Sarfannguit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarfannguit
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Sarfannguit-nunataat
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 Sarfannguit
Location in Greenland
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| State |  Kingdom of Denmark |
| Constituent country |  Greenland |
| Municipality |  Qeqqata |
| Founded | 1843 |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 96 |
| Time zone | UTC-03 |
| Postal code |
3911 Sisimiut
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| Type: | Cultural |
| Criteria: | v |
| Designated: | 2018 (42nd session) |
| Part of: | Aasivissuit – Nipisat: Inuit Hunting Ground between Ice and Sea |
| Reference #: | 1557 |
Sarfannguit (also spelled Sarfannguaq) is a small community in central-western Greenland. It is part of the Qeqqata municipality. In 2020, about 96 people lived there.
This settlement was started in 1843. Sarfannguit is special because it is located inside a UNESCO World Heritage Site called Aasivissuit – Nipisat. This site was added to the World Heritage List in 2018. It is important because it has amazing old places that show how people have lived in Greenland for over 4,000 years.
Contents
Where is Sarfannguit Located?
Sarfannguit is found on an island that shares its name. It is about 36 kilometers (22 miles) east of Sisimiut, a larger town. The community faces the main land of Greenland across a narrow water passage called Imartuninnguaq Strait. This strait is only about 200 meters (656 feet) wide at this point.
The strait opens into the Amerloq Fjord to the west. A fjord is a long, narrow sea inlet between high cliffs. The Amerloq Fjord then flows into the Davis Strait, which is a large body of water. To the south, the Ikertooq Fjord borders the island.
What is the Economy Like?
Sarfannguit is known for having the first wind turbine in Greenland. This wind turbine was built in 2010. It is 10 meters (33 feet) tall. The turbine helps the village save a lot of fuel, about 6,000 liters (1,585 gallons) of petrol each month. This shows how the community is using renewable energy.
How Do People Travel to Sarfannguit?
Getting There by Air
The closest airport is Sisimiut Airport, located in Sisimiut. From there, you can fly to other towns like Ilulissat, Kangerlussuaq, Maniitsoq, and Nuuk. These flights are operated by Air Greenland.
There are no regular helicopter services to the small communities along the Davis Strait in this area. However, Sarfannguit does have a small, round helipad for helicopters. It is about 20 meters (66 feet) across and has a gravel surface.
Getting There by Sea
Royal Arctic Line provides weekly ferry services to Sarfannguit. These ferries connect the community to Itilleq and Sisimiut. Sisimiut is also a stop for the Arctic Umiaq Line, which is a larger ferry service. This larger ferry connects to towns in the Disko Bay region, like Ilulissat and Aasiaat, and to other coastal towns in southwestern and southern Greenland.
Getting There by Land
There are no roads that directly reach Sarfannguit. There has been talk for many years about building a road between Sisimiut and Kangerlussuaq, which would connect Sarfannguit. However, this road has not been built yet.
In winter, people often use snowmobiles to travel to Sisimiut. Sisimiut is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) away from Sarfannguit.
See Also
In Spanish: Sarfannguit para niños
