Aasiaat: Island World, Whale Watching and Art

Aasiaat is situated amid an archipelago of low-lying islands and has an extensive coastline. Different aspects of the town come to the fore depending on the season: in summer, the water, islands and possible whale sightings shape the nature experience; in winter, cross-country ski trails and trips along designated routes are added. Artworks and historic buildings complement these themes with specific places and stories.

Water, Islands and Whales

In summer, you can explore Aasiaat’s extensive coastline and the archipelago’s thousands of islands on the water. On sailing trips around the archipelago, travellers can sail between large, golden-shimmering icebergs and may see whales. Summer is considered the best time for whale watching. It is also a year-round pastime for local residents. In winter, bowhead whales remain in the waters around Aasiaat after other whales have migrated south. Seasonal viewing opportunities therefore differ: summer is cited as the best time, while the winter waters are associated with the bowhead whales that remain there.

The landscape also has notable points of interest beyond the coastline. Aasiaat is surrounded by low-lying islands; a few miles outside the town is a whale cemetery. This nearby site and the vast archipelago are among the different spatial scales that shape a stay: the island world around the town and a single place in the nearby area.

Winter Activities and Designated Routes

Winter pastimes in Aasiaat include cross-country skiing on designated trails and snowmobile and dog-sled trips along designated routes. There is also a ski lift in Tupilak. The activities also differ in how they take you through the terrain: cross-country skiing follows designated trails, while snowmobile and dog-sled trips follow designated routes.

A local practice with its own conditions is distinct from these activities: when snow falls and the sea freezes, local residents let their sled dogs run free. The weather and ice conditions are part of this seasonal description. For trip planning, the contrast between summer on the water and winter on trails and routes offers a useful guide when weighing up your interests and the time of year.

Art in Town

Aasiaat has large-scale murals and finely crafted sculptures, some in hidden, less conspicuous outdoor locations. A sculpture of the Danish royal family stands in front of the large black church. The outdoor art therefore takes different forms, from large-scale murals to sculptures that are not necessarily in particularly prominent locations.

Twenty-one paintings by Per Kirkeby hang in the assembly hall. They were created during the artist’s three-month stay in 1969. The works in the hall thus have a clear historical context, while murals and sculptures in various outdoor locations broaden the town’s art scene.

Historic Buildings and a Possible Indoor Visit

The Aasiaat Museum is housed in the former governor’s residence, dating from 1860. The public library is also located in a building that once served another purpose: it is housed in the former Old Girls’ School. At the foot of the colonial-era library building is a small, shallow lake, which often reflects the building.

Another traditional building is the turf house on the hill near the church. If you would like to see inside, you can ask at the Aasiaat Museum whether this is possible; the opportunity must be arranged through the museum. The buildings can thus be distinguished by their former uses: the museum occupies the former governor’s residence, the library the former school, and the turf house offers a separate reason to ask locally.

An Event to Consider When Planning Your Trip

About 300 runners usually take part in the Aasiaat Midnight Sun Marathon. If you would like to include the race in your travel plans, check the event dates in advance. This lets you take this specific event into account when planning your timing, without assuming a particular edition or date.

Discover more destinations: Uummannaq, Maniitsoq, Nuuk, Sisimiut, Kangerlussuaq.

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