Itilleq

Itilleq (old spelling: Itivdleq) is a settlement in the Qeqqata municipality in central-western Greenland. It is located on a small island around 1 km from the mainland, 45 km south of Sisimiut[2] and 2 km north of the Arctic Circle on the shores of Davis Strait. It had 89 inhabitants in 2020.[3]

This article is about the settlement. For Greenland's southernmost island, see Itilleq Island.
Itilleq
Itilleq
Location within Greenland
Coordinates: 66°34′40″N 53°30′00″W
State Kingdom of Denmark
Constituent country Greenland
Municipality Qeqqata
Founded1847
Government
 • MayorTukannguaq Dahl
Population
 (2020)
 • Total89
Time zoneUTC-03
Postal code
3911 Sisimiut

History

Itilleq was founded in 1847 on another island, but was later moved 1 kilometer east to its present location.

Economy

The main trade in the settlement is fishing and hunting, with a fish factory being the principal employer in the settlement. The island has no freshwater, and for this reason Itilleq makes use of a facility for forming freshwater from seawater. The village is served by the communal all-purpose Pilersuisoq store.[2]

Transport

There is no road connection to any other settlement, but that is so for most other settlements in Greenland.

Air

The closest aerodrome is Sisimiut Airport in Sisimiut, with connections to Ilulissat, Kangerlussuaq, Maniitsoq, and Nuuk operated by Air Greenland.[4] There are no helicopter services to coastal settlements of Davis Strait in the Qeqqata and Sermersooq municipalities.

Sea

Royal Arctic Line provides weekly ferry services to Sarfannguit and Sisimiut,[5] a port of call for the Arctic Umiaq Line, with connections to Ilulissat and Aasiaat in the Disko Bay region, and to coastal towns in southwestern and southern Greenland.[6]

Population

The population of Itilleq has been stable in the last two decades.[7]

Itilleq population growth dynamics in the last two decades. Source: Statistics Greenland[7]

Notable residents
  • Hans Enoksen − the fourth Prime Minister of Greenland (2002-2009)

References
  1. Qeqqata Municipality (in Danish)
  2. O'Carroll, Etain (2005). Greenland and the Arctic. Lonely Planet. p. 162. ISBN 1-74059-095-3.
  3. "Population by Localities". Statistical Greenland.
  4. Air Greenland, Departures and Arrivals Archived 2010-03-09 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Royal Arctic Line, Angaju Ittuk schedule Archived 2011-07-03 at the Wayback Machine (in Danish)
  6. AUL, Timetable 2009
  7. Statistics Greenland Archived 2011-08-12 at the Wayback Machine
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