Saarloq

Saarloq (IATA: QOQ) is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. Its population was 21 in 2020.[3] It is located on a small island with the same name off the Labrador Sea coast at approximately 60°32′15″N 46°01′33″W, at the mouth of the Qaqortoq Fjord, west of Alluitsup Paa and 20 km south of Qaqortoq.

Saarloq
Saarloq
Saarloq
Location within Greenland
Coordinates: 60°32′15″N 46°01′33″W
State Kingdom of Denmark
Constituent country Greenland
Municipality Kujalleq
Government
 • MayorJenseeraq Hansen
Population
 (2020)
 • Total21
Time zoneUTC-03
Postal code
3920 Qaqortoq

The settlement is the southernmost of the three settlements—along Eqalugaarsuit and Qassimiut—that made up the former Qaqortoq municipality. The settlements are presently governed by a joint settlement council.[2]

On January 1, 2009, the settlement became part of the Kujalleq municipality, when the Narsaq, Qaqortoq, and Nanortalik municipalities ceased to exist.

Transport
Main article: Saarloq Heliport

The village is served by the Saarloq Heliport. Air Greenland district helicopters link the settlement with Nanortalik, and further to Qaqortoq and Narsarsuaq.[4]

Infrastructure and communications

The settlement has its own church, and a school--Atuarfik Saarloq, Greenlandic for "school of Saarloq"—with 5 to 6 pupils.

There are no cars in the settlement, and there is no heliport; weekly helicopter connections land on a tundra plain. Further transportation is by sea. Internet and phone communications are provided by the Home Rule government.

Drinking water is provided by desalination of the sea water. The settlement has three 1,100 liter fresh water tanks for this purpose.

Population

Most towns and settlements in southern Greenland exhibit negative growth patterns over the last two decades, with many settlements rapidly depopulating. The population of Saarloq has decreased nearly a half relative to the 1990 levels, by nearly a third relative to the 2000 levels.[5] If the trend continues much further, the settlement is likely to close in the future.

Saarloq population growth dynamics in the last two decades. Source: Statistics Greenland[5]

References
  1. Sermitsiaq, 2009/05/23 (in Danish)
  2. "Kujalleq Municipality" (in Danish). Kujalleq Municipality. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  3. "Population by Localities". Statistical Greenland. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  4. "Booking system". Air Greenland. Archived from the original on 22 April 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  5. "Statistics Greenland" (in Danish). Statistics Greenland. Archived from the original on August 12, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
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