The website of the East Yorkshire RSPB Members' Group

Newsletter
  [ Back ] [ Next ]
 

Scoresby Sund

Home
Up

Scoresby Sund in North East Greenland is the world's largest fiord system, and the village of Ittoqqortoormiit (Pop.550), at its mouth, is one of the most isolated communities in the world. On a trip there with in May, the fiord was still frozen and the landscape was under a mantle of deep snow.

We landed by helicopter on the ice as children played football, took part in an egg and spoon race, or simply watched the hustle of getting us moved up to our guest house. We spent time in the village observing their way of life, trying to imagine what it must he like to live there and just soaking up the atmosphere of such an incredible place. On the Sunday we mingled with the congregation at the confirmation of 14 people and a wedding at the church along with most of the village population dressed up in their various Sunday best.

There are a number of full time hunters and four of them took us on a four day dog-sledging trip. We travelled over mountain passes, across frozen fjords and onto the ice covered sea, with the sledges pulled by the powerful and always entertaining huskies. We slept in hunters huts or camped on the ice with magnificent scenery all around.

On our final leg back to the village I asked the leader about the seasons of the year. The cold breeze was wisping the snow across the ice, highlighted by the glowing sun, and he replied, "We have two seasons, Winter and Summer. Summer is starting now!"

David Atkinson