Maniitsoq facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maniitsoq
Sukkertoppen
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Town
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Maniitsoq
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 Maniitsoq
Location in Greenland
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| State |  Kingdom of Denmark |
| Constituent country |  Greenland |
| Municipality |  Qeqqata |
| Founded | 1782 |
| Population | |
| • Total | 2,534 |
| Time zone | UTC-03 |
| Postal code |
3912
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| Website | maniitsoq.gl |
Maniitsoq (IPA: [maniːtsːɔq]) is a town in western Greenland. It is located on Maniitsoq Island. The town is part of the Qeqqata municipality.
As of 2020, Maniitsoq has 2,534 people living there. This makes it the sixth-largest town in Greenland.
Contents
History of Maniitsoq
People have lived in the Maniitsoq area for a very long time. Scientists have found signs that people were here over 4,000 years ago.
The modern town was started in 1782. It was founded by Danish settlers. They moved here from an older trading post called Sukkertoppen. That first trading post was set up in 1755. It was located where Kangaamiut is today. Over time, the town went back to its original name, Maniitsoq.
In the 1800s, Maniitsoq was an important place for trade. The Royal Greenland Trading Department used it to trade reindeer hides.
Maniitsoq used to have its own local government. This was called Maniitsoq Municipality. Now, it is part of the larger Qeqqata Municipality.
Industries in Maniitsoq
There have been talks about building a large factory in Maniitsoq. This factory would make aluminium. The company Alcoa has been thinking about building it here or in Sisimiut. These plans have been discussed since 2008.
If built, the factory could create many jobs. It might employ 600 to 700 people. This is more than 1% of all the people in Greenland. Because this decision is very important for the town, many meetings were held. People from Maniitsoq and the Greenland government talked about it. They wanted to make sure everyone's concerns were heard. They discussed how the factory might affect the environment and the community.
Travel and Transport
Getting to Maniitsoq by Air
Maniitsoq has an airport. Air Greenland offers flights from here. You can fly to Nuuk, Kangerlussuaq, and Sisimiut.
Getting to Maniitsoq by Sea
Maniitsoq is also a stop for the Arctic Umiaq ferry. This ferry travels along the coast.
Population Changes
Maniitsoq had 2,534 people living there in 2020. The number of people living in Maniitsoq has been going down for a long time. The town has lost almost 15% of its people since 1990. It has lost nearly 9% since 2000.
People from smaller towns often move away. For example, many people are leaving Kangaamiut. They often choose to move to Sisimiut or Nuuk, the capital. Some even move to Denmark. They usually do not move to Maniitsoq. Only Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut in the Qeqqata municipality have been growing steadily.
Famous People from Maniitsoq
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- Germaine Arnaktauyok (born 1946), an Inuk artist who makes prints, paintings, and drawings.
- Mimi Karlsen (born 1957), a politician.
- Sofie Petersen (born 1955), a Lutheran Bishop of Greenland.
- Rasmus Lyberth (born 1951), a singer and actor.
- Thue Christiansen (1940–2022), the person who designed the flag of Greenland. He was also an artist.
Maniitsoq in Books
The book The Prophets of Eternal Fjord by Kim Leine is set in Sukkertoppen. This is the old name for Maniitsoq.
The Maniitsoq Structure
The Maniitsoq structure is a very old rock formation. It is thought to be about 3 billion years old. It is located about 55 kilometers (34 miles) southeast of Maniitsoq town.
Some scientists believe it was formed by a giant meteorite hitting Earth. This idea was first suggested in 2012. However, other scientists disagree. The Earth Impact Database does not officially recognize it as an impact structure.
Some studies have found no proof of a meteorite impact. They say that other things found there do not match the idea of an impact. But a study from 2023 looked at tiny parts of rocks called zircon grains. These grains came from the Maniitsoq structure. The study found special marks on them. These marks are usually seen in rocks from known impact sites. These marks were not found in rocks from other areas. This suggests the impact idea might be correct.
Sister Cities
Maniitsoq has special connections with other cities around the world. These are called twin towns or sister cities.
See also
In Spanish: Maniitsoq para niños
