Ilulissat Icefjord
Kangia
A UNESCO World Heritage icefjord. The most active glacier in the Northern Hemisphere pushes giant icebergs into Disko Bay every day, and they crowd the water like a city.
The Ilulissat Icefjord (Kangia) is about 40 km long. It is fed by one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere, Sermeq Kujalleq, which discharges about 35 billion tonnes of ice each year. It is a key site for studying climate change and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. At the mouth of the fjord, a moraine shoal causes large icebergs to run aground and pile up, forming a vast 'iceberg graveyard'.
There are three ways to explore: hike south of town to the Sermermiut valley for a view over the fjord mouth; take a boat among the icebergs outside the fjord; or take a small plane or helicopter for a view over the glacier front. Viewing from land is free and open all year. Boat and flight tours must be booked in advance. The weather changes quickly, so bring warm, windproof clothing.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Sermeq Kujalleq (Jakobshavn Glacier) Flightseeing
- Eqi Glacier
- Oqaatsut (Rodebay)
- Ilulissat Dog Sledding
- Ilulissat Art Museum
- Ilulissat Harbour
- Disko Bay Iceberg Cruise
- Ilulissat Museum (Knud Rasmussen's House)