Nuuk, Capital city in southwest Greenland
The capital sits at the mouth of the Nuup Kangerlua fjord, ringed by mountains and facing the Labrador Sea at roughly 5 meters above sea level. Colorful wooden houses spread across several low hills along the rocky coastline, creating a clear contrast against the gray bedrock and often overcast sky.
Hans Egede founded the settlement in 1721 as Godthåb, turning a small trading post into the administrative hub of Greenland. After the Second World War the place grew quickly and became the capital when Greenland gained home rule in 1979.
Residents treat the capital as a gathering point for Greenlandic traditions, where subsistence hunting still plays a role alongside office work and urban routines. Locals celebrate birthdays and confirmations through kaffemik, an open-house custom that invites neighbors to drop in for coffee and cake throughout the day.
Air Greenland offers direct flights from Copenhagen and Keflavik to the airport, located roughly 4 kilometers from downtown. The place is easy to explore on foot because most points of interest sit close together and the streets are manageable.
The national museum displays mummies from the 15th century that were found in a nearby settlement and preserved remarkably well by the dry cold. Visitors can walk among historic timber buildings in the colonial harbor, dating from the Danish trading era and now housing craft shops and workshops.
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