Qasigiannguit

Qasigiannguit[2] (Greenlandic pronunciation: [qaˌsiɣiˈaŋːuit]), 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
Aerial view of Qasigiannguit
Qasigiannguit is located in Greenland
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 dynamics
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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