Ilulissat Icefjord

Ilulissat Icefjord, Iceland, Greenland

The Ilulissat Icefjord is a fjord, or narrow waterway, lined by steep cliffs, on the west coast of Greenland. The fjord was formed from the Jakobshavn Isbrae glacier, one of the most active glaciers in the world, calving (or breaking down) the ice sheets very frequently. As the sheets of ice break off, the glaciers can reach up to a kilometer in height, lodging them in the waters of the fjord. The fjord and icebergs have been a common location for researchers to study glaciers for many years.

Visitors to Ilulissat Icefjord can admire the largest glacier outside of Antarctica (Sermeq Kujalleq), and experience the natural beauty of the region. A vast array of wildlife around Ilulissat includes whales, many species of fish, seals, and seabirds like gulls. On land, wildlife includes the Arctic fox and hare, reindeer, and polar bears, though these land mammals are much more rare than the sea life. Ilulissat Icefjord became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.