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Ilulissat, ‘The
Icebergs’ in Greenlandic, with it’s 5000
inhabitants, is the capital of Northern Greenland and
is situated in the Disco Bay, alongside the world’s
most productive glacier. The glacier produces 20.000
tons of ice daily. Just beside the Glacier lies
the ancient town of Sermerimiut, ‘the people by
the ice’, which is considered one of the most
important settlements in Greenland.
Archeological excavations
prove that Sermerimiut has been inhabited since the
first Palaeo-Eskimos (Inuits) arrived in Greenland,
4500 years ago. It was ‘discovered’ when
the first Danish traders entered the ice fiord in 1727.
In 1979, the Home Rule Act was passed by the Danish
Government and the ICC (Inuit Circumpolar Conference),
which was an important step to reestablish an independent
identity and self governing responsibility. The Home
Rule Act’s main focus lies in sustainable wildlife
and tourism. The best example is Ilulissat, which 80%
of Greenland tourists visit.
In 2004 the Ilulissat glacier became a UNESCO world
heritage site.
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Related
links:
http://whc.unesco.org/
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