View source for Ilulissat

{{Short description|City in Greenland}}
{{redirect|Jakobshavn|the glacier|Jakobshavn Glacier}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Ilulissat
| other_name         = Jakobshavn
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage
|photo1a=The colors from Ilulissat - Greenland. - panoramio.jpg
|photo1b=Ilulissat, Greenland aerial view.jpg
|photo2a=Sailing in the Icefjord.jpg
|photo3a=Rasmussenhaus.JPG
|photo3b=Ilulissat 4 Eglise Groenland 2009 Expédition ACarré.JPG
|size=300
|position=center
|color=	white
}}
| image_caption      = From upper left: Illumiut neighbourhood, Aerial view, [[Ilulissat Icefjord]], [[Knud Rasmussen's Museum]], Zion's Church
| image_flag         = Flag of Ilulissat.svg
| blank_flag_type    = 
| blank_flag_size    = 
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_type  = Coat of arms
| blank_emblem_size  = 100px
| blank_emblem_link  = [[Avannaata]]
| pushpin_map        = Greenland#North Atlantic#Arctic
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within [[Greenland]]
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| image_map          = 
| image_map1         = 
| image_shield       = Coat of arms Ilulissat.svg
| shield_size        = 
| subdivision_type   = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name   = {{Flag|Kingdom of Denmark|size=25px}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Countries of the Kingdom of Denmark|Autonomous territory]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{Flag|Greenland}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[Administrative divisions of Greenland|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Avannaata]]
| established_title  = First mention
| established_date   = 15th century
| established_title1 = [[Town privileges|City Status]]
| established_date1  = 16th century
| area_total_km2     = 11.25
| area_metro_km2     = 47.00
| area_footnotes     = <ref>
  {{cite web
  | url = http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Geografi_og_historie/Grønland/Grønlandske_kommuner/Ilulissat_Kommune
  | title = Den Store Danske: Areal fordelt efter kommune / region
  | publisher = Naatsorsueqqissaartarfik
  | access-date =23 January 2014
  }}</ref>
| population_footnotes = <ref>
  {{cite web
  | url = http://bank.stat.gl/Dialog/footnote.asp?lang=4&ti=Befolkningen+i+distrikterne+1%2E+januar+efter+omr%E5de%2C+bosted%2C+alder%2C+k%F8n+og+f%F8dested+1977%2D2014&File=BEDST3201421620825.px&path=../temp&noofvar=4
  | title = Naatsorsueqqissaartarfik: Ilulissat City/Settlements (Ilulissat Municipality, Qaasuitsup Kommunia), 2014 (table: BEDST3)
  | publisher = Statistics Greenland
  | access-date =14 February 2014
  }}</ref>
| population_as_of   = 2025 
| population_total   = 5149
| population_blank2_title = Ethnicity
| population_blank2  = 90.98% [[Greenlanders|Greenlandic]]<br/>9.02% [[Demographics of Greenland|Other]]<ref name="BEDST3">Naatsorsueqqissaartarfik: [http://bank.stat.gl/BEDST3 Naatsorsueqqissaartarfik], table ''BEDST3'', period ''2014''</ref>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_metro_km2 = 103.5
| timezone1          = [[Western Greenland Time]]
| utc_offset1        = −02:00
| timezone1_DST      = [[Western Greenland Summer Time]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = −01:00
| elevation_min_m    = 1
| elevation_max_m    = 2010
| area_code          = (+299) 94
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = 3952
| coordinates        = {{coord|69|13|N|51|06|W|type:city(4893)_region:GL|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| website            = 
}}

'''Ilulissat''', also known as '''Jakobshavn''' or '''Jacobshavn''', is the municipal seat and largest town of the [[Avannaata]] [[municipalities of Greenland|municipality]]  in western [[Greenland]], located approximately {{convert|350|km|abbr=on}} north of the [[Arctic Circle]]. With a population of 5,149 as of 2025,<ref name="population">{{cite web|title = Population by Localities|url = https://bank.stat.gl/pxweb/en/Greenland/Greenland__BE__BE01__BE0120/BEXST4.PX/table/tableViewLayout1/?rxid=27d6ab46-03f8-43bd-868c-24a2a5a0a8e0|publisher = Statistical Greenland|access-date = 7 April 2020|archive-date = 26 July 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200726135012/https://bank.stat.gl/pxweb/en/Greenland/Greenland__BE__BE01__BE0120/BEXST4.PX/table/tableViewLayout1/?rxid=27d6ab46-03f8-43bd-868c-24a2a5a0a8e0|url-status = dead}}</ref> it is the [[list of cities in Greenland|third-largest city]] in Greenland, after [[Nuuk]] and [[Sisimiut]]. 
The city is home to almost as many sled-dogs as people.

In direct translation, Ilulissat is the [[Greenlandic language|Greenlandic]] word for "Icebergs" ({{langx|da|Isbjerge}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qaasuitsup.gl/en/Om-kommunen/Cities-and-settlements/Ilulissat|publisher=Qaasuitsup Municipality|title=Ilulissat|access-date=11 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602185819/http://www.qaasuitsup.gl/en/Om-kommunen/Cities-and-settlements/Ilulissat|archive-date=2 June 2012}}</ref> The nearby [[Ilulissat Icefjord]] is a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]],<ref>{{cite web|title=21 World Heritage Sites you have probably never heard of|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10999939/21-World-Heritage-Sites-you-have-probably-never-heard-of.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=4 February 2016 }}</ref> and has made Ilulissat the most popular tourist destination in Greenland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kangia.gl/en/Fakta%20om%20Isfjorden/Ilulissat%20idag|title=Ilulissat Icefjord|publisher=Qaasuitsup Municipality |access-date=11 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130213145214/http://www.kangia.gl/en/Fakta%20om%20Isfjorden/Ilulissat%20idag|archive-date=2013-02-13}}</ref> Tourism is now the town's principal industry.
The city neighbours the Ilulissat Icefjord, where there are enormous icebergs from the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere.

==History==
[[File:The Lutheran church at Jacobshaven.jpg|thumb|The Lutheran church, photographed in 1869]]
The town was established as a trading post by [[Jacob Severin]]'s company in 1741; it was named in his honor<ref name="ole!">Marquardt, Ole. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=FZQcjsSitEcC&pg=PA149 Change and Continuity in Denmark's Greenland Policy]" in ''The Oldenburg Monarchy: An Underestimated Empire?''. Verlag Ludwig (Kiel), 2006.</ref><ref name="BibNar">Kjærgaard, Kathrine (2010). "[http://www.ilisimatusarfik.gl/Portals/0/Ekstern/Generelt/Dokumenter/Gr%C3%B8nland%20som%20del%20af%20den%20bibelske%20fort%C3%A6lling%20-%20Ph.d.-afhandling.pdf ''Grønland som del af den bibelske fortælling – en 1700-tals studie''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715044721/http://www.ilisimatusarfik.gl/Portals/0/Ekstern/Generelt/Dokumenter/Gr%C3%B8nland%20som%20del%20af%20den%20bibelske%20fort%C3%A6lling%20-%20Ph.d.-afhandling.pdf |date=15 July 2012 }}" ["Greenland as Part of the Biblical Narrative &ndash; a Study of the 18th Century"]. ''Kirkehistoriske Samlinger'', 51-130. {{in lang|da}}</ref> after the [[Battle of Jacobshavn]].

The Zion Church (''Zions Kirke'') was built in the late 18th century; it was the largest man-made structure in Greenland at the time.<ref name="BibNar"/> The final resident of nearby [[Sermermiut]] moved to Ilulissat in 1850.<ref>''Guide to Ilulissat Museum'', Ilulissat Museum</ref>

===Ilulissat Declaration===
{{main|Ilulissat Declaration}}
The town was the site of the [[Arctic Ocean Conference]] in May 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://arctic-council.org/article/2008/5/conference_on_the_arctic_ocean |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820072237/http://arctic-council.org/article/2008/5/conference_on_the_arctic_ocean |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-08-20 |title=Conference on the Arctic Ocean |access-date=2008-06-06 |author=Arctic Council |date=2008-05-26 |publisher=arctic-council.org }}</ref> The joint meeting between [[Canada]], Denmark, [[Norway]], [[Russia]], and the [[United States]] was held to discuss key issues relating to [[territorial claims in the Arctic]] (particularly [[Hans Island]] - eventually settled in 2022<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hopper |first=Tristin |date=2022-06-13 |title=Canada to get new land border with Denmark as decades-long Hans Island dispute ends |language=en |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canada-to-get-new-land-border-with-denmark-as-decades-long-hans-island-dispute-ends |access-date=2022-06-18}}</ref> -, and [[Arktika 2007]]) and [[Arctic shrinkage]] produced by [[climate change]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL2725401820080527 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719021601/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL2725401820080527 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 July 2012 |title=Greenland hosts Arctic sovereignty talks |work=[[Reuters]]|date=27 May 2008 |access-date=5 October 2010}}</ref>

The Ilulissat Declaration arose from the conference. It stated that the law of the sea provided for important rights and obligations concerning the delineation of the outer limits of the [[continental shelf]], the protection of the marine environment (including ice-covered areas), freedom of navigation, marine scientific research, and other uses of the sea. It also said that it remained committed to this legal framework and to the orderly settlement of any possible overlapping claims.

With this existing legal framework providing a solid foundation for responsible management, there was no need to develop a new comprehensive international legal regime to govern the Arctic Ocean. The states involved would continue the developments within the Arctic Ocean and continue to implement appropriate measures to further said developments.<ref name=declaration>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oceanlaw.org/downloads/arctic/Ilulissat_Declaration.pdf|publisher=Government of Greenland|title=Ilulissat Declaration|access-date=11 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310172346/http://www.oceanlaw.org/downloads/arctic/Ilulissat_Declaration.pdf|archive-date=10 March 2012|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

{{Wide image|Ilulissat panorama from SW large.jpg|900px|alt=Panorama of Ilulissat|A panoramic view at Ilulissat in 2024}}

===Hotel Ilulissat fire===
On 7 March 2021 at 20.12 (local time), a major fire broke out in Hotel Ilulissat, which at the time was still under construction. The fire and smoke was seen throughout the city. Police asked everyone in the area to stay home and keep their windows closed, until the fire fighters ended the fire. The police in [[Nuuk]] are to start an investigation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sermitsiaq.ag/hotel-ilulissat-staar-i-flammer|title=Hotel Ilulissat står i flammer|date=7 March 2021 |access-date=8 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sermitsiaq.ag/ilulissathotel-brand-slukket/|title=Ilulissat: Hotel-brand er slukket|date=8 March 2021 |access-date=8 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://knr.gl/da/nyheder/brand-i-ilulissat-gå-indenfor-og-luk-vinduer-og-ventilationsanlæg|title=Brand i Ilulissat: Gå indenfor og luk vinduer og ventilationsanlæg|access-date=8 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://knr.gl/da/nyheder/politi-hotelbrand-i-ilulissat-skal-nu-efterforskes|title=Politi: Hotelbrand i Ilulissat skal nu efterforskes|access-date=8 March 2021}}</ref>
Not long after the fire fighters arrived, a gas cylinder exploded. The explosion was heard throughout the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://knr.gl/da/nyheder/beredskabschef-varmeblæser-kan-være-årsag-til-brand-på-hotel-i-ilulissat|title=Beredskabschef: Varmeblæser kan være årsag til brand på hotel i Ilulissat|access-date=8 March 2021}}</ref>

==Geography==
Ilulissat lies on the eastern shore of [[Disko Bay]], just north of the [[Ilulissat Icefjord]] ({{langx|kl|Ilulissat Kangerlua}}), a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] since 2004.<ref name=unesco>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1149/|title=UNESCO Listing|access-date=11 August 2012}}</ref>

===Climate===
Ilulissat has a [[Tundra|tundra climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|ET]]) with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. Ilulissat is one of the driest settlements in Greenland, receiving only {{convert|271|mm|in|2|disp=or}} of precipitation. Ilulissat is also one of the sunniest settlements in Greenland, especially during summer. Interestingly, March is the coldest month in Ilulissat despite similar locations experiencing February as the coldest month of the year. March also holds the all-time record low temperature of {{convert|-37.8|°C|°F|disp=or}}.

{{Weather box|width = auto
|location = Ilulissat (normals 1991-2020, extremes 1961-2020)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan high C = -9.2
|Feb high C = -11.3
|Mar high C = -10.9
|Apr high C = -4.0
|May high C = 3.1
|Jun high C = 9.0
|Jul high C = 11.5
|Aug high C = 9.6
|Sep high C = 5.3
|Oct high C = -0.3
|Nov high C = −4.0
|Dec high C = −6.3
|Jan mean C = -12.6
|Feb mean C = -14.8
|Mar mean C = -14.5
|Apr mean C = -7.3
|May mean C = 0.3
|Jun mean C = 5.8
|Jul mean C = 8.3
|Aug mean C = 6.6
|Sep mean C = 2.6
|Oct mean C = -2.9
|Nov mean C = −7.0
|Dec mean C = −9.4
|Jan low C = −16.2
|Feb low C = −18.6
|Mar low C = −18.8
|Apr low C = -11.6
|May low C = -2.9
|Jun low C = 2.7
|Jul low C = 4.9
|Aug low C = 3.1
|Sep low C = -0.5
|Oct low C = -6.0
|Nov low C = −10.3
|Dec low C = −12.7
| Jan record high C = 12.2
| Feb record high C = 11.9
| Mar record high C = 12.0
| Apr record high C = 13.3
| May record high C = 17.2
| Jun record high C = 21.1
| Jul record high C = 21.7
| Aug record high C = 20.6
| Sep record high C = 18.5
| Oct record high C = 19.4
| Nov record high C = 15.3
| Dec record high C = 12.2
| year record high C = 
| Jan record low C = -34.5
| Feb record low C = -36.4
| Mar record low C = -40.5
| Apr record low C = -29.5
| May record low C = -22.2
| Jun record low C = -5.9
| Jul record low C = -1.5
| Aug record low C = -3.4
| Sep record low C = -13.8
| Oct record low C = -18.2
| Nov record low C = -27.5
| Dec record low C = -34.0
| year record low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 13.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 15.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 13.3
|Apr precipitation mm = 17.8
|May precipitation mm = 18.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 23.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 32.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 30.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 41.1
|Oct precipitation mm = 25.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 22.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 17.6
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days =  4.3
|Feb precipitation days =  4.0
|Mar precipitation days = 4.0
|Apr precipitation days =  5.0
|May precipitation days =  4.2
|Jun precipitation days =  4.8
|Jul precipitation days = 5.3
|Aug precipitation days =  5.4
|Sep precipitation days = 7.4
|Oct precipitation days = 5.3
|Nov precipitation days = 5.6
|Dec precipitation days = 5.0
| Jan humidity = 60.1
| Feb humidity = 62.9
| Mar humidity = 64.9
| Apr humidity = 65.5
| May humidity = 70.0
| Jun humidity = 71.6
| Jul humidity = 68.7
| Aug humidity = 70.7
| Sep humidity = 68.3
| Oct humidity = 63.6
| Nov humidity = 58.8
| Dec humidity = 61.0
|Jan sun= 0
|Feb sun= 28
|Mar sun= 93
|Apr sun= 180
|May sun= 279
|Jun sun= 300
|Jul sun= 279
|Aug sun= 217
|Sep sun= 120
|Oct sun= 62
|Nov sun= 30
|Dec sun= 0
|Jan percentsun = 0.0
|Feb percentsun = 13.2
|Mar percentsun = 25.8
|Apr percentsun = 37.4
|May percentsun = 41.7
|Jun percentsun = 41.7
|Jul percentsun = 38.4
|Aug percentsun = 39.3
|Sep percentsun = 30.1
|Oct percentsun = 21.9
|Nov percentsun = 23.3
|Dec percentsun = 0.0
|year percentsun = 
|source 1 = [[Danish Meteorological Institute]] (normals temperature 1991-2020, sun/precipitation 1961-1984)<ref name =DMI91-20web>{{Cite web |title=Klimanormaler Grønland |trans-title=Climate Norms for Greenland |url=https://www.dmi.dk/vejrarkiv/normaler-gronland/ |website=DMI|language=da|access-date=October 14, 2024 }}</ref><ref name = DMI91-20pdf>{{Cite web|title=Climatological Standard Normals 1991-2020 Greenland |url=https://www.dmi.dk/fileadmin/Rapporter/2021/DMI_report_21_12_Greenland.pdf |website=DMI|access-date=2023-03-01}}</ref><ref>[https://www.dmi.dk/vejrarkiv/normaler-gronland/ Danish Meteorological Institute]</ref>
|source 2 = World Climate Guide<ref name= WCG >{{cite web
  |url = http://www.worldclimateguide.co.uk/climateguides/greenland/ilulissat.php
  |title=World Climate Guide – Ilulissat
  |access-date=October 14, 2024
  |location=Woking, UK}}</ref>
}}

== Population ==
With 4,670 inhabitants in 2020, Ilulissat is the largest town in the Avannaata municipality. The population increased over 8% relative to 1990 levels but has remained steady since around 2003.<ref name="localpop">[[Statistics Greenland]], [http://bank.stat.gl/pxweb/en/Greenland/Greenland__BE__BE01__BE0120/BEXST3.PX/table/tableViewLayout1/?rxid=BEXSTM301-10-2018%2011:22:04 Population in districts and municipalities January 1st 1977-2020 BEEST3]{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

<timeline>
Colors=
  id:lightgrey value:gray(0.9)
  id:darkgrey  value:gray(0.8)
ImageSize  = width:1150 height:210
PlotArea   = height:150 left:50 bottom:50 right:50
AlignBars  = justify
DateFormat = x.y
Period     = from:0 till:4800
TimeAxis   = orientation:vertical
AlignBars  = justify
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:darkgrey increment:1000 start:0
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightgrey increment:200 start:0
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  color:yellowgreen width:38   mark:(line,white) align:center

  bar:1991 from:start till:4135 text:"4,135"
  bar:1992 from:start till:4156 text:"4,156"
  bar:1993 from:start till:4072 text:"4,072"
  bar:1994 from:start till:4057 text:"4,057"
  bar:1995 from:start till:4052 text:"4,052"
  bar:1996 from:start till:4086 text:"4,086"
  bar:1997 from:start till:4168 text:"4,168"
  bar:1998 from:start till:4159 text:"4,159"
  bar:1999 from:start till:4167 text:"4,167"
  bar:2000 from:start till:4199 text:"4,199"
  bar:2001 from:start till:4145 text:"4,145"
  bar:2002 from:start till:4285 text:"4,285"
  bar:2003 from:start till:4525 text:"4,525"
  bar:2004 from:start till:4470 text:"4,470"
  bar:2005 from:start till:4533 text:"4,533"
  bar:2006 from:start till:4511 text:"4,511"
  bar:2007 from:start till:4512 text:"4,512"
  bar:2008 from:start till:4584 text:"4,584"
  bar:2009 from:start till:4528 text:"4,528"
  bar:2010 from:start till:4546 text:"4,546"
  bar:2011 from:start till:4606 text:"4,606"
  bar:2012 from:start till:4621 text:"4,621"
  bar:2013 from:start till:4541 text:"4,541"
  bar:2014 from:start till:4530 text:"4,530"
  bar:2015 from:start till:4491 text:"4,491"
  bar:2016 from:start till:4442 text:"4,442"
  bar:2017 from:start till:4555 text:"4,555"
  bar:2018 from:start till:4563 text:"4,563"
</timeline>

==Tourist attractions==
* [[Ilulissat Art Museum]]

==Transport==
[[File:Ilulissat-airport-destinations.svg|thumb|150px|right|Ilulissat domestic airport destinations]]

;Air
{{main|Ilulissat Airport}}

Ilulissat Airport is located {{convert|2.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the northeast of the town center and was built in 1983.<ref>[http://airgreenland.com/om_air_greenland/vores_historie/ Air Greenland, History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523062201/http://airgreenland.com/om_air_greenland/vores_historie |date=23 May 2010 }}</ref> It serves Ilulissat with connections to towns in northwestern and midwestern Greenland with [[Air Greenland]]. Service to [[Reykjavik Airport|Reykjavík]], [[Iceland]], began in April 2011 with [[Icelandair]].

;Sea
The [[Arctic Umiaq]] ferry links Ilulissat with Sisimiut, Nuuk, and other towns and settlements on the western and southwestern coast of Greenland.

==Sport==
The town is home to [[Nagdlunguaq-48]] who play in the [[Greenlandic Men's Football Championship]], Greenland's top [[association football|soccer]] competition. Nagdlunguaq-48, who play all their league games in Nuuk, have won the championship ten times (as of 2016).

==Film==
The fourth series of the Danish TV series ''[[Borgen (TV series)|Borgen]]'' (2022) plays partially in the city of Ilulissat and was filmed on location.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12229556/locations|title=IMDB, ''Borgen'', Series 4, Filming & Production|website=[[IMDb]] |access-date=2022-06-28}}</ref> It was also the location for the filming of ''[[Smilla's Sense of Snow]]'' (1997).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120152|title=IMDB, ''Smilla's Sense of Snow'', Filming & Production|website=[[IMDb]] |access-date=2022-06-28}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Knud Rasmussen]] (1879–1933), noted [[polar region|polar]] [[exploration|explorer]] and [[anthropology|anthropologist]], referred to as the "father of [[Eskimology]]";<ref>Jean Malaurie, 1982.</ref> born in Ilulissat.<ref name=alley>[http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/information/biography/pqrst/rasmussen_knud.html Knud Johan Victor Rasmussen] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012111624/http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/information/biography/pqrst/rasmussen_knud.html |date=12 October 2010 }}, biography by Sam Alley. [[Minnesota State University, Mankato|Minnesota State University]].</ref> He was the first man to cross the [[Northwest Passage]] via [[dog sled]]. He remains well known in Greenland, Denmark and among Canadian Inuit.<ref name=cruwys>Elizabeth Cruwys, 2003.</ref>
* [[Jørgen Brønlund]] (1877–1907), also a polar explorer, born in Ilulissat. He grew up with Rasmussen and accompanied him, along with [[Harald Moltke]] and [[Ludvig Mylius-Erichsen]], on the Danish Literary Expedition (1902–1904) to examine [[Inuit]] culture. In 1906 he joined Mylius-Erichsen and [[:da:Peter Høegh Hagen|Peter Høegh Hagen]] on the [[:da:Danmark-ekspeditionen|Danmark-ekspeditionen]] to map the northernmost regions of Greenland. [[Jørgen Brønlund Fjord]] in [[Peary Land]] is named after him.<ref>[http://www.ilulissat.gl/En/Turisme/Beroemte/index.html Famous sons] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225163545/http://www.ilulissat.gl/En/Turisme/Beroemte/index.html |date=25 December 2008 }}</ref>
* [[Kristine Raahauge]] (1949–2022), municipal politician, activist, [[Eskimology|eskimologist]] and writer
* [[Jens Rosing]] (1925–2008), artist; designed the [[coat of arms]] of Greenland and numerous Greenlandic postage stamps; illustrated children's books; watercolours; born in Ilulissat
* [[Ricky Enø Jørgensen]], racing cyclist

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in North America#Greenland|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in Greenland}}

Ilulissat is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] or cooperating with several towns and cities, including:

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Fredericia]], [[Denmark]]
* {{flagicon|FAR}} [[Fuglafjørður]], [[Faroe Islands]]
* {{flagicon|ISL}} [[Hafnarfjörður]], [[Iceland]]
{{div col end}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:KRABBE(13) Greenland. Church and doctor's residence of the town Jakobshavn - Ilulissat (11340038626).jpg|Church and doctor's residence of the town Jacobshavn (1900)
File:Ilulissat, Greenland (Quintin Soloviev).png|Ilulissat harbor
File:Costa Luminosa in the fjord front Ilulissat - panoramio.jpg|Cruise ships in the fjord front of Ilulissat
File:FourHuileBaleineTrankessel.JPG|"Trankessel" for boiling blubber in Ilulissat, Greenland
File:Rasmussenhaus.JPG|Knud Rasmussen's birthplace in Ilulissat, Greenland; [[Knud Rasmussen's Museum]]
File:Greenland-Ilulissat-26.jpg|Kayaking in Ilulissat
File:Dog sled road sign ilulissat 2007-08-23 retouched.jpg|Dog sled sign in Ilulissat
File:Ilulissat-port.jpg|Cruise ship at Ilulissat port
File:Ilulissat.jpg|Ilulissat, old part of the city with icebergs from the [[Ilulissat Icefjord]] in the background
File:Greenland 7, sailing through Ilulissat Icefjord.jpg|Sailing in Ilulissat Icefjord
File:Greenland 4, Ilulissat, soccer field.jpg|The football field
File:Ilulissat welcome sign (Quintin Soloviev).png|Ilulissat welcome sign
File:Ilulissat-airport-runway.jpg|Ilulissat Airport from the south
File:Blue iceberg in the Ilulissat icefjord - edited.jpg|[[Blue iceberg]] in the [[Ilulissat Icefjord]]
File:Buiobuione - Greenland - Ilulissat Town.jpg|View of Ilulissat city from the sea
File:Ilulissat town with snow.jpg|Ilulissat under snow
File:Buiobuione_-_Ilulissat_-_greenland_-_2018_-_7.tif|Ilulissat from a plane
File:Ilulissat Church - Greenland - Panoramic - View - Fjords - Buiobuione.jpg|Ilulissat Church
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Kingdom of Denmark}}
{{wiktionary|Ilulissat}}
{{commons category|Ilulissat}}
{{wikivoyage|Ilulissat}}

===Overviews and data===
* [http://ocean.dmi.dk/arctic/modis.uk.php Daily updated satellite images from Ilulissat Icefjord & Disko Bay]

===Government===
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20181001182219/https://avannaata.gl/en Avannaata] Official municipal and city website

===Maps===
* {{osmrelation-inline|381460254}}
* [https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/5086/retreating-terminus-of-the-jakobshavn-isbrae-glacier Satellite image of Retreating Terminus of the Ilulissat Glacier] at the [[NASA Earth Observatory]].

===News and media===
* [https://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&q=Ilulissat%2F&btnG=Search Google news Ilulissat]
* [http://ilulmus.gl/ Ilulissat museum and archive]{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [http://www.eng.geus.dk/explore-geology/learning-about-geology/explore-ilulissat-icefjord/map-of-the-ilulissat-area/ GEUS Maps of the Ilulissat area]

===Travel===
* [http://www.kangia.gl/Besoeg%20isfjorden?sc_lang=en Kangia - Ilulissat Icefjord] Official website
* [https://visitgreenland.com/destinations/ilulissat/ Ilulissat entry at Visit Greenland]&nbsp;– the official [[Tourism in Greenland|Greenlandic Tourist Board]] tourism website
* [https://vimeo.com/159039120 A Photographer's View of Ilulissat & Disko Bay] Documentary produced by Florent Piovesan

{{Ilulissat}}
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[[Category:Ilulissat| ]]
[[Category:Disko Bay]]
[[Category:Populated places in Greenland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1741]]
[[Category:Populated places of Arctic Greenland]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Greenland]]
[[Category:Municipal seats of Greenland]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Greenland]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Greenland]]