Rink Glacier, Tidewater glacier in Avannaata, Greenland
Rink Glacier (Greenlandic: Kangilliup Sermia; Danish: Rink Isbræ) is the largest glacier on Greenland's west coast. It drains 30,182 km² of the Greenland Ice Sheet and ends in Karrat Fjord, Nordost Bay, Baffin Bay. In 1996 its ice flux was measured at 12.1 km³ per year.
The glacier was named after Danish geologist Hinrich Johannes Rink, who conducted extensive research across Greenland in the 1800s. His work during that era greatly advanced understanding of the region's geography and ice formations.
The glacier's Greenlandic name, Kangilliup Sermia, and its Danish name, Rink Isbræ, both appear on maps and in scientific literature. The Danish name honours Hinrich Johannes Rink, a Danish geologist who studied Greenland; the Greenlandic name is the form used locally. The glacier ends in the Karrat Fjord, in Nordost Bay.
The area can only be visited with specialized equipment and experienced guides, as conditions are challenging and the location is remote. The best time to explore is during warmer months when the sea has less ice coverage.
A 1933 study found Rink Glacier was then the fastest and highest glacier in the world. Anker Weidick and Ole Bennike reported in 2007 that it ranks second or third in iceberg production in western Greenland, behind one or two other glaciers.
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