Prince Christian Sound and Narsarsuaq, Greenland 🇬🇱 

Thursday, August 31 was a sea day of sorts.  Around 11 AM we entered Prince Christian Sound.  A sound is like a fjord but is open at both ends.  It is usually formed by glaciers eroding the land and the sea connecting.  Greenland is currently colder than it was when it was settled by the Vikings.  When they settled Greenland they were able to farm.  Now the people here can’t do that.  Greenland is not part of the EU, but has ties to Denmark.  The main exports are fish and animal skins.  There are vast mineral deposits, but because of the harsh conditions can’t be mined.

Greenland is the largest island in the world, it is a self governing territory of Denmark and has a population of only 56,000 people.  4/5s are native Inuit people.  It is mainly covered by an ice cap left over from the last ice age, 10,000 years ago.  In the north of Greenland it is too dry for much snow, but in the south of Greenland the snow is thickening the ice.  If all the ice here melted it would raise the sea level by ~23 feet.   

Early on for transatlantic travel, Greeenland was a stop for refueling.  The US had an Air Force base here in 1950s.  It no longer is in use, but the field is used for flights.  

On the 31st we had spectacular weather.  We were able to be out on deck viewing the fabulous scenery. 

After we left the sound we sailed for Narsarsuaq, a small town of 200.  On September 1, Michael and Bette did a boat cruise among icebergs and even went up the icefjord to see the glacier up close.  It was again a beautiful warm day.  When we got back we walked with Janice into “town”.  We learned that they get 10 cruise ships a year.  The airport will close in 2 weeks until spring.

Bob went on a hike, which was billed as moderate, but was not.

It was a few fabulous days as you can see from some of the photos.