Avannaata

Avannaata (English: The Northern, (Greenlandic pronunciation: [avanːaːta], Danish: Det Nordlige) is a new municipality of Greenland created January 1, 2018 from the bulk of the former Qaasuitsup municipality. It encompasses an area of 522,700 km² and has 10,726 inhabitants.

Not to be confused with Avannaa.

Avannaata Avannaata Kommunia
Municipality
Clockwise from top left: Ukkusissat, Upernavik, Ilulissat Icefjord, Qaanaaq, Uummannaq
Coat of arms
Location of Avannaata within Greenland
Coordinates (Avannaata Commune): 76°00′N 57°00′W
Sovereign state	Kingdom of Denmark
Country	Greenland
Municipality	Avannaata
Established	1 January 2018
Municipal center	Ilulissat
Government
• Mayor	Palle Jeremiassen (Siumut)
Area
• Total	522,700 km^2 (201,800 sq mi)
Population  (2020)[1]
• Total	10,726
• Density	0.02/km^2 (0.05/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-03, UTC-04
Calling code	+299
Website	avannaata.gl

Geography

In the south, Avannaata is flanked by the Qeqertalik municipality. In the southeast, it is bordered by the Sermersooq municipality, however this border runs north-south (45° West meridian) through the center of the Greenland ice sheet (Greenlandic: Sermersuaq), and as such is free of traffic. In the east and northeast it is bordered by the Northeast Greenland National Park.

At the southern end of the municipal coastline are the waters of Disko Bay, although some Disko Bay communities belong to the municipality of Qeqertalik. This bay is an inlet of the larger Baffin Bay, which to the north edges into the island of Greenland in the form of Melville Bay. The coastline of northeastern Baffin Bay is dotted with islands of the Upernavik Archipelago, which is entirely contained within the municipality. In the far northwest near Qaanaaq and Siorapaluk, the municipal shores extend into Nares Strait, which separates Greenland from Ellesmere Island.

Denmark claims Hans Island as part of Avannaata, while Canada considers it to be part of the Nunavut region of Qikiqtaaluk.

Politics

Avannaata's municipal council consists of 17 members, elected every four years. [2]

Municipal council

Election	Party					Total seats	Turnout	Elected mayor
	A	D	IA	PN	S
2017	3	1	2	2	9	17	63.1%	Palle Jerimiassen (S)

Towns and settlements

Main article: List of cities and towns in Greenland

• Ilulissat area
  • Ilulissat (Jakobshavn)
  • Ilimanaq (Claushavn)
  • Oqaatsut (Rodebay)
  • Qeqertaq (Øen)
  • Saqqaq (Solsiden)
• Qaanaaq area
  • Qaanaaq (Thule)
  • Qeqertat
  • Savissivik
  • Siorapaluk
• Uummannaq area
  • Uummannaq (Omenak)
  • Ikerasak
  • Illorsuit
  • Niaqornat
  • Nuugaatsiaq
  • Qaarsut
  • Saattut
  • Ukkusissat
• Upernavik area
  • Upernavik (Women's Island)
  • Aappilattoq
  • Innaarsuit
  • Kangersuatsiaq
  • Kullorsuaq
  • Naajaat
  • Nutaarmiut
  • Nuussuaq (Kraulshavn)
  • Tasiusaq
  • Tussaaq
  • Upernavik Kujalleq (Søndre Upernavik)

Language

Main article: Greenlandic language

Kalaallisut, the West Greenlandic dialect, is spoken in the towns and settlements of the western and northwestern coasts. Inuktun is also spoken in and around Qaanaaq.

See also

• KANUKOKA

References and notes

1. "Population by Localities". Statistical Greenland. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
2. Avannaata.gl "Kommunalbestyrelsen"