Paamiut

Paamiut
Paamiut in 1980
Paamiut Location within Greenland
Coordinates: 62°00′N 49°43′W / 62°N 49.717°W / 62; -49.717
Country	Kingdom of Denmark
Province	Greenland
Municipality	Sermersooq
First Settled	1500 B.C.E.
Established	1742
Population (2005)
- Total	1,817
Time zone	UTC-3 (UTC-3)
Website	http://www.paamiut.gl/

Paamiut (Danish: Frederikshåb, pre-1973 spelling: Pâmiut) is a town in southwestern Greenland, in the Sermersooq municipality, located approximately at 62°00′N 49°43′W / 62°N 49.717°W / 62; -49.717. The population is 1,817 (as of 2005). Paamiut is situated in the southern end of a small estuary called Kuannersooq - the inlet. The name of the city means "they who reside by the mouth".

History

People have, it seems, lived there since around 1500 B.C.E. The town was established in 1742 and later prospered on trading fur and whale products. It also became known for its soapstone artists. In the 1950s Paamiut developed a booming cod industry that lasted until 1989 when the cod populations dwindled. In connection with a development plan called G60 Paamiut was chosen as to be the place to live for the entire population of the former Paamiut municipality. Therefore the number of people living there rose significantly during that period.

Paamiut today

The town has one of the finest churches in Greenland built in 1909. It is made of wood and is of Norwegian style drafted in Norway. The absorbing local museum is located in the centre, in original buildings from the previous century, among these a carpenter workshop and a salt warehouse.

As is the case for other towns of western Greenland, the sea is free of ice during the winter, whilst the primary occupation of the 2.100 inhabitants of Paamiut, and the sole township Arsuk, is fishing. Icebergs, coming adrift along the east coast of Greenland and continuing up along the west coast normally arrive in the autumn, bringing numerous seals marking this season as a great time for the local hunters.

Transport

Paamiut is a port of call for the Arctic Umiaq Line coastal ship. In November 2007, the town airport (IATA: JFR, ICAO: BGPT) was built by Mittarfeqarfiit. Connections to Nuuk, Kangilinnguit and Narsarsuaq are served by Air Greenland STOL aircraft.

References

• Greenland and the Arctic. By Etain O'Carroll and Mark Elliott. Lonely Planet 2005. ISBN 1-74059-095-3.
• Greenland in Figures 2005 Statistics Greenland. 3rd Edition, May 2005. ISSN 1604-7397