Even before President-elect Trump took notice, Greenland was already on the radar of the cruise ship industry, with many ships choosing the picturesque Greenlandic town as a port of call.
Cruise ship passengers take photos of Greenland's fjords (Danuta Hamlin)
One of the ports is Qakortok, the largest town in southern Greenland.
Kakoltok means “white” in Greenlandic. (Danuta Hamlin)
Sailing from Iceland, the ship followed in the footsteps of Eric the Red, a Norseman who settled the area in 982. Erik was exiled from Iceland, so he made this his home and called it Greenland.
Approximately 80% of the island is covered by ice caps, and the rest of the island is not very green.
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Greenland's majestic coast (Danuta Hamlin)
According to some historians, Eric the Red came up with this name simply for promotional purposes.
He set out to attract more settlers from Iceland and promoted the island as a green land. Some experts say Greenland has experienced a so-called “Little Ice Age” since the 15th century, although it may have been warmer at the time.
Children of Nanoltalik, Greenland. (Danuta Hamlin)
Life in Greenland became too harsh for Europeans. But the island's natives found a way to endure.
The Julianehab River flows through the center of Qakortok, Greenland. (Danuta Hamlin)
Situated in the middle of a picturesque fjord, with a stream running through the town and snow-capped peaks even in spring, Kakortok is a charming place for a walk.
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Qakortok is Greenland's fourth largest town. (Danuta Hamlin)
Due to the high costs of building Greenland's highways, Qakortok is not connected by road to other towns or villages. But once the weather warms, the area offers plenty of opportunities for nature hiking, kayaking, and fishing.
Kakotok Greenland (Danuta Hamlin)
The town was founded in 1775 as a trading colony by Norwegian explorer Anders Olsen. Home to just over 3,000 people, it offers a glimpse into Greenlandic life, Viking history, and Scandinavian architecture.
The hills are dotted with colorful houses, creating a pleasant contrast with the rugged peaks of the surrounding fjords.
Greenland road sign. Greenlandic is the language of the Eskimo-Aleut people and is spoken by approximately 57,000 people. (Danuta Hamlin)
Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, but the official language is Greenlandic. Since it is a polysynthetic language, there is technically no limit to the length of words in Greenlandic.
Decoding local signs can be fun, but also difficult.
Stone & Man is an outdoor art project featuring rock carvings and carvings located in Qakortok, Greenland. (Danuta Hamlin)
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Trees are not easy to find, but the area is full of rocks and boulders of all kinds. Some of them were transformed into carvings of faces and whales, a homage called “Stone & Man.” This open-air gallery is the work of local Kakotok artist Aka Hague.
The Mindebronden Fountain is the older of only two public fountains in Greenland. (Danuta Hamlin)
Kakotok is home to the oldest fountain in the country, the Mindebronden Memorial Fountain. The fountain was completed in 1932 and is closed during the winter.
Kakortok fish market. Seal meat is an important ingredient in Suasat, Greenland's national dish. (Danuta Hamlin)
At the town's fish market, local fishermen sell all their catch of the day. It could be fish, whale meat, or seal.
After all, Qakotok is a fishing town, and seafood plays an important role in the Greenlandic diet.
Nanoltalik is a village on the island of Nanoltalik, with approximately 1,072 residents. (Danuta Hamlin)
Greenland's official religion is Evangelical Lutheranism. At another port of call, a village called Nanoltalik, members of a local congregation welcomed tourists with musical performances.
The Nanoltalik Choir sings outdoors in Greenland in 2018. (Danuta Hamlin)
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Nanoltalik means “place of polar bears”. However, no bears were seen wandering around the village.
The old colonial port area of Nanoltalik is an open-air museum. (Danuta Hamlin)
Greenland is the world's largest island and a great destination for tourists adventurous enough to explore it.
Cruise ship passenger taking photo of Greenland's fjords (Danuta Hamlin)
The author recently took a cruise to Greenland.
