Qasigiannguit

Qasigiannguit[2] (Greenlandic pronunciation: [qaˌsiɣiˈaŋːuitˢʰ]), formerly Christianshåb,[3] is a town located in western Greenland on the southeastern shore of Disko Bay in the Qeqertalik municipality. With 1,081 inhabitants in 2020,[1] it is the thirteenth-largest town in Greenland. The main industry is shrimp and halibut fishing.

Qasigiannguit

Christianshåb
Aerial view of Qasigiannguit
Qasigiannguit
Location within Greenland
Coordinates: 68°49′12.52″N 51°11′35.67″W
State Kingdom of Denmark
Constituent country Greenland
MunicipalityQeqertalik
Founded1734
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,081[1]
Time zoneUTC-03
Postal code
3951

History

The settlement was founded as a trading post for Jacob Severin's company in 1734[4] and named Christianshaab in honor of King Christian VI of Denmark.[5] The name was sometimes anglicized as Christian's Hope.[6]

Paul Egede's former residence is Greenland's oldest surviving wooden building. It was completed on 25 July 1734[7] and moved to its present site in 1806 owing to the heavy wind at its original location across the bay. In 1997, a museum was officially opened in the Egede house. In the summer of 1999, an archaeological discovery provided the museum with a collection of finds from different prehistoric cultures.[8]

Transport

Air
Main article: Qasigiannguit Heliport

During the winter, Air Greenland operates air services from the town heliport to Ilulissat, Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island and Aasiaat.[9]

Sea

During summer and autumn, when the waters of Disko Bay are navigable, communication between settlements is by sea only, serviced by Diskoline.[10] The ferry links Qasigiannguit with Ilulissat, Aasiaat, Ikamiut, Akunnaaq, and Qeqertarsuaq.

Population

With 1,081 inhabitants as of 2020, Qasigiannguit is the second-largest town in the Qeqertalik municipality.[1] The town is steadily depopulating, with the population having decreased by more than 27% relative to the 1990 levels and by nearly 17% relative to the 2000 levels.[1]

Qasigiannguit population growth dynamics, 1991-2010. (Source: Statistics Greenland)[1]

References
  1. "Population by Localities". Statistical Greenland.
  2. The pre-1973 spelling was Kasigianguit. It is also sometimes written as Qasigianguit.
  3. The pre-1948 spelling was Christianshaab.
  4. Marquardt, Ole. "Change and Continuity in Denmark's Greenland Policy" in The Oldenburg Monarchy: An Underestimated Empire?. Verlag Ludwig (Kiel), 2006.
  5. Del, Anden. "Grønland som del af den bibelske fortælling – en 1700-tals studie Archived July 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine" ["Greenland as Part of the Biblical Narrative – a Study of the 18th-Century"]. (in Danish)
  6. i.a., Lieber, Francis & al. Encyclopædia Americana: A Popular Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature, History, Politics and Biography. "Greenland". B.B. Mussey & Co., 1854.
  7. O'Carroll, Etain (2005). Greenland and the Arctic. Lonely Planet. p. 181. ISBN 1-74059-095-3.
  8. Museum Archived September 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  9. "Booking system". Air Greenland. Archived from the original on 22 April 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  10. Diskoline timetable Archived May 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
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