Narsaq

Narsaq
Narsaq skyline from Qaaqarsuaq mountain
Narsaq Location within southern Greenland
Coordinates: 60°54′44″N 46°02′55″W / 60.91222°N 46.04861°W / 60.91222; -46.04861Coordinates: 60°54′44″N 46°02′55″W / 60.91222°N 46.04861°W / 60.91222; -46.04861
State	Kingdom of Denmark
Constituent country	Greenland
Municipality	Kujalleq
Founded	1830
Population (2010)
- Total	1,613
Time zone	UTC-03
Postal code	3921
Website	narsaq.gl

Narsaq (old spelling: Narssaq) is a town in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. The name Narsaq is Greenlandic for "plain", referring to the beautiful plain on the shore of Tunulliarfik Fjord where the town is located.

History

Church in Narsaq

People have lived in the area for thousands of years, but not continuously. Remains of the Norse settlement can be found in the area. The church ruins of Dyrnes can be found on the north-western outskirts of the town. The Landnám homestead, Landnamsgaarden, can be found immediately to the west of the town^[1]. Dated to the year 1000, the homestead is among the oldest of the Norse ruins in the area. The wider Narsaq area has some of the most striking Norse artefacts and ruins. Erik the Red's Brattahlid is located in present-day Qassiarsuk, and the Gardar bishop seat is in present-day Igaliku.

Present day Narsaq was founded as Nordprøven in 1830.^[2] The settlement did not experience significant population growth until 1953, when its first fishing factory of Royal Greenland was established. The factory was subsequently closed in 2010.^[3]

In 1959 Narsaq achieved town status,^[2] with the population exceeding 600. With 1,613 inhabitants as of 2010,^[4] it is the ninth-largest town in Greenland. Several hundred people live in the surrounding community.

Until December 31, 2008, the town was the administrative center of Narsaq municipality in the Kitaa amt. In addition to the town, the municipality consisted of the Qassiarsuk, Igaliku and Narsarsuaq settlements, as well as several sheep and reindeer farms. On January 1, 2009, Narsaq became part of Kujalleq municipality, when the Kitaa amt, as well as the municipalities of Narsaq, Qaqortoq, and Nanortalik ceased to exist as administrative entities.

Economy

Colorful houses of Narsaq

Fishing

Fishing is the mainstay of the local economy. Local fjords are full of marine life, including whales, salmon, and seals. Other marine animals in Narsaq are harp seals, and walruses.

Sheep farming

Uniquely in Greenland, farming is possible on the plains to the north of the town, with several actively maintained arable fields. Of the 53 registered sheep farms in Greenland, 31 are located in the Narsaq area. The farms produce meat for domestic consumption, and the Narsaq slaughterhouse Neqi A/S, a subsidiary of Arctic Green Food A/S, is the only slaughterhouse in the country. The sheep farming areas of Nunataaq, Tasiusaq, and Sillisit are located in former Norse areas.

Tourism

The third major part of the economy is tourism. South Greenland has experienced a decline in tourist revenue in recent years, but tourism still supports a significant percentage of the viable workforce. Popular activities include diving, hiking and whale watching^[5].

Services and infrastructure

Today Narsaq has a town hall, two supermarkets, a church, a police station, a firestation, a primary school, several educational facilities, an internet café, a hospital, and several small shops. Greenland's first brewery, Greenland Brewhouse, was established in Narsaq in 2004.

The town hospital is housed in a two-storey building and has 14 beds. The town health services also include a dental clinic^[6].

Narsaq church was designed by local carpenter Pavia Høegh in 1927. The church was refurbished and expanded in 1981^[6].

The only Food Science College in the country is located in Narsaq^[7]. The school, INUILI, is the main education center for chefs in Greenland, and it has a staff of 20^[8].

Transport

Narsaq in January

Air

Main article: Narsaq Heliport

Air Greenland provides air connections to Qaqortoq and Narsarsuaq

Narsaq Heliport operates year-round, linking Narsaq with Qaqortoq on the shores of Labrador Sea, and thus with Arctic Umiaq off-season route endpoint. It also links Narsaq with the large Narsarsuaq Airport, and indirectly with the rest of Greenland and Europe^[9].

Sea

The harbor of Narsaq is a natural coastal harbor with steep depth. Narsaq is a port of call for the Arctic Umiaq Line coastal ship in the summer season^[10]. The port can accommodate deep sea going vessels due to the steep depth of the shore. The port authority for Narsaq is Royal Arctic Line^[11], located in Nuuk. Port pilotage is available upon request, and is recommended.

Land

In contrast to the rest of Greenland, the wider Narsaq area has a relatively extensive network of traversable dirt and gravel roads, totalling over 120 kilometers and requiring DKK 500,000 annually for service^[12]. The longest stretch of road envelopes the northern end of Tunulliarfik Fjord, and connects the sheep farms of Qassiarsuk with the airport of Narsarsuaq. The roads are generally of poor construction, lacking crossfall for drainage, and using softer sandstone instead of harder granite, creating severe dust problems in the summer. For general transportation all-terrain vehicles are recommended. During winter dog sled routes are important transport links to the surrounding area.

Population

With 1,613 inhabitants as of 2010, Narsaq is the second-largest town in the Kujalleq municipality.^[13] The population has decreased over 11 percent relative to the 1990 levels, and has been decreasing over the last several years. Most towns and settlements in southern Greenland exhibit negative growth patterns over the last two decades, with many settlements rapidly depopulating.^[13]

Narsaq population growth dynamics in the last two decades. Source: Statistics Greenland^[13]

References

1. ^ "Landnamsgaarden - Special Homepage". Narsaq Museum. http://www.narsaq-museum.org/landnamsgaard/default.htm. Retrieved May 9, 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} O'Carroll, Etain (2005). Greenland and the Arctic. Lonely Planet. pp. 109. ISBN 1-74059-095-3. 
3. ^ "Vrede over fabrikslukning i Narsaq" (in Danish). Sermitsiaq. 2 July 2010. http://sermitsiaq.ag/indland/article123296.ece. Retrieved 2 July 2010. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ Statistics Greenland, Greenland in Figures, 2010
5. ^ "Narsaq - History, nature, and culture". The Official Tourism Office of Greenland. http://www.greenland.com/en/explore-greenland/sydgroenland/narsaq.aspx. Retrieved May 8, 2011. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "Kommunerne (Danish)" (PDF). Kalaallit Nunaanni Kommuneqaarfiit Kattufiat (KANUKOKA). http://www.kanukoka.gl/media/1053_399.pdf. Retrieved May 8, 2011. 
7. ^ Kalistat Lund. "Smagen af Sydgrønland (Danish)". Business and Labor Committee, Kommune Kujalleq. http://www.mamartut.gl/english/inuili.htm. Retrieved May 9, 2011. 
8. ^ "Levnedsmiddelskolen INUILI (Danish)". INUILI College of Food Sciences and Knowledge Center. http://inuili.com. Retrieved May 9, 2011. 
9. ^ "Air Greenland, Departures and Arrivals" (PDF). Air Greenland. http://airgreenland.com/ankomster__afgange/. 
10. ^ "Arctic Umiaq Line, Timetable 2009" (PDF). Arctic Umiaq Line. http://www.aul.gl/images/stories/pdf/fartplan%2009.pdf. 
11. ^ "Port Narsaq, Greenland". SeaRates - Sea Freight Exchange. http://www.searates.com/port/narsaq_gl.htm. Retrieved May 8, 2011. 
12. ^ "Road Construction in Greenland – the Greenlandic Case" (PDF). Roadex III. http://www.roadex.org/uploads/publications/docs-RIII-EN/The%20Greenlandic%20Case%20-%20RIII.pdf. 
13. ^ ^{a b c} Statistics Greenland