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Ports & Places

We couldn’t wait to share Voyages of the Great Explorer 2011/2012 with you. Stay tuned for specific information on Ports and Places, coming soon.

	Arsuk Fjord, Greenland Thriving as a fishing village since the 1400s, the discovery of cryolite, a rare mineral used in the processing of aluminum, in the inner parts of the Arsuk Fjord, led to a formal foundation of the settlement of Arsuk in 1805. Today the cryolite is gone, and visitors come for the colorful cottages around the harbor, the breathtaking views of Arsuk Glacier and the rocky cliffs of Greenland's southwestern shores.
	Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Canada Gros Morne National Park provides a rare geological look at the continental drift process; recent glacial action has resulted in spectacular coastal lowlands, alpine ridges, fjords, lakes and waterfalls, all designated a natural UNESCO World Heritage Site.
	Grundarfjordur, Iceland Formed by volcanic activity 18 million years ago, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland is characterized by panoramic mountain views. Grundarfjordur, a growing community on the northern coast of the peninsula, is a launching point for the local fishing industry, and for visitors to nearby Snæfellsjökull National Park, which is home to the ice-covered volcanic crater that was the setting for Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth.
	Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Youthful and charming seaside Halifax is the thriving port of Nova Scotia, noted for its idyllic waterfront, active art galleries and museums and popular theatres, sports and entertainment facilities. Filled with historic buildings, grand Victorian homes, modern landmark buildings and major public parks, the city is pleasant, inviting and friendly.
	Koge Bugt & Ammassalik, Greenland South of Copenhagen is Koge Bugt, or Koge Bay, the site of Denmark's most famous naval battle. In 1677, the Danish fleet was able to isolate and sink eight Swedish warships, killing 3,000 Swedes and only 100 Danes. The Ammassalik region of East Greenland was founded by Danish explorers in 1894 and named the place with lots of ammassats, or small fish. Separated from the mainland by the Ikaasartivaq Strait, it is known for heavy snowfall each winter, where it is common to see a dogsled team chained outside every colorful house.
	L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, Canada At the tip of Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula are remains of an 11th-century Viking settlement, the only such archaeological find in North America. Its importance as the probable colony of Vinland established by Leif Erikkson in 1003 prompted UNESCO to award it one of the first designations of its World Heritage Sites in 1978. Later in the day, we sail across the Strait of Belle Isle to Red Bay, Labrador, former site of early (1500s) Basque whaling areas; discovery of several sunken galleons makes Red Bay a notable underwater archaeological site in the Americas.
	Nuuk (Godthåb), Greenland The capital of Greenland, Nuuk has only about 15,000 residents, making it one of the world’s northernmost but also one of the smallest capital cities. Inhabited by Eskimo, Viking and Inuit peoples as long ago as 2000 BC, Greenland is part of Denmark, and is the world’s largest island, first settled by Eric the Red.
	Qassiarsuk, Greenland The tiny enclave of Qassiarsuk (population 60) in south Greenland is famed as the town of Erik The Red and his son Leif Eriksson, who settled here in Brattahlid on their early explorations. Affording stunning views of the surrounding mountains, icebergs and glaciers, the area has relatively calm waters providing easy access to the glacial walls of pristine local fjords.
	Reykjavik, Iceland The capital and largest city of politically independent and militarily neutral Iceland, Reykjavik is a sophisticated modern urban city on the southwestern shores of this island country. Only slightly south of the Arctic Circle, its summer nights are as bright as its days, revealing a surrounding landscape filled with thermal and geologic wonders.
	Tasiilaq, Greenland With a population of 2,000, Tasiilaq is the largest town in East Greenland. It lies on the large island of Ammassalik, approximately 62 miles south of the Arctic Circle. Known to adventure travelers, Tasiilaq is home to the annual Arctic Team Challenge, an expedition race that attracts athletes from all over the world. For the less extreme, the town has become a stop for whale watching and iceberg tours in the summer.
	Uunartoq & Prins Christiansund, Greenland Uunartoq Qeqertoq, or Warming Island, is located of the east central coast of Greenland. Here, residents bathe in the geothermal hot springs whose year-round temperatures average about 95 degrees, providing a stark contrast to the floating ice one can see from shore. If summer temperatures have melted enough ice, travelers cruise through the breathtaking Prince Christian Sound, a 55-mile long, yet one-mile wide waterway on the southeast tip of Greenland. Visitors get an up-close look at wildlife and steep fjords that have been shaped by glaciers since the Ice Age.