Oqaatsut

Oqaatsut Rodebay
Oqaatsut
Oqaatsut Location within Greenland
Coordinates: 69°20′40″N 51°00′10″W / 69.34444°N 51.00278°W / 69.34444; -51.00278Coordinates: 69°20′40″N 51°00′10″W / 69.34444°N 51.00278°W / 69.34444; -51.00278
State	Kingdom of Denmark
Constituent country	Greenland
Municipality	Qaasuitsup
Government[1]
- Mayor	Lars Fleischer
Population (2010)
- Total	46
Time zone	UTC-03
Postal code	3952 Ilulissat

Oqaatsut (old spelling: Oqaitsut, Dutch: Rodebay) is a settlement in the Qaasuitsup municipality, in western Greenland. It had 46 inhabitants in 2010.^[2] The name of the settlement means 'the cormorants' in Greenlandic. The village is served by the communal all-purpose Pisiffik store.^[3]

Geography

Icebergs from the Ilulissat Icefjord^[3] float north with the West Greenland Current towards Baffin Bay, to then return south along the coast of Baffin Island and Labrador Peninsula.

The settlement is located on a small peninsula jutting off the mainland into eastern Disko Bay (Kalaallisut: Qeqertarsuup Tunua), 22.5 km^[4] north of Ilulissat. The settlement itself faces the shore of the small Akuliarusinnguaq bay, bounded to the north by Qeqertaq island,^[5] one of several islands with that name − 'qeqertaq' means 'island' in Greenlandic.

Further to the east, the Paakitsup Nunaa highland on the mainland separates the area from Sikuiuitsoq Fjord. Sermeq Avannarleq,^[5] a glacier flowing from the Greenland ice sheet empties into the fjord approximately 22 km east of Oqaatsut. Paakitsup Nunaa gives way to a marshy lowland in the south, with several lakes, the largest of which are Qoortusuup Tasia, Kuuttaap Tasia, and Kangerluarsuup Tasia Qalleq.^[3][5]

Further south, the highlands of Iviangernarsuit and Akinnaq due east of Ilulissat Airport^[3] are split by the Uujuup Kuua river valley. To the north, the waters of Disko Bay channel into the Sullorsuaq Strait between the large Alluttoq Island and Disko Island (Kalaallisut: Qeqertarsuaq).^[6]

History

The settlement first operated as a trading post for 18th century Dutch whalers who named the place Rodebay.^[3] The original blubber house, cooperage and storehouse are still in use. When the fish processing plant of Royal Greenland providing employment to the majority of families was closed, Oqaatsut found itself on the verge of depopulation.^[7] In 2000 a new fishing company (Rodebay Fish ApS) was founded by the local fishermen,^[7][8] ensuring survival of the settlement.

Transport

Due to the proximity of Ilulissat Airport, there is no air connection between Oqaatsut and Ilulissat. Air Greenland operates government contract flights to villages farther north: Qeqertaq and Saqqaq.^[9] Settlement flights in the Disko Bay are unique in that they are operated only during winter and spring.

During summer and autumn, when the waters of Disko Bay are navigable, communication between settlements is by sea only, serviced by Diskoline.^[10] The ferry links Oqaatsut with Qeqertaq, Saqqaq, and Ilulissat.

Population

The population of Oqaatsut has decreased by a quarter since the 1990 levels, levelling off in the 2000s.^[11]

Oqaatsut population growth dynamics in the last two decades. Source: Statistics Greenland^[11]

References

1. ^ phototeam-nature.com
2. ^ Statistics Greenland (Danish)
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} O'Carroll, Etain (2005). Greenland and the Arctic. Lonely Planet. pp. 176–9. ISBN 1-74059-095-3. 
4. ^ Sermitsiaq
5. ^ ^{a b c} Greenland Tourism a/s. Vandrekort Nordgrønland, Ilulissat (Map). Cartography by Compukort, Denmark (1996 ed.). 
6. ^ Qeqertarsuup Tunua, Saga Map, 1:250.000, Tage Schjøtt, 1992
7. ^ ^{a b} Sermitsiaq, 2010/03/04
8. ^ venture.gl
9. ^ "Booking system". Air Greenland. http://book.airgreenland.com/. Retrieved 6 July 2010. 
10. ^ Diskoline timetable
11. ^ ^{a b} Statistics Greenland