Itissaalik Island (old spelling: Itivsâlik) is a small, uninhabited island located in Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland.

Itissaalik Island
Itissaalik Island
Itissaalik Island is located in Greenland
Itissaalik Island
Itissaalik Island
Geography
LocationGreenland
Coordinates74°04′50″N 56°43′00″W / 74.08056°N 56.71667°W / 74.08056; -56.71667
ArchipelagoUpernavik Archipelago
Administration
Greenland
MunicipalityAvannaata

History edit

Itissaalik Island was inhabited, although not continuously. Between 1904 and 1909, a small settlement of the same name (also spelled Itussaalik) was established on the island. It was repopulated again in 1911, and finally abandoned in 1957, during the post-war consolidation phase in northwestern Greenland.[1]

Geography edit

Itissaalik Island is located in the northern part of Upernavik Archipelago, in the northern part of Sugar Loaf Bay, an indentation of Baffin Bay.[2] The island is part of a chain of small islands off the southern coast of Nuussuaq Peninsula. Other islands in the chain include Sugar Loaf Island, Timilersua Island, and Saarlia to the southwest of Itissaalik − and Paornarqortuut and Inussulikassak to the northeast.[2] The closest settlement is Nuussuaq, approximately 10 km (6.2 mi) to the west-north-west of the island.

References edit

  1. ^ Petersen, Robert (2003). Settlements, kinship and hunting grounds in traditional Greenland: A comparative study of local experiences from Upernavik and Ammassalik. Danish Polar Center. pp. 106, 108. ISBN 978-87-635-1261-9.
  2. ^ a b Upernavik Avannarleq, Saga Map, Tage Schjøtt, 1992