" to describe her. Icebergs and glaciers of all shapes and sizes are the wonders of Greenland - the average thickness of the ice here is 2,300 meters, second only to Antarctica.
Because I have a special liking for the icy and snowy environment, I can't wait to enjoy the natural landscapes such as glaciers, icebergs, and ice fjords in Greenland. Greenland cannot be reached by direct flight, so I can only transfer in Denmark or Iceland, so I chose to take Air Greenland from Iceland to the island.
We first arrived at Ilulissat in the central west coast of Greenland, one of the largest human settlements on the island, with a population of about 4,000. After a short rest, we took a boat to sea. The cruise ship departed from the port of Ilulissat. On both sides of the shore stood colorful houses, which seemed to be the residences of Snow White and the dwarfs in fairy tales. Greenland desperately needs such bright colors, otherwise, it would be completely white and monotonous.
Shortly after the cruise ship left the port, the icebergs and ice cubes floating on the fjord suddenly appeared in front of our eyes, as if from the heavens. In addition to the sea, there is ice, small ice cubes, and large icebergs, passing by in sequence. But don't underestimate them. The Titanic hit an iceberg drifting south from Greenland and unfortunately sank. Our boat had to be driven carefully to avoid these ice cubes of various sizes. All the way to the depths of the ice fjord, the captain turned off the boat motor, and the sound of seabirds flapping their wings and the subtle "click" sound when the ice cracked made the surroundings more quiet. Huge icebergs, glistening in the sun, are tall and cool. Our cruise ship swayed with the ice floes, as if it had become a small piece of solitary ice, drifting on the sea. Ice and sea, one is arrogant and pure, the other is deep and peaceful, changing into different forms under the light and shadow, with shocking beauty.
After a short rest, we sailed west, past the narrow Fjord Fjord, with its majestic basalt mountains and granite cliffs more than 2,000 meters deep. Immediately afterwards, we continued north through the Rhodesfjord, passing by the ice that broke off the iceberg and slid into the sea. As the ship approached the iceberg, we could even hear it crackling. In the evening, we finally arrived at Hale Fjord, which is the habitat of wild animals such as musk ox, snow hare, grouse, etc. It is also an excellent hiking destination, so we decided to stop here for a day.
The next day, when the morning light was twilight, we set off on foot, and it took 6 to 7 hours before we reached the ridge. Standing on the top of the mountain, you can see the dark blue, vast ocean and orange-red, straight cliffs before your eyes. At the moment, the world is so vast and so calm, it is enough to soothe all the restlessness in your heart. In addition to hiking, people can also choose to walk along the coast or sit on a boat to watch the scenery. At night, the captain will also prepare bonfires and barbecues on the beach for everyone to participate.
Occasionally, I think back to the days of traveling in Greenland, these magnificent, magnificent icebergs, glaciers, I remember deeply, is the best memory Greenland has left me.
Inuit town: experience polar life
Although the Inuit people have gradually adapted to the modern society, after in-depth contact, I found that they still retain many ancient traditions in their lives, and the kindness and simplicity in their personalities have not changed. In the long and cold winter, in Greenland, where there are no roads and railways, dog sleds are still the most important means of transportation for the Inuit.
With around 50,000 inhabitants, Greenland is the least densely populated place in the world outside of Antarctica. Therefore, most of the time we spent on the island, we roamed among the uninhabited glaciers and the sea. The only cultural attraction on the trip is the Inuit town of Ituquatmeet in Scosby Bay.
The town of Ituquaterne is the northernmost settlement on the east coast of Greenland. Because Greenland is dominated by permafrost, farming cannot be done here, and the residents of the town mainly survive by hunting seals, narwhals, musk ox and polar bears.
Although living in the Arctic Circle, the Inuit are more Asian in appearance, with black hair, dark brown eyes, stocky builds and broad faces. The Inuit are very adaptable to life in the polar regions and usually live in "igloos" - they have carved out houses similar to cave dwellings in northern China at the appropriate parts of the iceberg, built with large blocks of ice into a semi-circle, and the houses are also equipped with "Igloos". Ice Window" and "Snow Wall", very beautiful. Although the inside of the igloo was warmer than the outside, it was still extremely cold.
The reason why the Inuit can live in igloos for many years is that they mainly feed on high-protein prey such as seals. The flesh and blood of these animals provides them with extremely high heat to resist the cold. Secondly, thanks to their special clothes - "Anuragu", this is a winter clothes made of deerskin and other animal skins. The production method is very unique. Inuit women chew the reindeer skin over and over again. The better you chew, the better the warmth, a process they call "saddleization." Then, the chewed elk skin is dried and moulded, and then sewn. The "Anuragu" made in this way is impervious to wind and rain. Wear it to sleep in the ice and snow at minus tens of degrees. Also safe and sound.
In Greenland today, it is almost impossible to see the most pristine Inuit life. With the help of the Danish government, the Inuit jumped from primitive society into modern society. In the town of Ituquatmit, for example, the Danish government invested in improving their living conditions, so that they said goodbye to the life of heating lamps with seals or whale oil. The Inuit have long since moved out of the igloo and moved into colorful cabins. In the wooden house, modern appliances are available. The town of Ituquaterne has become a famous tourist attraction in Greenland, with rows of numbered log cabins. Among them are visitor centers, hotels, post offices, supermarkets, schools, etc., and a museum tells the history of the Inuit to tourists with pictures and texts. There are also many modern vehicles such as motorcycles and cars on the street.
Although the Inuit have gradually adapted to the modern society, after in-depth contact, I found that they still maintain many ancient traditions in their lives, and their kindness and simplicity have not changed. In the long and cold winter, in Greenland, where there are no roads and railways, dog sleds are still the most important means of transportation for the Inuit.
Chasing the splendid Northern Lights: the 'highlight' of a polar tour
In the vast night sky, I saw all kinds of aurora. Sometimes they danced like colorful butterflies; sometimes they displayed their wings like a peacock opening its screen; sometimes they were frightened and run wild like groups of animals;
When visiting Greenland, the Northern Lights are a must-see.
Greenland is located in the Arctic Circle, and during the year, six months are polar days and the other six months are polar nights. In the northern hemisphere, the northern lights can be seen in Alaska, northern Canada and the five Nordic countries. However, it is not easy to see the Northern Lights, not only to go as far north as possible, but also to stay away from the light pollution of the city.
During the journey of chasing the aurora, we were leisurely eating dinner at the hotel on a bright and clear night for a month when we suddenly heard someone exclaiming ": Northern Lights!" Everyone flew back to the room, took tripods and cameras , ran outside the hotel, set up the camera, and pointed at the night sky. However, the aurora disappeared at this time...the
aurora is so self-willed, come when you say it, and leave when you say it. So, we plan to wait here, waiting for the aurora to appear. In an environment of minus 20 degrees, we waited for an hour and a half, from nine o'clock to ten thirty, but the aurora never appeared again. My companions went back to their rooms to rest because they couldn't stand the cold, but I always believed that the aurora would appear again this night. So, I have been waiting in the hotel lobby, going out every 15 minutes to take a look, until 12:30, there is still no sign. In the hall, two locals were dining and drinking, and asked me if I was waiting for the aurora. Their expressions and voices revealed their dissatisfaction with the aurora. They asked me where I was from in broken English. Seeing that I seemed tired, they advised me to go back to my room to rest. I declined their kindness, still full of hope for the appearance of the aurora. At 1:15 in the morning, I made up my mind to go outside for the last time, and if it didn't show up, I'd go back to my room to rest. At this moment, the horizon changed into a beautiful and luscious brilliance, and extended into the depths of the sky... The hard work paid off, I finally waited for the Northern Lights!
At that time, the stars twinkled, a bright moon hung high, and Greenland, shrouded in the dark night, became a crystal clear silver world. In the vast night sky, I saw all kinds of aurora. Sometimes they danced like colorful butterflies; sometimes they displayed their wings like a peacock opening its screen; sometimes they were frightened and run wild like groups of animals; Some aurora are as thin as a hairspring, light and light; some are like ribbons, as if they are flying up and down in the hands of dancers. The dazzling aurora fascinated me, and I deeply felt that only the beauty created by nature can be so beautiful and touching, which cannot be compared with artificial landscaping.
This trip came to an end after I captured the "shadow" of the aurora. After a long time, when I recalled this spiritual journey in north-central Greenland again, I still yearn for the scenery and humanities there.
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