The following is an introduction to Nuuk taken from yesterday's Silver Endeavour Chronicle:
"Nuuk is Greenland's economic and social hub, home to more than a third of Greenland's population and, although it feels like a world capital, scratch the surface and a uniquely Greenlandic character can be found underneath. Nuuk Cathedral overlooks the old Colonial Harbour district and the Greenland National Museum, resting place of the legendary Qilakitsoq Mummies, a highlight of the museum's archaeological collection.
Above the Colonial Harbour sits downtown Nuuk, with lines of Scandistyle apartments, and a bustling shopping district, the Greenlandic Parliament, Nuuk City Hall and outdoor cafes selling locally produced food and beer. These nods to modernity compete for space with local artisan boutiques, the meat and fish market selling the catch from Nuuk's vast fjord-lands, and the stunning Katuaq Cultural Centre, where blockbuster movies, as well as local and foreign performers entertain the people of Nuuk. Although Nuuk has long been a melting pot of Danish and Greenlandic ideas, this is a city where Greenland displays its sophistication, with the Country's only traffic lights, roundabouts and University. Most of all, expect to find a multitude of friendly people who are proud of who they are, and equally proud of the city they call home."
As an aside, our Walking Tour Guide told us that the most popular blockbuster film had been Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. The Cultural Hall is so vast that it could screen the movie at both ends of the building simultaneously allowing 1500 people to view at a time. The film was screened twice a day for over a week to allow all the inhabitants of Nuuk to enjoy.
The city was founded in 1728 by the Dano-Norwegian missionary Hans Rfede when he relocated from the Hope Colony where he arrived in 1721. The new colony was placed at the Inuit settlement of Nûk and was named Godthaab ("Good Hope"). "Nuuk" is the Greenlandic word for "cape". It is so named because of its position at the end of the Nuup Kangelua Fjord on the eastern shore of the Labrador Sea. Its latitude, at 64°11' N, makes it the world's northernmost capital, only a few kilometres farther north than the Icelandic capital Reykjavik.
The nearest major cities closest to the capital are Iqaluit and St John's in Canada.
Perhaps one other factor that I should mention here is that Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. Witnessed by the fact that the recently crowned King of Denmark together with his Queen made a State Visit whilst we were on tour yesterday. Security was low key and they were not sighted, although the Danish Royal Yacht was in evidence.
Greenland is the larger of two autonomous territories within the Kingdom, the other being the Faroe Islands; the citizens of both territories are full citizens of Denmark and as Greenland is one of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union, citizens of Greenland are European Union citizens.
Greenland has some autonomy over its own affairs and there is a campaign aimed at achieving full independence, but Greenland's economy is not yet sufficiently developed to enable sustainable independence. Greenland sends two representatives to the Danish Parliament to ensure it has a voice but otherwise it is governed by elected representatives to its own Greenlandic Parliament in Nuuk.
The photo is of the Ketuaq Cultural Centre. It is used for concerts, exhibitions, conferences, and as a cinema. The Katuaq contains two auditoria, the larger one seating 1,008 people and the smaller one 508. It is an L-shaped building with an undulating, backward-leaning screen facing onto Nuuk's central urban space. It is raised above the ground and clad in golden larch wood on both the inside and outside. The screen is inspired by the northern lights.
No comments:
Post a Comment