Qeqertarsuatsiaat Travel Guide

The settlement Qeqertarsuatsiaat/Fiskenaesset lies right at the coastline toward the great Davis Strait, app. 150 kilometres south of Nuuk. The Greenlandic name means 'the quite large island'. Qeqertarsuatsiaat was founded by the Danish merchant Anders Olsen in 1754 as a trading post. From here the Royal Danish Trading Company (KGH) could trade skins and blubber from the Greenlandic hunters in the area.

It is told that the people of Qeqertarsuatsiaat in the old days wondered each year as a strange glittering appeared in the fjord in the late summer. It was later discovered that this glittering in fact was thousands of salmon making their way to the spawning-grounds. In the years following this discovery the salmon contributed substantially to local economy. Today however salmon are mostly caught for private consumption or for sale atthe local markets - smoked or fresh.

Qeqertarsuatsiaat is much famed for the local women's beautiful handmade skin-purses made with complicated skin-embroideries. In the area it is possible to find the small but very nice Fiskenaes-rubies. It is possible to stay in Qeqertarsuatsiaat, contact Nuuk Tourism for information or booking