QasigiannguitThe pre-1973 spelling was Kasigianguit. It is also sometimes written as Qasigianguit. (), also known as Christianshåb,The pre-1948 spelling was Christianshaab. is a town located in western Greenland on the southeastern shore of Disko Bay in the Qeqertalik municipality. With 1,081 inhabitants in 2020, it is the thirteenth-largest town in Greenland. The main industry is shrimp and halibut fishing.
History
The settlement was founded as a trading post for Jacob Severin's company in 1734Marquardt, Ole. "Change and Continuity in Denmark's Greenland Policy" in The Oldenburg Monarchy: An Underestimated Empire?. Verlag Ludwig (Kiel), 2006. and named Christianshaab in honour of King Christian VI of Denmark.Del, Anden. "Grønland som del af den bibelske fortælling – en 1700-tals studie " ["Greenland as Part of the Biblical Narrative – a Study of the 18th-Century"]. The name was sometimes anglicized as Christian's Hope.i.a., Lieber, Francis & al. Encyclopædia Americana: A Popular Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature, History, Politics and Biography. "Greenland". B.B. Mussey & Co., 1854.
Paul Egede's former residence is Greenland's oldest surviving wooden building. It was completed on 25 July 1734 and moved to its present site in 1806 owing to the heavy wind at its original location across the bay. In 1997, a museum was officially opened in the Egede house. In the summer of 1999, an archaeological discovery provided the museum with a collection of finds from different prehistoric cultures.Museum .
Transport
Air
During the winter, Air Greenland operates air services from the town heliport to Ilulissat, Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island and Aasiaat.
Sea During summer and autumn, when the waters of Disko Bay are navigable, communication between settlements is by sea only, serviced by Diskoline.Diskoline timetable The ferry links Qasigiannguit with Ilulissat, Aasiaat, Ikamiut, Akunnaaq, and Qeqertarsuaq.
Population With 1,081 inhabitants as of 2020, Qasigiannguit is the second-largest town in the Qeqertalik municipality. The town is steadily depopulating, with the population having decreased by more than 27% relative to the 1990 levels and by nearly 17% relative to the 2000 levels.
References