South Greenland tour
Here's a large series of images from Flickr user charlton_b, who flew over Greenland in early March, 2006. The pictures present a cross-section of southern Greenland, from east to west, spanning a distance of about 340 kilometers. The first image starts off the eastern coast of Greenland, looking north. At the extreme lower left is the mouth of the Anoritûp Kangerdlua fjord; halfway up the image is the Napassorssuaq Fjord. At the lower right is the Qunaranaq cape.
The next image presents a wider view of the mouth of the Anoritûp Kangerdlua fjord. In the extreme lower left is the cape known as Taterat Kangerssuasiat.
A little further inland, this image shows the Igutsat Fjord in the foreground, and the Anoritûp Kangerdlua fjord at center. The Igutsat fjord transitions from open water at right to a section choked with floating ice to the left of center. At the far left is the Igutsat glacier, which feeds into the head of the fjord.
Still further inland, we now see the Igutsat Glacier in the foreground, and the Anoritûp Kangerdlua Glacier at center. Note also the inland icecap in the background, stretching off into the distance.
Here's a close-up view of the surface texture of the Igutsat Glacier. The surface of the slowly-moving glacier folds and ruptures as it flows downhill toward the sea.
The next image presents a wider view of the edge of the icecap in South Greenland, looking north. The isolated mountains poking through the icecap in the foreground are nunataks, while in the background are larger mountain ranges.
We now proceed about 75 kilometers west, having crossed over the southernmost tongue of the inland icecap, which lies in the background here and to our right. This image shows the glaciers flowing west out of the edge of this tongue of the icecap. The largest of these is the Qôrqup Sermia glacier, seen here flowing from right to left just above center.
Here we see the terminus of the eastern branch of the Qôrqup Sermia glacier, as it flows into the large lake at lower left.
And here's the terminus of the western branch of the Qôrqup Sermia glacier. Note the texture of the glacier's surface, similar to that seen in earlier photos. Note also the postion of the terminus relative to the image in the Google Earth screenshot. The glacier terminus in the photograph has retreated about 250 meters from its postion in the Google Earth screenshot.
The next image shows the Eqalorutsit Kangigdlît Sermiat glacier flowing from right to left along the edge of the inland icecap.
Here's another view of the Eqalorutsit Kangigdlît Sermiat glacier, along with the northern tip of Gannet Bay in the foreground.
Slightly further west, we see the terminus of the Eqalorutsit Kangigdlît Sermiat glacier. Its position matches that in the Google Earth screenshot.
Here's a closer look at the terminus of the Eqalorutsit Kangigdlît Sermiat glacier.
As we move further west, we see the northern portion of the Nordre Sermilik fjord. The branch at right leads to the Eqalorutsit Kangigdlît Sermiat that we have seen in the previous few images, and is choked with icebergs calved from that glacier.
The two-pronged Eqalorutsit Kitdlît Sermiat glacier flows south into the Nordre Sermilik fjord, with a dumbbell-shaped rock formation between the two branches of the glacier. This rock formation is about 10 kilometers long.
A closer look at the western branch of the Eqalorutsit Kitdlît Sermiat glacier.
We now travel another 75 kilometers west, across another expanse of open ice, and reach the western edge of the icecap. In the western portion of South Greenland, there are about 50-75 kilometers of open land, cut by many fjords, between the edge of the icecap and the sea, which can be seen in the background here toward the left.
Another view of the icecap edge.
The next three images show views of glaciers stretching west from the edge of the icecap.
Slightly further west, we see the long, winding Ivigtut Fjord, fed by a glacier at the far right.
Here we see a wider portion of the Ivigtut Fjord, with Ellerslie Bay visible at center.
We've now reached Greenland's western coast, with the waters of the Labrador Sea visible at left. The coastline in this region is complex, with many fjords, capes, and peninsulas. The large mountain in the foreground here is Kungnat; to its left is the semi-circular Paatusoq Bay.
A closer look at Kungnat Mountain and Paatusoq Bay.
As we proceed further offshore, we see here Sermersuut Island, at left just above center.
A close look at Arsuk Uummannaq Island, with Sermersuut Island in the background.
Another look at Sermersuut Island.
This is the low-lying island of Nunannguit, between Sermersuut and Arsuk Uummannaq islands. Note the swirling patterns of floating ice in the water, carried by ocean currents and tidal flows.
The final image shows the western tip of Sermersuut Island, with the rugged East Greenland coastline stretching north into the distance.
Photos taken: March 2, 2006
Photos by: charlton_b
Route: $route
