The small fjord in the foreground carries the name Sikuiuitsoq; the big icefjord is behind, both seen from a position of about 400 m above sea level. The iceshield forms the horizon.
Climate
Our fourth tour in Greenland was by far the coldest. I had come to believe that Greenland's weather isn't as tough as people believe, but this time the climate change didn't work out, or so it seems.
Ravine
We were forced to go down and up the slopes of this gorge twice, which wasn't easy without snow. On the left image wires are visible, a high-voltage line from a recently built hydro-power plant for the energy supply of Ilulissat.
Fine weather...
...was rare on this trip. Most of the time it was cloudy and wet, and cold. The best day, from the sheer look of it (right side), was actually spoiled by a strong cold wind, cutting through bones.
Ice
After the sun came out, I made these photographs of the icefjord. The bizarre berg was crumbling away during all that time, and on the next morning the beautiful arc was no more.
More iceThe entire fjord is covered by floating ice, powered by one of the most active glacier tongues of the world. |
IceshieldLit by the sun, the inland iceshield and the calving edge are visible here. The smaller Sikuiuitsoq fjord in front rents all its ice from the big icefjord, since the glacier at its end is not active.
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Sunny
A beautiful calm evening, finally.
Again stones
On the left a flat place that develops into a deep ravine called Uujuup Kuua. The stone on the right enjoys the beautiful evening light on a bitterly cold day.
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Icefjord
The evening colors emphasize the huge iceshield.
Disco bight
The ice barrier at the mouth of the fjord, where the big icebergs run aground and block the exit. The fjord was carved out by ice to a depth of 1000 m, but only as far as the ice went. Then the bottom rises again.
Waterfalls
Despite an abundance of water and rocks we met just a few waterfalls.
SizeWhen icebergs reach above hills, the real size of these monsters becomes clearer. Their bigger part is below the surface. |
ShowerA lake in a rain shower. There were plenty of both.
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Iceberg
A layer of dirt cuts through this iceberg.
Imilik bightA small bight in the fjord not far from Ilulissat. |
Shades of whiteThe ice comes in white, blue, gray, with layers, it forms structures, it moves, melts, cracks, and it changes all the time.
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BarrierThe ice barrier in the evening, a huge wall of stranded bergs. |
BizarreIce in Imilik bight.
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Open waters
Imilik bight again. On the right side are the broad paths left by tourists from nearby Ilulissat. This year, however, there was almost nobody to be seen. A virus had swept the area clean.
The last day
From a final camp near the fjord, half a day from Ilulissat, I take the chance for some more images.
Panorama
A panoramic view of the same place as shown on top of this page. Still a couple of hours to go to Ilulissat.
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