How fast is the average download speed 5G here? Any experience with this? I heard it’s very slow
How about the ping?
Thanks

Hi!

Im a sand collector and i've been trying to collect some sand from Greenland. However it seems only a native can send me that sand (or sell) and me as a tourist cant just collect it (which I respect).

Can I talk with anyone on private about collecting sand for me please?

Thank you

I preach on here about the amazing attributes of remote towns in Greenland. Particularly the places in the far northwest or northeast. 

I pride myself on having been to nearly every Greenlandic town over the past 10 years. But Qaanaaq and Ittoqqortoormiit are the most special because they’re difficult to get to and niche. 

Qaanaaq was one that I idolized because I had gone once in 2019 but the trip went sideways because I was delayed a week getting there and I didn’t know how to contingency plan back then. I also got deathly ill for the first six days I was there when I finally arrived. But I did go out in an open boat to Siorapaluk and I got some amazing landscape shots. Most of all, I got to see a harvest of dozens of belugas that the community harvested on the beach. Communal sharing of the hunt for mutual survival. It was beautiful to witness and inspired me to specialize in Greenland. 

I didn’t know much about Greenland at that point. I hadn’t read that much because that would come during Covid. I didn’t know what I was witnessing. I didn’t appreciate it until I went to Ittoqqortoormiit and then back to Qaanaaq again for seven weeks this summer. 

I was appalled to be honest. I thought I had seen poverty in Greenland in the East but seeing Qeqertat and Siorapaluk and many of the homes in Qaanaaq without running water and such was heartbreaking. In 2026. Worst of all, people here cannot leave. They’re stuck. The prices of the airfare are obscene. It costs 8000 DKK from Ilulissat one way. 11000 DKK one way to Nuuk. That’s nearly $1800 USD for one person one way and you’re not even leaving Greenland. In Ittoqqortoormiit, you can get to Iceland for 2000 DKK one way before you get into the discount schemes. You can get out though. It’s feasible. Not so in Qaanaaq. 

You can tell. The doctor I met didn’t want to be there because they said people had given up on life. No one showed up for work. No one showed up for appointments. The standard of care was too low to be associated with. They ran that doctor out of town. And the teeth in Qaanaaq… non-existent. It's easier to yank them instead of filling the cavities so you’re good if you have a few to work with. Worst teeth in Greenland. Absenteeth... I need to stop.

I also saw the addiction on the beach. Public intoxication and some guy with no teeth tried to kiss me while I was taking photos. Everyone knows about the social problems in Greenland but they don't cross into my personal space usually.

The addiction to tobacco is much more pervasive. Chimneys basically. I timed one of my hunters went out a minimum of every 18 minutes while indoors and hunting was nearly nonstop. The tobacco was more important to keep these guys going than the bullets.

Flat rate internet has changed this place a lot. It was introduced when Tusass upgraded its satellite service to the remote areas back in 2024. Before that, internet was prohibitively expensive. Some of the settlements have started using starlink even though it's illegal in Greenland - though we aren't sure if the politicians will amend that decision in the coming months.

It used to be a culture of we but now it’s a culture of me. Everyone has to feed their addiction. The cigarettes, the phone, the booze, the whatever the flavor of the day is. The groceries are more expensive up there. They run out of baby formula for months on end. The tobacco tub is 500 DKK so you can fill up your cigarettes yourself.

It's not like people in charge don't know about this. I've seen the royal jet come and they go to a ceremony at the sports hall and then fly away. How can people allow their own subjects to live like this? That's the most disturbing aspect of all. Especially after the forcible relocation to Qaanaaq from Uummannaq where they lived before Thule Air Base began construction in 1953. The agreement with the US that everyone is talking about from 1951 was the same agreement that planted the seed for the nightmare that is modern Qaanaaq 75 years later. Total train wreck with broken people that have been through enough and keep getting the pressure put on them with no relief. That's what doesn't get through in the news cycle.

The people from the district are a different ethnic group from the Western Greenlanders and East Greenlanders. They're the Inughuit and they have a distinctive dialect that is much closer to the northern Baffin Island dialects than anything else in Greenland. People can't understand them and most don't bother. It's hard to relate to a group of people that are isolated and living with conditions that the vast majority of the population cannot relate to. For instance, most of the hunters here are hunting narwhal with kayak and harpoon. That's not something done anywhere else in Greenland. Partially because the narwhals don't like noise and ship traffic and because the profit motive is much stronger the further you go south in Greenland. It maxes out in Nuuk.

It’s crazy. I don’t think I’ll be back and that’s sad. I hear from anthropologists that these towns have these awful cycles and eventually they’ll bounce back again. Maybe after some of the evil people pass on to the next life but before some of the good ones expire, I’ll consider going in winter. 

I will say though that there are a few hunters that are working hard to maintain the culture of kayaking. Niihi and Kuuka. They’re the best. If you do end up going to Qaanaaq just ask for them. He is an amazing carver and a big hunter. They took us to the narwhals and I saw at least 60 of them but he chose to not catch one with us because the tusks weren’t impressive enough. He is not going to waste quota on a small one.

Those guys and their families and the Kristensen clan in both Qaanaaq and Savissivik and the Avike and Oshima clan in Siorapaluk are everything to me. I’m more motivated now after seeing the disparity between the remote towns in Greenland. I don’t need to go and be there again until it stabilizes. But I can fight for them without being physically located there. A lot of work needs to be done. That gives me some hope. 

I hope these photos are useful. It’s a fascinating place and beautiful but lots of work is now in progress. 

I had a mind bending flight view to Greenland ! I am so happy I got to witness one of the most remote and beautiful places on earth…

I don’t knit and cannot. They tried to teach me but failed. However, knitting is a very popular activity in Greenland. All of my most intricate pieces come from Greenland. Some are of qiviut (muskox wool) and one is a sweater from South Greenland sheep’s wool.

I have been following Solrun Design for years. She is a long time Greenland resident and now she has written a book about knitting in Greenland and her designs.

She has made patterns for sweaters with traditional tattoos and the Greenland national costume. For years she has been selling her patterns on her website or instagram but now they’re promoting Greenland knitting more broadly.

I find these designs to be incredibly impressive and I hope I can snag one of the sweaters second hand one day. She is doing a book tour in Denmark right now and it’s exciting to see!

More flights to Ilulissat in 2027

See also: The publication in the journal Climate of the Past

A few photos focused on the landscape I experienced hiking the Arctic Circle Trail.

I was devastated to find this out a few days ago. Another young cultural knowledge holder lost far before his time. He passed from a cardiac issue very unexpectedly.

I always recommended his paddling trips to travelers. Even a few days before he passed. It’s surreal.

You can learn more about him here. He was reviving traditional kayak skills all over the world and lived outside Greenland for extended periods of time.

DA/KL: https://www.sermitsiaq.ag/kultur/qeqqata-kommunia-mindes-kajakmester-og-kulturbaerer/2437358

EN: https://www.mensjournal.com/travel/revivalist-greenland-kayak-championships-maligiaq-padilla

This is from Facebook:

Honoring a True Legend: Remembering Maligiaq Padilla 🇬🇱

It is with deep sadness and the utmost respect that we share the news of the passing of the legendary Greenlandic kayaker and cultural bearer, Maligiaq Johnsen Padilla, who left us far too soon at the age of 44 after a sudden illness.

For many within our community and across the globe, Maligiaq was much more than an extraordinary athlete. Winning the Greenland National Kayaking Championship a historic ten times—his first victory at just 16 years old—he possessed an incredible physical and mental strength that inspired generations.

But Maligiaq’s true masterpiece was his dedication to the Inuit cultural heritage. Taught by his grandfather in Sisimiut, he spent his life preserving the ancient art of traditional kayak building, hunting techniques, and the qajaq culture. His warmth and openness touched hearts far beyond Greenland. As a global ambassador, he lived in Alaska and traveled throughout North America and Europe, sharing his knowledge, revitalizing indigenous traditions, and placing his handmade kayaks in world-renowned museums like the Smithsonian.

Maligiaq’s passing is a profound loss for Greenland and the international kayaking community. We fully understand and share the grief felt by so many right now; it is heartbreaking to lose such a vital pillar of cultural pride so early.

Our warmest thoughts, deepest empathy, and solidarity go out to his children, his family, and everyone who stood by his side. Maligiaq will be deeply missed, but his profound impact on the Greenlandic cultural heritage will live on forever.

Rest in peace, Maligiaq. 🤍

They're making a huge noise and have pretty much taken over Islay. But we're going to look after them for you. I expect they will spend the next 6 months feasting on neeps, tatties and whiskey.

Anyway just saying, if you're looking for your geese... The flappy feathery things are here.

Hi everyone!

I’m a Dutch PhD student at Aarhus University. I’m looking to speak with Greenlandic people who would be open to sharing their thoughts and experiences around gender, gender roles, and Indigenous perspectives on gender in Greenland. More specifically, I’m interested in how Greenlandic perspectives on gender are (or aren’t) reflected in the policies and reports of international organisations, so I’m hoping to speak with people from different backgrounds and hear their perspectives and experiences.

You don’t need to be an academic or have any particular knowledge about gender, as I’m primarily interested in everyday perspectives and experiences. The conversation would be informal and take around 30-45 minutes, either online or in person if you happen to be living in Aarhus :)

If you might be interested, please feel free to send me a DM (I am not sure if this is allowed to be posted here, so please delete if it is not!)

https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/14/politics/trump-greenland-oil-gas-minerals-intl-hnk

There have been tons of articles and discussion about this. I'm curious what people here think about this topic. I don't have experience with it.

The reason for the ban is to protect children that are mistreated and neglected by their parents or adults that are intoxicated. The last straw was a murder in Nanortalik.

Seems like there has been a huge spike in black market sales and people buying yeast for 20x the normal price for home brewing. Many experts say this isn't the way to address alcoholism while others think it's good but the physical withdrawal from a sudden ban shouldn't be underestimated.

The business community in South Greenland is up in arms of course. The restaurants and hotels and others are complaining.

Of course, this is a polarizing issue. What do you think?

I personally believe that 75% of Greenland's problems are tied to alcohol in some way. But this... It's not the answer. I don't know what would work for a problem this pervasive.

Links:

There is no end date to the ban. Pisiffik and Brugseni said today that there have been improvements in public safety after they reduced alcohol sales to certain hours.

Additional articles. The KNR one below is very comprehensive.

https://www.knr.gl/da/nyheder/alkoholforbud-er-proevet-foer-bagefter-steg-forbruget

https://www.sermitsiaq.ag/samfund/borgmester-forklarer-derfor-lukker-vi-for-alkoholsalget/2432805

There have been tons of articles and discussion about this. I'm curious what people here think about this topic. I don't have experience with it.

The reason for the ban is to protect children that are mistreated and neglected by their parents or adults that are intoxicated. The last straw was a murder in Nanortalik.

Seems like there has been a huge spike in black market sales and people buying yeast for 20x the normal price for home brewing. Many experts say this isn't the way to address alcoholism while others think it's good but the physical withdrawal from a sudden ban shouldn't be underestimated.

The business community in South Greenland is up in arms of course. The restaurants and hotels and others are complaining.

Of course, this is a polarizing issue. What do you think?

I personally believe that 75% of Greenland's problems are tied to alcohol in some way. But this... It's not the answer. I don't know what would work for a problem this pervasive.

Links:

Here is the original notice. https://naalakkersuisut.gl/Nyheder/2026/10/0210_forbud?sc_lang=da

There is no end date to the ban. Pissifik and Brugseni said today that there have been improvements in public safety after they reduced alcohol sales to certain hours.

Additional articles. The KNR one below is very comprehensive.

https://www.knr.gl/da/nyheder/alkoholforbud-er-proevet-foer-bagefter-steg-forbruget

https://www.sermitsiaq.ag/samfund/borgmester-forklarer-derfor-lukker-vi-for-alkoholsalget/2432805

So rather randomly I’ve been asked about a job in Nuuk Greenland. Other then knowing that it get rather cold and long day/nights depending on the time of year I know very little about it.
I’ve worked many different places including a Canadian winter so the cold isn’t going to be new.
I only speak English and won’t have a car so how easy is going to be for me to get around?
Is the Bus system ok?
I take it food and drink are stupidly expensive due to it being isolated (I rarely drink beer and cab quite easy go without).

I had several days with good light and not much to do so I strolled around and took photos of dogs and all the gear on the beach and in the dump. There is only one breed of dog allowed in this part of Greenland and it’s the Greenland Sled Dog

These dogs are quite large compared to the ones I see in Ittoqqortoormiit. I hear they’re older here and people don’t use snowmobiles as much as they do there. The dogs are the reliable way to get around and survive in the very far north.

I think I took at least 1000 frames of dogs this summer but these are a couple decent ones so far. I’m only 10% finished on my sorting and editing.

As an anecdotal piece of evidence, I was less scared of these dogs vs the dogs everywhere else in Greenland. I usually fear these dogs more than bears in terms of the most common threat to my safety. But this summer, there were many, many loose dogs and puppies. Not good. If you’re afraid of dogs, Qaanaaq and the settlements nearby is not a good idea at all. The dog in number 2 got her adult teeth in and tried to bite my pants. Luckily, I got away.

Hello, all -

I'm doing a music project exploring fish from around the world, naming tracks with their local name. I think Greenland sharks are amazing creatures, and the Inuit folklore surrounding them is wonderful. Problem is, no story I found lists a non-English name, and all the translation websites are now AI crap that I refuse to use.
If anyone could help me or wants to offer creative input regarding the song, I'd really appreciate it.

Hi! We may be moving to Nuuk from Copenhagen next year and I’m hoping to hear from parents who have experience with the vuggestuer and børnehaver there.

Which ones have you had particularly good experiences with, and why? Are there any you would recommend avoiding, or any issues you think a new family should know about?

I’d especially love to hear about things like:
• how caring and engaged the staff are
• staff turnover/staffing shortages
• communication with parents
• how much time the children spend outdoors
• activities and overall environment
• how they handle children who are new to Greenland or don’t speak Greenlandic yet (they do speak Danish)
• wait lists/how difficult it is to get a place

I’ve been looking at places like Mikisoq, Muku, Apisseq, Uiloq, Puiaq, Paannaat and Paarsisoq, but I’m very open to others!

I know experiences can vary a lot from child to child and year to year, so I’d really appreciate hearing both positive and negative experiences. 😊

Qujanaq!