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Experience the Birth of a Glacier at the Ilulissat Icefjord
Published by Catherine O'Halloran, Writer
Country: Greenland 
The Experience
Iceland is known for many things, one of which should be the Ilulissat Icefjord, locally known as Ilulissat Kangerlua. A fjord is a narrow, long and usually deep inlet of sea which runs between steep cliffs or slopes. The Ilulissat Icefjord is located on Greenland’s’ western coast. It runs 40 kilometers west, starting at the Greenland ice sheet and ending close to the town of Ilulissat.
On the eastern tip of this icefjord, there is the Jakobshavn Isbræ (also known as Sermeq Kujalleq) glacier. This is the most productive or active glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Scientists have studied Jakobshavn Isbræ for the past 250 years. It has contributed to current conclusions and findings regarding climate change. Every year, roughly 20 billion tones of icebergs fall or are calved from Jakobshavn Isbræ glacier and pass out of the fjord into the open ocean. The taller glaciers can be up to a kilometer in height. These large glaciers are too tall to float easily out of the Ilulissat Icefjord and so, they become lodged within the fjord. Some glaciers can stay in this position for years before they are eventually broken up by water or collisions from smaller icebergs making their way down the fjord. Any glaciers that flow out of the Ilulissat Icefjord end up in the Atlantic Ocean. The larger glaciers will not begin to melt until they have reached waters roughly level in latitude with New York City.
In the year 2004, the Ilulissat Icefjord was declared to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It achieved this impressive title for several reasons. The Ilulissat Icefjord is said to be an exceptional example of the last ice age. The presence of the Jakobshavn Isbræ glacier adds to the Ilulissat Icefjord’s unique appeal being the most productive and fastest moving glacier in half of the planet. The visual aspect of a massive, swiftly moving glacier being separated into smaller icebergs is a sight only occurring in two places on Earth – Greenland and Antarctica. Ilulissat Icefjord provides a clear, distinctive and breathtaking view to both scientists and visitors.
The dazzling sight of a glacier strewn fjord and the echoing sounds of new glaciers calving from their larger birth place is a phenomenon not to be missed.
On the eastern tip of this icefjord, there is the Jakobshavn Isbræ (also known as Sermeq Kujalleq) glacier. This is the most productive or active glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Scientists have studied Jakobshavn Isbræ for the past 250 years. It has contributed to current conclusions and findings regarding climate change. Every year, roughly 20 billion tones of icebergs fall or are calved from Jakobshavn Isbræ glacier and pass out of the fjord into the open ocean. The taller glaciers can be up to a kilometer in height. These large glaciers are too tall to float easily out of the Ilulissat Icefjord and so, they become lodged within the fjord. Some glaciers can stay in this position for years before they are eventually broken up by water or collisions from smaller icebergs making their way down the fjord. Any glaciers that flow out of the Ilulissat Icefjord end up in the Atlantic Ocean. The larger glaciers will not begin to melt until they have reached waters roughly level in latitude with New York City.
In the year 2004, the Ilulissat Icefjord was declared to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It achieved this impressive title for several reasons. The Ilulissat Icefjord is said to be an exceptional example of the last ice age. The presence of the Jakobshavn Isbræ glacier adds to the Ilulissat Icefjord’s unique appeal being the most productive and fastest moving glacier in half of the planet. The visual aspect of a massive, swiftly moving glacier being separated into smaller icebergs is a sight only occurring in two places on Earth – Greenland and Antarctica. Ilulissat Icefjord provides a clear, distinctive and breathtaking view to both scientists and visitors.
The dazzling sight of a glacier strewn fjord and the echoing sounds of new glaciers calving from their larger birth place is a phenomenon not to be missed.
When to Go to Ilulissat Icefjord
While the Ilulissat Icefjord is not in any danger of disappearing, the rate at which the Jakobshavn Isbræ melts might increase as global temperature increases. Still, it is a massive ice sheet and will still be there for many years to come.
Greenland is not particularly warm, so summer might be a more preferable visiting time than winter. The glacier 'calving' takes places mostly in the summer, so to witness that spectacle, book a trip in the summer months.
Greenland is not particularly warm, so summer might be a more preferable visiting time than winter. The glacier 'calving' takes places mostly in the summer, so to witness that spectacle, book a trip in the summer months.
Odds n' Ends
Dress warmly and bring a lot of layers. You never know what the weather will be like.
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- Unesco World Heritage List
- Located on the west coast of Greenland, 250 km north of the Arctic Circle, Greenland’s Ilulissat Icefjord (40,240 ha) is the sea mouth of Sermeq Kujalleq, one of the few glaciers through which the Greenland ice cap reaches the sea.
- Greenland.com Ilulissat Icefjord
- In addition to being Greenland's biggest natural attraction owing to the fjord's gigantic icebergs, Ilulissat Icefjord is also an easy place to observe that a significant retreat of glaciers is indeed taking place in Greenland.
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