Uummannaq is one of the sunniest places in Greenland and it has also less precipitation that the rest of the country. As a result there are far less mosquitoes in the summer than in the rest of the country. Already in the 17th century, Dutch whalers took advantage of that fact and established a whaling post there. In 1763, the town of Omenak was founded there and it was later renamed Uummannaq.

One of the old traditions that has survived the centuries is that every spring, when the season's first ship arrives, a three-cannon salvo is fired to welcome the inbound and the entire village gathers on the hill to the west of town to welcome the sailors.

Since there is not much level ground in Uummannaq, most buildings cling to the hills and most of them are single-family dwellings.

The Uummannaq Museum is housed in the old hospital. It has nice displays on Greenland archeology and history, the Qilaqitsoq mummies and the whaling era. One area is devoted to the unsuccessful expedition of German scientist Alfred Weigner.

The Blubber House is one of the few surviving old buildings in Uummannaq. It used to be a whale-oil warehouse. A nearby cave is known as the 'troll's grotto'.

Uummannaq Mountain, not far from town, is one of Greenland's most stunning natural sights. The mountain consists of different colors of rock, including beautiful tints of black, white and red, which seem to change, depending on the position of the sun and the viewer. Some expeditions managed to reach the summit.

Uummannaq can be reached by helicopter and by ship. Accommodation is available in town. Uummannaq is 690 km north of Nuuk.

Uummannaq ©Quais du Polar Lyon

Uummannaq ©ArcticDesire.com Polarreisen

Uummannaq ©ArcticDesire.com Polarreisen