Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland’s Remote Settlement.  Ittoqqortoormiit, try saying that three times fast.  Ittoqqortoormiit is one of the most remote settlements in Greenland.  Less than 500 settlers live here.  Approximately, 55,000 people call Greenland home and it is the world’s largest in the island.  The majority of the citizens live on the west coast of the island.  And Ittoqqortoormiit is located on the sparsely populated east coast.  Greenland is not recognized as one of the 193 UN recognized countries, but is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.    

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland's Remote Settlement

Ittoqqortoormiit, which means “Big-House Dwellers” in the Eastern Greenlandic dialect, was founded in 1925 by 80 Inuit settlers and prospered on excellent hunting conditions including walrus, arctic fox, seals, and polar bears.  Today, the inhabitants are the only individuals allowed to hunt in North East Greenland National Park, the largest national park in the world. 

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland's Remote Settlement

There are no roads to Ittoqqortoormiit.  Transportation with the outside world is provided by helicopter which connects the Ittoqqortoormiit Heliport by Air Greenland to Nerlerit Inaat Airport, which is 24 miles away.   Then you can take a weekly flight to Kangerlussuaq and Nuuk, airports on the west coast. 

I arrived via a cruise ship after visiting the North East Greenland National Park.  It was August but still quite chilly, with my jacket completely zipped up.  Average highs in July is 43 F while the average lows are -9 F in February. 

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland's Remote Settlement

The little village looked uninviting despite the brightly colored houses that dotted the settlement.  Dirt roads twisted thought-out the town with the locals zipping by on ATVs.  It was early morning yet I passed a couple of very inebriated locals stumbling through the streets.  I imagined a lack of entertainment options in the town. 

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland's Remote Settlement

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland's Remote Settlement

As I strolled through the settlement I noticed a white face amongst the Greenlandic Inuits.  After a brief conversation with a British man with a thick cockney accents had been living here for years, living off the land with his husky dogs.  He shared with me he would partake on long solo dog sledding trips into Greenland’s wilderness.      

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland's Remote Settlement

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland's Remote Settlement

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland's Remote Settlement

Ittoqqortoormiit was founded in 1925 by Ejnar Mikkelsen.

Ittoqqortoormiit was founded in 1925 by Ejnar Mikkelsen

The sole church in Ittoqqortoormiit.

greenland settlement

After my short visit, I climbed back on the Zodiac to return the cruise ship. 

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland's Remote Settlement

Check out the amazing Danish soldiers that patrol the largest national park in the world in Greenland!!

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland’s Remote Settlement

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