General Information

Geography and Climate
The world's largest island extends way into the Arctic Circle, spanning the equivalent distance of Scotland to the Sahara. Its huge inland icecap covers just under 2 million sq km and in places is 3km thick. Only a narrow coastal fringe is ice free in the summer. making overland communications impossible and travel by air and sea vital, to link the far flung settlements around the coast. The coastline is mountainous and in some places deeply indented by fjords. Roughly one fifth of the population live from traditional hunting but fishing is the mainstay of the economy and only the far south is suitable for sheep farming.

The weather in summer is most stable in the Disko Bay area but variable elsewhere. Sudden changes do occur, which can disrupt travel plans and flight schedules. Summer temperatures average around 11°C but can feel surprisingly warm in the sheltered fjords and valleys. It can be cooler on the coast and in the north. For dog sledging trips in spring, temperatures of -27°C can be expected.