Savissivik (West Greenlandic; old spelling: Savigsivik) or Havighivik (Inuktun) (IATA: SVR) is a settlement in the Avannaata municipality in northern Greenland. Located on Meteorite Island, off the northern shores of Melville Bay, the settlement had 55 inhabitants in 2020.[1]
Savissivik
Havighivik | |
---|---|
Savissivik Location within Greenland | |
Coordinates: 76°01′10″N 65°06′50″W / 76.01944°N 65.11389°W | |
State | Kingdom of Denmark |
Constituent country | Greenland |
Municipality | Avannaata |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 55 |
Time zone | UTC−02:00 (Western Greenland Time) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−01:00 (Western Greenland Summer Time) |
Postal code | 3970 Pituffik |
In the Greenlandic language, the name Savissivik means "Place of Meteoric Iron" or "Knives",[2] alluding to the numerous meteorite fragments that have been found in the area dating to about 10,000 years ago.[3] The Cape York meteorite is estimated to have weighed 100 tonnes before it exploded.[3] The iron from the meteorite is believed to have attracted migrating Inuit from Arctic Canada.[3]
Air Greenland operates settlement flights to Qaanaaq Airport via Pituffik Space Base.[4] The twice-weekly flights are subsidized by the Government of Greenland. Transfers at the airbase are subject to access restrictions by the Danish Foreign Ministry.[5]
The population of Savissivik decreased by over 40 percent relative to the 1990 levels, and by 10 percent relative to 2000 levels.[6]