Saturday 7 July 2012

Ilulissat: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Photo © Mark McDermott
In Ilulissat there is something for everyone. Restaurants, gift shops, cafés, helicopter excursions to the glacier Sermeq Kujalleq, boat trips to Kangia (Ice Fjord) and hikes to Sermermiut.

Despite the rain that fell off and on for most of the day it seemed like almost everyone saw the Ice Fjord in one way or another. The only thing the rain and low lying clouds truly put a damper on were the helicopter trips to see the head of the Fjord but everything else went as scheduled.


Photo © Mark McDermott

The views at Sermermiut were spectacular. A river of ice stretched as far as the eye could see. Sermec Kujalleq glaciar moves 19 metres a day which produces 35 cubic kilometres of ice/year. Witnessing all of the ice at Sermermiut it seemed as if the glaciar had been working overtime. It is really an awe inspiring sight whether it is from the sea or from the banks of the fjord. Many people managed to do both.


Photo © Andrew Wenzel

By 19:30 we were all back aboard the Fram. As we lifted the anchor and began our journey further south towards Itilleq the clouds began to part and the sun shone once again.
In the evening at 22:00 we were entertained by the crew show. We have many talented people working on board. There was Philipino folk dancing, many songs (mostly ballads) and Fram’s version of the Chippendales - The Sex Ball Dancers!

Photo © Andrew Wenzel

Now it is 21:00. It is largely overcast but once and a while the sun throws a shaft of light through the clouds which illuminates the icebergs like a giant spot light. Beautiful.