South Greenland

South Greenland has some of the warmest climate in Greenland, hense it's name 'Greenland.' The total area includes one large town, Qaqortoq pop. 3500, two around 1000 or more, Narsaq and Nanortalik, as well as several smaller villages from where to base paddlings trips. The airport is inside Erik the red's fjord at Narsarssuaq, connecting it with Copenhagen (Denmark) and Reykjavik (Iceland) in the summer, as well as domestic destinations.

The water is relatively warm, about 5-10°C and mostly free of pack ice in late summer, though bands of ice drift around Kap Farvel until mid July. Large ice bergs are seen near the southern tip and locally calved ice is found in and outside fjords with glaciers reaching to sea level, particularly Nordre Sermilik fjord ('Northern Ice fjord').

The landscape can be described as fjords reaching into the Greenland ice sheet, with rounded mountains below 1500 meters in the northern half, and steep, jagged mountains in the southern half, including the southern tip of Greenland at Kap Farvel.

The weather inside the fjords is mild, but the steeper landscape near Kap Farvel can be stormy all summer.

Fohn winds are a common feature and a paddler should be familiar with it as it whips up strong winds in little time.

All around, you will find remnants of Norse (Viking) settlement which lasted from 970 AD to about 1500, as well as winter house ruins and graves from Inuit settlements (primarily post 1500 AD).

Supplies are easily bought locally, kayaks are available for rent from Narsaq, contact the local tourist information offices.

All public transport is by helicopter, but local charter boats are getting more organised, including a small ferry service between Qaqortoq and Nanortalik which would be used by those heading for the beautiful fjords around Kap Farvel.

Land maps area easily bought on the internet, particularly SAGA maps, charts are available locally.

Wildlife will include seals and a few types of birds, depending on the area. Many different types of whales and porpoises are also found, particularly outside Narsaq and Nanortalik.

Polar bears are occasionally spotted early summer and walrus were also spotted during 2006 winter.

Arctic foxes should be treated with care as there is risk of Rabies. Depending on area, you may also find reindeer and arctic hare.

Official travel information is available on http://www.greenland.com