Kangerluarsuk Tulleq
Encyclopedia
Kangerluarsuk Tulleq is a 28 km (17.4 mi) long fjord
in the Qeqqata
municipality in western Greenland
. The fjord is of roughly east-west orientation, emptying into Davis Strait
in the west.
. In the northeast, the fjord is bounded by the partially glaciated Aqqutikitsoq massif, culminating in 1448 m (4,750.7 ft). To the northwest, undulating terrain under Akornata Qaqqaa mountain (801 m (2,628 ft)) constitutes the terminal point of a long mountain range extending from the Pingu mountain group halfway between Davis Strait and the Greenland ice sheet
. The range flattens considerably towards the east in the area of Kangaamiut dike swarm north of Kangerlussuaq
, due to pressure exerted by the icesheet for long periods in the past.
The head of the fjord is located at approxitamely 66°59′48"N 53°12′04"W. To the south, the fjord is bounded by the long Majoriaq range, culminating in the west in the Ujarasussuliup Qaqqaa (423 m (1,387.8 ft)) and Palasip Qaqqaa
(544 m (1,784.8 ft)) mountains. The east-west range continues through Aappilattorsuaq massif (907 m (2,975.7 ft)) to the east, connecting with the northern range to the northeast of the head of the fjord.
trips from the town. The tough, 160 km (99.4 mi) long Arctic Circle Race takes place each winter, with the trail partially overlapping with the Polar Route at the head of the fjord. The race was inaugurated in 1998, since then becoming an international competition.
Fjord
Geologically, a fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created in a valley carved by glacial activity.-Formation:A fjord is formed when a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley by abrasion of the surrounding bedrock. Glacial melting is accompanied by rebound of Earth's crust as the ice...
in the Qeqqata
Qeqqata
Qeqqata is a new municipality in western Greenland, operational from 1 January 2009. The municipality was named after its location in central-western part of the country. Its population is 9,677 as of January 2010. The administrative center of the municipality is in Sisimiut...
municipality in western Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. The fjord is of roughly east-west orientation, emptying into Davis Strait
Davis Strait
Davis Strait is a northern arm of the Labrador Sea. It lies between mid-western Greenland and Nunavut, Canada's Baffin Island. The strait was named for the English explorer John Davis , who explored the area while seeking a Northwest Passage....
in the west.
Geography
The fjord mouth is located at approximately 67°01′00"N 53°50′00"W, 12 km (7.5 mi) to the northwest of the town of SisimiutSisimiut
Sisimiut is a town in central-western Greenland, located on the coast of Davis Strait, approximately north of Nuuk. It is the administrative center of the Qeqqata Municipality and the second-largest town in Greenland, with a population of 5,460 people as of 2010. The site of the present-day town...
. In the northeast, the fjord is bounded by the partially glaciated Aqqutikitsoq massif, culminating in 1448 m (4,750.7 ft). To the northwest, undulating terrain under Akornata Qaqqaa mountain (801 m (2,628 ft)) constitutes the terminal point of a long mountain range extending from the Pingu mountain group halfway between Davis Strait and the Greenland ice sheet
Greenland ice sheet
The Greenland ice sheet is a vast body of ice covering , roughly 80% of the surface of Greenland. It is the second largest ice body in the world, after the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The ice sheet is almost long in a north-south direction, and its greatest width is at a latitude of 77°N, near its...
. The range flattens considerably towards the east in the area of Kangaamiut dike swarm north of Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq is a settlement in western Greenland in the Qeqqata municipality, located at the head of a fjord of the same name. It is Greenland's main air transport hub, being the site of Greenland's largest commercial airport....
, due to pressure exerted by the icesheet for long periods in the past.
The head of the fjord is located at approxitamely 66°59′48"N 53°12′04"W. To the south, the fjord is bounded by the long Majoriaq range, culminating in the west in the Ujarasussuliup Qaqqaa (423 m (1,387.8 ft)) and Palasip Qaqqaa
Palasip Qaqqaa
Palasip Qaqqaa is a high mountain in the Qeqqata municipality in western Greenland. It is located on the mainland of Greenland on the coast of Davis Strait, immediately to the north of Sisimiut Airport....
(544 m (1,784.8 ft)) mountains. The east-west range continues through Aappilattorsuaq massif (907 m (2,975.7 ft)) to the east, connecting with the northern range to the northeast of the head of the fjord.
Settlement
There are no settlements on the shores of the fjord. The closest settlement is Sisimiut to the southeast of Palasip Qaqqaa.Tourism
There are two utility huts at the head of the fjord, maintained by the authorities of Sisimiut. They serve as shelter for hikers on the Polar Route from Sisimiut to Kangerlussuaq, and for overnight dogsledDog sled
A dog sled is a sled pulled by one or more sled dogs used to travel over ice and through snow. Numerous types of sleds are used, depending on their function. They can be used for dog sled racing.-History:...
trips from the town. The tough, 160 km (99.4 mi) long Arctic Circle Race takes place each winter, with the trail partially overlapping with the Polar Route at the head of the fjord. The race was inaugurated in 1998, since then becoming an international competition.