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"Nuk" redirects here. For the Slovenian national library, see National and University Library of Slovenia.
Nuuk
Central Nuuk
Central Nuuk
Coat of arms of Nuuk
Coat of arms
Nickname: 
Godthåb
ProvinceGreenland
MunicipalitySermersooq
First Settled2000 B.C.
Incorporated1728
Government
 • MayorAsii Chemnitz Narup (Inuit Ataqatigiit)
Area
 • City105,000 km2 (41,000 sq mi)
Population
 (January, 2009)
 • City17,834
 • Metro
18,039 (including Qiisumooq/Ingestad village)
 City and metropolitan population is co-extensive, The entire Metro area belongs to Nuuk City.
Time zoneUTC-3 (UTC−3)
Websitehttp://www.nuuk.gl

Nuuk, translated: "The tip" (Template:Lang-da 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.

History

Tele-Tower

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]

Aerial view of Nuuk

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]

Geography

A small panorama of Nuuk

Nuuk is located at approximately 64°10′N 51°44′W / 64.167°N 51.733°W / 64.167; -51.733.[4] at the mouth of the Nuup Kangerlua (Template:Lang-da) 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.

Economy

Air Greenland has its headquarters in Nuuk.[5]

Education

Nuuk has had educational facilities since the colonial times. These include several educational institutions of higher learning. The University of Greenland (Ilisimatusarfik), which is the only university in Greenland, is located in Nuuk. The university expanded in 2007 with the new building called Ilimmarfik which houses departments of:

  • Journalism
  • Management and Economics
  • Language, Litterature and Media
  • Cultural and Social History
  • Theology and Religion
  • Social Work

Nuuk is also home to the Department of Learning (Ilinniarfissuaq), the oldest educational facility in Greenland, located in the old colonial part of Nuuk (Nuutoqaq: Old Nuuk).

Other notable educational institutions are:

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.

Electricity

Nuuk gets its electric power mainly from Buksefjord hydroelectric power plant via a 132 kV powerline crossing Ameralik fjord on the world's longest span.

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]

Climate data for Nuuk, Greenland (1961-1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −4.6
(23.7) 		−4.7
(23.5) 		−5.1
(22.8) 		−1.2
(29.8) 		3.1
(37.6) 		7.0
(44.6) 		9.9
(49.8) 		9.3
(48.7) 		6.0
(42.8) 		1.4
(34.5) 		99
(210) 		−3.5
(25.7) 		9.7
(49.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −10.0
(14.0) 		−10.7
(12.7) 		−10.7
(12.7) 		−6.3
(20.7) 		−1.7
(28.9) 		1.1
(34.0) 		3.5
(38.3) 		3.5
(38.3) 		1.4
(34.5) 		−2.7
(27.1) 		−5.9
(21.4) 		−8.6
(16.5) 		−3.9
(24.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 40
(1.6) 		47
(1.9) 		49
(1.9) 		47
(1.9) 		55
(2.2) 		61
(2.4) 		86
(3.4) 		85
(3.3) 		89
(3.5) 		66
(2.6) 		73
(2.9) 		54
(2.1) 		752
(29.7)
Source: Danish Meteorological Institute[7]

Sites of interest

Notable people

Twin towns

Sport

Photographs

See also

Wikinews has related news:

References

  1. ^ Grønlands Statistik; see especially this pdf.
  2. ^ http://www.world66.com/northamerica/greenland/nuuk
  3. ^ "CIA World Factbook – Greenland".
  4. ^ Municipality information. De grønlandske kommuners Landsforening, KANUKOKA
  5. ^ "Contact." Air Greenland. Retrieved on 8 October 2009.
  6. ^ "Extreme temperature records since 1850, meteorologyclimate.com".
  7. ^ "Klimanormaler for Grønland" DMI - Klimanormaler.
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