Summary
Illorsuit (Greenlandic pronunciation: [iɬːɔsːuit]; old spelling: Igdlorssuit) is a former settlement in Avannaata municipality, in western Greenland. Located on the northeastern shore of Illorsuit Island − northwest of Uummannaq at the mouth of the Uummannaq Fjord − the settlement had 91 inhabitants in 2010.[1] It was abandoned in 2018.
Illorsuit | |
|---|---|
  Illorsuit Location within Greenland | |
| Coordinates: 71°14′30″N 53°34′00″W / 71.24167°N 53.56667°W | |
| Sovereign state |  Kingdom of Denmark |
| Autonomous country |  Greenland |
| Municipality | Avannaata |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 0 |
| Time zone | UTC-03 |
| Postal code | 3961 Uummannaq |
History edit
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 Nuugaatsiaq, 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] Illorsuit also suffered tsunami damage.[7] An evacuation of 170 residents of Illorsuit and Nuugaatsiaq followed because of a danger of additional landslides and waves.[4][8]
Illorsuit was abandoned in 2018, and as of March 2023, both llorsuit and Nuugaatsiaq remained uninhabited due to the continuing threat of landslide-generated tsunamis.[9]
Transport edit
Prior to Illorsuit′s abandonment, Air Greenland served the village as part of government contract, with mostly cargo helicopter flights from Illorsuit Heliport to Nuugaatsiaq and Uummannaq.[10]
Population edit
Before Illorsuit's abandonment, its population had dropped by 28 percent relative to the 1990 levels and by nearly 17 percent relative to the 2000 levels, reflecting a general trend in the region.[1]
Notable People edit
- Lars Emil Johansen (b. 1946), the second Prime Minister of Greenland
- Rockwell Kent (1882–1971), American artist who spent time in Illorsuit[11]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Population in localities January 1.st by locality, age, gender and place of birth 1977–2010". Statistics Greenland. Archived from the original on August 12, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c Kokkegård, H. (June 19, 2017). "Geus: Uklart, om jordskælv udløste grønlandsk tsunami [Unclear if earthquake caused Greenlandic tsunami]". Ingeniøren. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
- ^ a b c d "After recon trip, researchers say Greenland tsunami in June reached 300 feet high". Georgia Institute of Technology. July 25, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 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. (December 8, 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 October 14, 2023.
- ^ a b "Greenland tsunami leaves four people missing". Irish Independent. June 18, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ "Four missing after tsunami strikes Greenland coast". BBC News. June 18, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
- ^ "Frightening Video of Moment Tsunami Hits Greenland's West Coast".
- ^ 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. (March 13, 2023). "Giant mid-Holocene landslide-generated tsunamis recorded in lake sediments from Saqqaq, West Greenland". copernicus.org. European Geosciences Union. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "Booking system". Air Greenland. Archived from the original on April 22, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
- ^ The Stormy Petrel of American Art