Nuugaatsiaq (old spelling: Nûgâtsiaq) is a settlement in the Avannaata municipality, in northwestern Greenland, located on an island off the southern coast of Sigguup Nunaa peninsula, in the Uummannaq Fjord basin. It had 84 inhabitants in 2010.[1]

Nuugaatsiaq
Nuugaatsiaq after the 2017 tsunami
Nuugaatsiaq Location within Greenland
Coordinates: 71°32′06″N 53°12′45″W
State	Kingdom of Denmark
Constituent country	Greenland
Municipality	Avannaata
Population  (2010)
• Total	84
Time zone	UTC-03
Postal code	3961 Uummannaq

History

On 17 June 2017, a landslide measuring 300 m × 1,100 m (980 ft × 3,610 ft) fell about 1 km (3,300 ft) into the Karrak fiord, causing a tsunami that hit Nuugaatsiaq.[2][3] Four people were killed, nine injured and eleven buildings were washed into the water.[2][3][4][5] In the beginning the tsunami had a height of 90 m (300 ft), but it was significantly lower once it hit the settlement.[3] Initially it was unclear if the landslide was caused by a small earthquake (magnitude 4),[2][5] but later it was confirmed that the landslide had caused the tremors.[3] The town was largely abandoned following the tsunami.[6]

Transport

Air Greenland serves the village as part of government contract, with mostly cargo helicopter flights from Nuugaatsiaq Heliport to Illorsuit and Uummannaq.[7]

Royal Arctic Line also serves the village by ship. This sea link connects Nuugaatsiaq, and other villages on Uummannaq Fjord to Aasiaat.[8]

Population

The population of Nuugaatsiaq has dropped by over 16 percent relative to the 2000 levels, reflecting a general trend in the region.[9] A November 2015 edition of National Geographic reported about 80 inhabitants, with many houses in the village empty.[10]

Nuugaatsiaq population growth dynamics in the last two decades. Source: Statistics Greenland[9]

References

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[ru] Нугатсиак