Nuuk
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| Nuuk | |||
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| Nickname(s): Godthåb | |||
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| Coordinates: 64°10′N 51°44′W / 64.167°N 51.733°W | |||
| Province | Greenland | ||
| Municipality | Sermersooq | ||
| First Settled | 2000 B.C. | ||
| Incorporated | 1728 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Asii Chemnitz Narup (Inuit Ataqatigiit) | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 105,000 km2 (40,540.7 sq mi) | ||
| Population (January, 2009) | |||
| - City | 17,834 | ||
| - Metro | 18,039 (including Qiisumooq/Ingestad village) | ||
| City and metropolitan population is co-extensive, The entire Metro area belongs to Nuuk City. | |||
| Time zone | UTC−3 (UTC-3) | ||
| Website | http://www.nuuk.gl | ||
Nuuk, translated: "The Peninsula" (Danish: Godthåb translated: "Good hope") is the capital and largest city of Greenland, and the seat of government for the Sermersooq municipality. It has a population of 17,834 (as of January 2009), of whom 14,862 were born in Greenland.[1] This makes it one of the smallest capital cities in the world by population.
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[edit] History
The site has a long history of different inhabitation: first by the ancient pre-Inuit, Paleo-Eskimo people known as the Saqqaq culture around 2000 BC, later by Viking explorers in the 10th century, and shortly thereafter by Inuit peoples. Inuit and Norsemen both lived with little interaction in this area from around 1000 AD until around 1500 AD, when Norse habitation stopped, most likely due to change in climate and vegetation. The city was founded in 1728 by the Danish-Norwegian missionary Hans Egede, and given the name Godthåb (Good Hope). Hans Egede had arrived at a place close to the already existing Inuit population living in Kangeq. At that time, Greenland was a Norwegian colony under the Dano-Norwegian Crown, but the colony had not had any contact with Norway proper for almost three centuries[citation needed]. In 1733 to 1734 a smallpox epidemic killed most of the native population as well as Hans Egede's wife. Hans Egede went back to Denmark after 15 years in Greenland leaving his son Paul Egede to continue his parent's work.[2]
In 1979, the city was renamed Nuuk by the Greenland Home Rule government. Like the rest of Greenland, Nuuk is populated today by both Inuit and Danes. Currently, nearly one quarter of Greenland's total population lives in Nuuk.[3]
[edit] Geography
Nuuk is located at approximately 64°10′N 51°44′W / 64.167°N 51.733°W.[4] at the mouth of the Nuup Kangerlua (Danish: Godthåbsfjorden) fjord, some 10 km from the shores of Davis Strait on the southwestern coast of Greenland, and about 240 km (150 mi) south of the Arctic Circle. Greenland is presently partly under Danish administration, but moving towards total independence.
[edit] Economy
Air Greenland has its headquarters in Nuuk.[5]
[edit] Education
The University of Greenland (Ilisimatusarfik) is located in Nuuk. Other educational institutions are:
- Nuuk Technical College
- The Greenlandic School of Journalism
- The College of Education
[edit] Transport
Nuuk is a port of call for the Arctic Umiaq Line coastal ship, and a focus city for Air Greenland. Nuuk Airport is located 4 km northeast of the city.
[edit] Electricity
Nuuk get mainly its electric power from Buksefjord hydroelectric power plant via a 132 kV powerline crossing Ameralik fjord on the world longest span.
[edit] Climate
Nuuk has a maritime influenced subarctic climate with cold, snowy winters and cool summers. Temperatures are below freezing during winter and stay cool in summer.[6]
| Weather data for Nuuk, Greenland (1961-1990) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Average high °C (°F) | -4.6 (24) |
-4.7 (24) |
-5.1 (23) |
-1.2 (30) |
3.1 (38) |
7.0 (45) |
9.9 (50) |
9.3 (49) |
6.0 (43) |
1.4 (35) |
-1.3 (30) |
-3.5 (26) |
|
| Average low °C (°F) | -10.0 (14) |
-10.7 (13) |
-10.7 (13) |
-6.3 (21) |
-1.7 (29) |
1.1 (34) |
3.5 (38) |
3.5 (38) |
1.4 (35) |
-2.7 (27) |
-5.9 (21) |
-8.6 (17) |
|
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 40 (1.57) |
47 (1.85) |
49 (1.93) |
47 (1.85) |
55 (2.17) |
61 (2.4) |
86 (3.39) |
85 (3.35) |
89 (3.5) |
66 (2.6) |
73 (2.87) |
54 (2.13) |
|
| Source: Danish Meteorological Institute[7] | |||||||||||||
[edit] Sites of interest
- Katuaq Cultural Centre
- University of Greenland
- National Museum of Greenland
- Nuuk Kunstmuseum
- Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa Greenlandic Broadcasting Corporation
[edit] Notable people
- Agnethe Davidsen, the first female government minister in Greenland.
- Jesper Grønkjær, professional footballer
- Nive Nielsen, singer.
[edit] Twin towns
Cuxhaven, Germany
Aalborg (since 2002), Denmark
Vantaa (since 1965), Finland
Changchun, China
Tiverton, United States- Lyngby-Taarbæk, Denmark
Huddinge, Sweden
Reykjavík, Iceland
[edit] Sport
- Godthåbhallen – Nuuk handball stadium.
- Nuuk Stadium – Nuuk football stadium.
[edit] Photographs
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Aerial view of Nuuk |
 Hans Egede's statue |
 Nuuk Godthåbhallen handball stadium |
[edit] See also
 |
Wikinews has related news: Greenland assumes self rule Sunday |
[edit] References
- ^ Grønlands Statistik; see especially this pdf.
- ^ http://www.world66.com/northamerica/greenland/nuuk
- ^ "CIA World Factbook – Greenland". https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gl.html.
- ^ Municipality information. De grønlandske kommuners Landsforening, KANUKOKA
- ^ "Contact." Air Greenland. Retrieved on 8 October 2009.
- ^ "Extreme temperature records since 1850, meteorologyclimate.com". http://www.meteorologyclimate.com/extreme-temperature-records.htm.
- ^ "Klimanormaler for Grønland" DMI - Klimanormaler.
[edit] External links
- Nuuk official website
Media related to Nuuk at Wikimedia Commons
