View source for Upernavik

{{Short description|Town in Greenland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Upernavik
| other_name         = 
| image_skyline      = Upernavik town aerial 1 2007-07-11.jpg
| imagesize          = 300
| image_caption      = Upernavik in July 2007
| image_shield       = 
| shield_size        = 
| pushpin_map        = Greenland
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Greenland
| pushpin_mapsize    = 300
| subdivision_type   = State
| subdivision_name   = {{Flag|Kingdom of Denmark}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Countries of the Kingdom of Denmark|Constituent country]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{Flag|Greenland}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[Administrative divisions of Greenland|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Avannaata]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| government_footnotes = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| population_as_of   = 2025
| population_total   = 1087<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population in Localities January 1st 1977-2024 |url=https://bank.stat.gl/pxweb/en/Greenland/Greenland__BE__BE01__BE0120/BEXSTD.px?rxid=BEXSTD17-04-2024%2012:30:02 |website=Statbank Greenland}}</ref>
| timezone1          = [[Western Greenland Time]]
| utc_offset1        = −02:00
| timezone1_DST      = [[Western Greenland Summer Time]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = −01:00
| coordinates        = {{coord|72|47|13|N|56|08|50|W|region:GL|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = 3962
| website            = 
}}

'''Upernavik''' is a small town in the [[Avannaata]] [[municipalities of Greenland|municipality]] in northwestern [[Greenland]], located on a small [[Upernavik Island|island of the same name]]. With 1,064 inhabitants as of 2024,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population in Localities January 1st 1977-2024 |url=https://bank.stat.gl/pxweb/en/Greenland/Greenland__BE__BE01__BE0120/BEXSTD.px?rxid=BEXSTD17-04-2024%2012:30:02 |website=Statbank Greenland}}</ref> it is the [[list of cities and towns in Greenland|twelfth-largest town]] in Greenland. It contains the [[Upernavik Museum]].

== History ==
[[File:Upernavik church 2007-08-20 rectangular cropped downsampled.jpg|thumb|upright=.7|left|New church]]
The town was founded as Upernavik in 1772.<ref>Colton, G.W. "[https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/s/uj817m Northern America. British, Russian & Danish Possessions In North America.]" J.H. Colton & Co. (New York), 1855.</ref> From the former name of its island, it was sometimes known as Women's Island; its name was also sometimes Anglicized to "Uppernavik".<ref>Walker, J. & al. "[https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~20964~530056:British-North-America--Published-un?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No British North America.]" Baldwin & Cradock (London), 1844.</ref>

In 1824, the [[Kingittorsuaq Runestone]] was found outside the town. It bears runic characters left by [[Norsemen]], probably from the late 13th century. The runic characters list the names of three Norsemen and mention the construction of a rock [[cairn]] nearby.

This is the furthest north that any Norse artifacts have been found, other than those small artifacts that could have been carried north by [[Inuit]] traders, and marks the northern known limit of Viking exploration.

Sailors searching for lost [[North Pole|polar]] expeditions sometimes used the city as a staging ground.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sides |first=Hampton |title=In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette |pages=6}}</ref>{{clearleft}}

==Transport==
Upernavik is served by [[Air Greenland]], with scheduled flights from [[Upernavik Airport]] to [[Qaanaaq]], [[Qaarsut]], and [[Ilulissat]].<ref name="gl">{{Cite web |url=http://airgreenland.com/ankomster__afgange/ |title=Air Greenland, Departures and Arrivals |access-date=2010-05-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100309004005/http://airgreenland.com/ankomster__afgange/ |archive-date=2010-03-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Most settlements in the archipelago are served during weekdays with the [[Bell 212]] helicopter.<ref name="gl" />

[[Arctic Umiaq Line|AUL ferries]] have ceased passenger services north of Ilulissat, leaving Upernavik totally dependent on Air Greenland services, which are frequently cancelled due to weather conditions.  Cargo arrives several times a year on [[Royal Arctic Line]] when sea ice permits, usually beginning in early to mid May annually.

== Archipelago ==
Upernavik is located within [[Upernavik Archipelago]], a vast archipelago of small islands on the coast of northeastern [[Baffin Bay]]. The archipelago extends from the northwestern coast of [[Sigguup Nunaa]] peninsula in the south at approximately {{coord|71|50|N|56|00|W}}<ref name="upn">Nunavik, Saga Map, 1:250.000, Tage Schjøtt, 1992</ref> to the southern end of [[Melville Bay]] ({{langx|kl|Qimusseriarsuaq}}) in the north at approximately {{coord|74|50|N|57|30|W}}.<ref name="upa">Upernavik Avannarleq, Saga Map, 1:250.000, Tage Schjøtt, 1992</ref>

== Population ==
[[File:Upernavik-population-dynamics.png|thumb|Population growth, 1991–2010<ref name="localpop">{{cite web|title= Population by Localities|url = http://bank.stat.gl/pxweb/en/Greenland/Greenland__BE__BE01__BE0120/BEXST4.PX/?rxid=a1551b20-d1d5-4bcf-a80c-de114c001595|publisher = Statistical Greenland}}</ref>]]
With 1,092 inhabitants as of 2020, Upernavik is the third-largest town in the Avannaata municipality.<ref name="localpop" /><ref name="muniwebfacts">{{cite web|title=Kommuni pillugu|work=Home |publisher=Avannaata Kommunia|url=http://www.avannaata.gl/Emner/Om_kommunen/Fakta%20om%20kommunen?sc_lang=kl-GL}}</ref> The population has been relatively stable over the last two decades and has increased by more than 28% relative to the 1990 levels,<ref name="localpop"/> with migrants from the smaller settlements in the archipelago helping keep the population level stable. Cyclist [[Hanne Malmberg]] was born in Upernavik. She represented Denmark at the [[1992 Summer Olympics]].<ref name="SportsRef">{{cite Sports-Reference |check-wikidata=no |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ma/hanne-malmberg-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418100741/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ma/hanne-malmberg-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Hanne Malmberg Olympic Results |access-date=27 August 2016}}</ref>

==Climate==
Upernavik has a [[tundra climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''ET''). Winters are very cold and snowy and summers are quite cool. With a mean of just {{convert|6.4|C|F|sigfig=3}} in July, trees are unable to grow. Autumn and winter are the wettest time of the year and spring is the driest. 

{{Weather box|location = Upernavik (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1958–2020)
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
| Jan record high C = 11.0
| Feb record high C = 8.0
| Mar record high C = 10.0
| Apr record high C = 9.4
| May record high C = 15.0
| Jun record high C = 18.0
| Jul record high C = 22.6
| Aug record high C = 19.9
| Sep record high C = 14.3
| Oct record high C = 13.0
| Nov record high C = 9.6
| Dec record high C = 12.2
| year record high C = 
| Jan high C = -14.3
| Feb high C = -16.5
| Mar high C = -16.0
| Apr high C = -8.9
| May high C = -0.9
| Jun high C = 6.2
| Jul high C = 9.4
| Aug high C = 8.2
| Sep high C = 3.3
| Oct high C = -1.8
| Nov high C = -5.9
| Dec high C = -9.4
| year high C = 
| Jan mean C = -16.7
| Feb mean C = -19.2
| Mar mean C = -19.0
| Apr mean C = -11.9
| May mean C = -3.3
| Jun mean C = 3.2
| Jul mean C = 6.4
| Aug mean C = 5.7
| Sep mean C = 1.4
| Oct mean C = -3.4
| Nov mean C = -7.6
| Dec mean C = -11.4
|year mean C = 
| Jan low C = -18.9
| Feb low C = -21.6
| Mar low C = -21.7
| Apr low C = -14.7
| May low C = -5.5
| Jun low C = 0.6
| Jul low C = 3.8
| Aug low C = 3.6
| Sep low C = -0.2
| Oct low C = -4.9
| Nov low C = -9.2
| Dec low C = -13.3
| year low C = 
| Jan record low C = -34.9
| Feb record low C = -38.4
| Mar record low C = -39.0
| Apr record low C = -30.2
| May record low C = -22.6
| Jun record low C = -7.5
| Jul record low C = -4.0
| Aug record low C = -3.8
| Sep record low C = -12.2
| Oct record low C = -14.5
| Nov record low C = -25.6
| Dec record low C = -31.6
| year record low C = 
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 12
| Feb precipitation mm = 13
| Mar precipitation mm = 8
| Apr precipitation mm = 14
| May precipitation mm = 10
| Jun precipitation mm = 14
| Jul precipitation mm = 29
| Aug precipitation mm = 26
| Sep precipitation mm = 38
| Oct precipitation mm = 33
| Nov precipitation mm = 34
| Dec precipitation mm = 20
| year precipitation mm = 251
| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 9.1
| Feb precipitation days = 8.6
| Mar precipitation days = 6.9
| Apr precipitation days = 9.1
| May precipitation days = 8.3
| Jun precipitation days = 7.6
| Jul precipitation days = 9.2
| Aug precipitation days = 8.7
| Sep precipitation days = 12.6
| Oct precipitation days = 13.5
| Nov precipitation days = 16.2
| Dec precipitation days = 14.9
| year precipitation days = 123.4
| unit snow days = 
| Jan snow days = 9.0
| Feb snow days = 8.5
| Mar snow days = 6.7
| Apr snow days = 9.0
| May snow days = 7.8
| Jun snow days = 5.5
| Jul snow days = 1.0
| Aug snow days = 0.7
| Sep snow days = 8.2
| Oct snow days = 12.8
| Nov snow days = 15.9
| Dec snow days = 14.7
| year snow days = 98.4
| Jan humidity = 80.6
| Feb humidity = 80.7
| Mar humidity = 79.3
| Apr humidity = 80.0
| May humidity = 83.8
| Jun humidity = 80.3
| Jul humidity = 77.7
| Aug humidity = 77.9
| Sep humidity = 79.0
| Oct humidity = 80.0
| Nov humidity = 78.4
| Dec humidity = 79.9
|year humidity = 
| Jan sun = 0
| Feb sun = 18
| Mar sun = 106
| Apr sun = 214
| May sun = 234
| Jun sun = 225
| Jul sun = 271
| Aug sun = 214
| Sep sun = 104
| Oct sun = 38
| Nov sun = 2
| Dec sun = 0
|year sun =
| source 1 = [[Danish Meteorological Institute]] (precipitation and snow 1958–1981, humidity 2005-2020, sun 1931–1960)<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.dmi.dk/fileadmin/user_upload/Rapporter/TR/2019/DMIRep18-19.pdf
| title = DMI Report 21–12: Climatological Standard Normals 1991-2020 - Greenland
| publisher = [[Danish Meteorological Institute]]
| access-date = 12 January 2022}}</ref><ref name = DMI1>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190210040507/https://www.dmi.dk/fileadmin/user_upload/Rapporter/TR/2019/DMIRep18-19.pdf
| archive-date = 10 February 2019
| url = https://www.dmi.dk/fileadmin/user_upload/Rapporter/TR/2019/DMIRep18-19.pdf
| title = DMI Report 18–19: Climatological Standard Normals 1981–2010 Denmark, The Faroe Islands and Greenland Based on Data Published in DMI Reports 18–08, 18–04 and 18–05
| publisher = [[Danish Meteorological Institute]]
| access-date = 14 October 2019}}</ref><ref name = DMI2>{{cite web
| url = https://www.dmi.dk/fileadmin/user_upload/Rapporter/TR/2000/tr00-18.pdf
| title = The Observed Climate of Greenland, 1958–99 with Climatological Standard Normals, 1961–90
| publisher = [[Danish Meteorological Institute]]
| access-date = 14 October 2019}}</ref><ref name=DMI3>{{cite web | last1 = Cappelen | first1 = John | last2 = Jensen | first2 = Jens | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130427173827/http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf | archive-date = 27 April 2013 | url = http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf | work = Climate Data for Selected Stations (1931-1960) | title = GRØNLAND - Upernavik  | page = 113 | publisher = Danish Meteorological Institute | language = da | access-date = 14 October 2019}}</ref>
}}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}

* Bjerregaard, Peter, and Beth Bjerregaard. ''Disease Pattern in Upernavik in Relation to Housing Conditions and Social Group''. Copenhagen: Kommissionen for videnskabelige Undersøgelser i Grønland, 1985. {{ISBN|87-17-05231-9}}
* Haller, Albert Arno. ''The Spatial Organization of the Marine Hunting Culture in the Upernavik District, Greenland''. Ottawa: National Library of Canada, 1981.
* Hjarnø, Jan, Jørgen Balslev Jørgensen, and Morten Vesely. ''Archaeological and Anthropological Investigations of Late Heathen Graves in Upernavik District''. København: C.A. Reitzels Forlag, 1974. {{ISBN|87-421-0096-8}}
* Jørgensen, Jørgen Balslev, Jens Dahl, and Sanjai Sangvichien. ''Anthropometrical Studies on Greenlanders from Two Villages in the Upernavik Area''. København: Nyt Nordisk Forlag, 1976. {{ISBN|87-17-02125-1}}
* Vibe, Christian. ''Preliminary Investigations on Shallow Water Animal Communities in the Upernavik- and Thule-Districts (Northwest Greenland)''. København: C.A. Reitzel, 1939.
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Upernavik}}
* [http://www.kultur-upernavik.dk/eng.htm Schools in Upernavik, Greenland]

{{Settlements in Greenland}}
{{Upernavik Archipelago}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Populated places in Greenland]]
[[Category:Populated places of Arctic Greenland]]
[[Category:Avannaata]]
[[Category:Upernavik Archipelago]]
[[Category:1772 establishments in North America]]
[[Category:18th-century establishments in Greenland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1772]]