Kapisillit is a settlement in the Sermersooq municipality in southwestern Greenland. In 2020, the settlement had 52 inhabitants.[2] Kapisillit means the salmon in the Greenlandic language (Danish: laksen).[3] The name refers to the belief that the only spawning-ground for salmon in Greenland is a river near the settlement.[4]

Kapisillit
Kapisillit is located in Greenland
Kapisillit
Kapisillit
Location within Greenland
Coordinates: 64°26′10″N 50°16′10″W / 64.43611°N 50.26944°W / 64.43611; -50.26944
State Kingdom of Denmark
Constituent country Greenland
Municipality Sermersooq
Government
 • MayorMorten Johnsen
Population
 (2020)
 • Total52
Time zoneUTC-03
Postal code
3900 Nuuk

Geography edit

Kapisillit is located 75 km (47 mi) northeast of Nuuk, near the head of Kapisillit Kangerluaq,[5] one of the tributary fjords of the 160 km (99.4 mi) long,[6] Nuup Kangerlua, the longest fjord on the Labrador Sea coast of Greenland, and one of the longest in the inhabited part of the country.[6]

Economy edit

The inhabitants mostly subsist on hunting, fishing and tourism. The settlement has its own school, church, and grocery store.

Transport edit

Transport to Kapisillit is done by boat. Helicopter is sometimes used. There is no road from outside to Kapisillit, although there are plans to build a simple road from Nuuk to Kapisillit.[7]

Population edit

The population of Kapisillit has declined by nearly a third relative to the 2000 levels, levelling off since.[8]

Kapisillit population decline dynamics in the last two decades. Source: Statistics Greenland[8]

References edit

  1. ^ Sermersooq Municipality Archived 2010-05-06 at the Wayback Machine (in Danish)
  2. ^ "Population by Localities". Statistical Greenland.
  3. ^ O'Carroll, Etain (2005). Greenland and the Arctic. Lonely Planet. p. 94. ISBN 1-74059-095-3.
  4. ^ "Settlements". Nuuk Tourism. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  5. ^ O'Carroll, Etain (2005). Greenland and the Arctic. Lonely Planet. p. 154. ISBN 1-74059-095-3.
  6. ^ a b "TIL OPPLYSNING". Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  7. ^ Kapisillit-vej skal booste turismen
  8. ^ a b Statistics Greenland Archived 2011-08-12 at the Wayback Machine