Qassiarsuk

Qassiarsuk
Reproduction of Brattahlíð church, Qassiarsuk Reproduction of Brattahlíð church, Qassiarsuk
Qassiarsuk Location within Greenland
Coordinates:
State	Kingdom of Denmark
Constituent country	Greenland
Municipality	Kujalleq
Government
• Mayor	Fredrik Frederiksen
Population (2010)
• Total	89
Time zone	UTC-03
Postal code	3921 Narsaq

Qassiarsuk is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality, in southern Greenland. Its population was 89 in 2010.

History

Brattahlíð is located by Tunulliarfik Fjord (Skovfjorden in Danish), and it was the site of Erik the Red's estate in the times of the Norse Eastern Settlement (Austerbygda in Danish). Ruins of several of the buildings, including living quarters, outhouses, and a church, are still clearly visible.

The current village was founded as Greenland's first sheep farm in 1924 and is located in the same place.

Until December 31, 2008, the settlement was part of Narsaq Municipality in the Kitaa amt. On January 1, 2009, Qassiarsuk became part of Kujalleq municipality, when the Kitaa amt, as well as the municipalities of Narsaq, Qaqortoq, and Nanortalik ceased to exist as administrative entities.

Geography

File:Tunulliarfik-qassiarsuk.jpg

Aerial view of the farms of Qassiarsuk on the northwestern shore of Tunulliarfik

The settlement is located roughly 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Narsarsuaq, on Narsaq Peninsula, on the northwestern shore of Tunulliarfik Fjord. The plains of are wider than those of Narsaq at the far end of the peninsula, while the earth is also fertile, both factors contributing to farming and land cultivation being the primary occupation of the inhabitants.

Infrastructure and transportation

The settlement has a general store operated by KNI, and there is a youth hostel available for tourists and hikers. There is also a small church.

The electricity needs for the settlement are provided for by a local power station.

Transportation

The Qassiarsuk area has a relatively extensive network of traversable dirt and gravel roads, totalling over 120 kilometers and requiring DKK 500,000 annually for service. The roads are mainly needed for the sheep farming. The longest stretch of road connects the sheep farms of Qassiarsuk with the airport of Narsarsuaq, around 50 km. The roads are generally of poor construction, lacking crossfall for drainage, and using softer sandstone instead of harder granite, creating severe dust problems in the summer. For general transportation all-terrain vehicles are recommended. Crossing the glacial Narsarsuaq river is difficult due to deposits of silt quicksand the river carries from the Greenland ice sheet (Greenlandic: Sermersuaq).

All vital transportation at Qassiarsuk is by sea, with boats linking the settlement to Narsarsuaq Airport, home to the only international airport in southern Greenland. The airport primarily functions as a transfer point for passengers heading for the helicopter hubs of Air Greenland in Qaqortoq and Nanortalik. Qassiarsuk does not have its own heliport.

Economy

In contrast to the majority of the Greenlandic settlements, Qassiarsuk's main occupations are sheep husbandry, agriculture and farming. The main Greenlandic industry is normally fishing.

There is also a thriving tourism industry in the area. The Norse ruins in the area and the reconstructed Thodhildur's church of Brattahlid are among the most popular tourist destinations in all of Greenland.

Population

The population of Qassiarsuk has been stable in the last two decades.

Qassiarsuk population growth dynamics in the last two decades. Source: Statistics Greenland

Qassiarsuk population growth dynamics in the last two decades. Source: Statistics Greenland