Nuugaatsiaq
Nuugaatsiaq | |
---|---|
UTC-03 | |
Postal code | 3961 Uummannaq |
Nuugaatsiaq (old spelling: Nûgâtsiaq) is a settlement in the
History
2017 Landslide
On 17 June 2017, a landslide measuring 300 m × 1,100 m (980 ft × 3,610 ft) fell about 1,000 m (3,280 ft) into Karrat Fjord, generating a megatsunami that hit Nuugaatsiaq.[2][3][4] Initially it was unclear if the landslide was caused by a small earthquake (magnitude 4),[2][5] but later it was confirmed that the landslide had caused the tremors.[3]
The tsunami had an initial height of 90 to 100 m (295 to 328 ft), but it was significantly lower once it hit the settlement, where it had a run-up height of 9 metres (30 ft).[3][4] Four people were killed and nine were injured at Nuugaatsiaq, and eleven buildings were washed into the water.[2][3][4][5][6]
An evacuation of 170 residents of Nuugaatsiaq and Illorsuit followed because of a danger of additional landslides and waves.[4][7] As of March 2023, both Nuugaatsiaq and lllorsuit remained abandoned due to the continuing threat of landslide-generated tsunamis.[8]
Transport
Prior to Nuugaatsiaq's abandonment, Air Greenland served the village as part of a government contract, with mostly cargo helicopter flights from Nuugaatsiaq Heliport to Illorsuit and Uummannaq.[9]
Royal Arctic Line also served the village by ship before its evacuation. This sea link connected Nuugaatsiaq and other villages on Uummannaq Fjord to Aasiaat.[10]
Infrastructure
Atuarfik Saamu folk school can accommodate approximately 12 students ranging from 1st to 9th grade. Established in 1991, the school has a total capacity of 125 seats.
The village offers essential amenities including a shop, post office, service center, nursing station, church, community center, and a procurement center with halibut processing facilities. The cemetery has been positioned overlooking hunting grounds as a tribute to the deceased.
Population
Prior to Nuugaatsiaq′s abandonment after the 2017 tsunami, its population had dropped by over 16 percent relative to the 2000 levels, reflecting a general trend in the region.
In the past, people lived mainly by catching seals and fishing for catfish, but fishing for halibut has become more common in recent times.
References
- ^ Statistics Greenland Archived 2011-08-12 at the Wayback Machine (in Danish)
- ^ a b c Kokkegård, H. (19 June 2017). "Geus: Uklart, om jordskælv udløste grønlandsk tsunami [Unclear if earthquake caused Greenlandic tsunami]". Ingeniøren. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
- ^ Georgia Institute of Technology. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
- ^ a b c d Svennevig, Kristian; Dahl-Jensen, Trine; Keiding, Marie; Boncori, John Peter Merryman; Larsen, Tine B.; Salehi, Sara; Solgaard, Anne Munck; Voss, Peter H. (8 December 2020). "Evolution of events before and after the 17 June 2017 rock avalanche at Karrat Fjord, West Greenland – a multidisciplinary approach to detecting and locating unstable rock slopes in a remote Arctic area". copernicus.org. European Geosciences Union. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Greenland tsunami leaves four people missing". Irish Independent. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ "Four missing after tsunami strikes Greenland coast". BBC News. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ McGwin, Kevin (February 2, 2021). "Researchers recommend a warning system for Greenland hamlets flooded by 2017 tsunami". www.arctictoday.com. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ Korsgaard, Niels J.; Svennevig, Kristian; Søndergaard, Anne S.; Luetzenburg, Gregor; Oksman, Mimmi; Larsen, Nicolaj K. (13 March 2023). "Giant mid-Holocene landslide-generated tsunamis recorded in lake sediments from Saqqaq, West Greenland". copernicus.org. European Geosciences Union. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "Booking system". Air Greenland. Archived from the original on 22 April 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
- ^ "Pajuttaat Schedule". Royal Arctic Line. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ a b Statistics Greenland Archived 2011-08-12 at the Wayback Machine
- National Geographic.