Jakobshavn Glacier, Outlet glacier in Avannaata, Greenland.
Jakobshavn is an outlet glacier in Avannaata that stretches over 65 kilometers and reaches more than 1.5 kilometers in thickness at some points. It flows from the Greenland ice sheet into Ilulissat Icefjord, where the ice calves into the sea and forms thousands of icebergs.
The glacier was first documented scientifically in 1851 when European explorers noted its extraordinary flow speed. Seismologists later confirmed that the ice can travel up to 40 meters per day, making it one of the fastest moving glaciers in the world.
The Greenlandic name Sermeq Kujalleq translates to "southern glacier" and refers to its position within Disko Bay. Visitors observe from shore how the ice calves into the sea with audible cracking sounds, sending huge blocks tumbling into the water.
Most travelers view the glacier from the icefjord, either by boat or from lookout points along the coast near Ilulissat. Conditions are best during summer when daylight lasts longer and icebergs in the water are more visible.
Satellite measurements show that the glacier has accelerated over recent decades, with its flow speed doubling. This change makes it a focus for international climate studies trying to predict future shifts in Arctic ice.
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