Innaarsuit Island

For a settlement of the same name, see Innaarsuit.

Innaarsuit Island (old spelling: Ivnârssuit) is an island in the Upernavik Archipelago in northwestern Greenland. It forms part of the Innaarsuit settlement in Avannaata municipality. The village had 166 residents in 2017, largely based on halibut fishing and associated processing infrastructure. In July 2018, the village was evacuated as an iceberg weighing over 10 million tonnes, and towering over 90 m (300 ft) was headed for the settlement.

Innaarsuit

Innaarsuit settlement on the northwestern coast
Innaarsuit
Geography
Location	Greenland
Coordinates	73°10′N 56°00′W
Archipelago	Upernavik Archipelago
Administration
Greenland
Municipality	Avannaata

Geography

Innaarsuit Island is located in the outer belt of islands in Tasiusaq Bay, in the south-central part of Upernavik Archipelago. In the north, it is separated from Ateqanngitsorsuaq Island by a narrow channel.^[1][2] The island is hilly, but not mountainous, with Saattup Akia mountain the highest point on the island, at 310 m (1,020 ft).^[1][3] The inner waterways of Tasiusaq Bay separate it from the small Naajaat Island in the east, and from Qaarsorsuatsiaq Island in the west. Several skerries buffer the southern coast of the island.^[3]

The coastline of Innaarsuit Island is developed, with several small inlets indenting the shore in the east, west, and northwest. The Innaarsuit settlement is located near the mouth of one of the inlets, in the northwestern part of the island. The island is nearly split in half in the center, with only a narrow isthmus joining the southern and northern halves.^[3] In July 2018, the village was evacuated as an iceberg weighing over 10 million tonnes, and towering over 90 m (300 ft) was headed for the settlement.^[4][5][6]

Demographics and economy

The settlement which had a population of 30 residents in 1950, was home to 166 in 2017.^[1] The economy is predominantly dependent on fishing, especially Greenland halibut, with a Royal Greenland processing plant near the settlement. Combined fishing, sealing, and whaling accounted for about 43 % of gross local income by 2001.^[1][7] Innaarsuit Heliport operates services through Air Greenland under a government contract, and maritime transport occurs via small boats and supply ships.^[1] The town infrastructure includes a diesel power plant, storage house, service house, chapel, and school.^[1] Dog sleds are used for travel along frequent routes.^[8]