Nasaasaaq
Encyclopedia
Nasaasaaq is a 784 metres (2,572 ft) high prominent mountain
in the Qeqqata
municipality in western Greenland
. It is located on the mainland of Greenland, immediately to the southeast of Sisimiut
on the northern coast of Amerloq Fjord
, a tributary of Davis Strait
.
The mountain massif is spread out over 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) in the west-east direction, constituting the terminal point of a long mountain range extending from the Pingu mountain group halfway between Davis Strait and the Greenland ice sheet
. The range flattens considerably towards the east in the area of Kangaamiut dike swarm north of Kangerlussuaq
, due to pressure exerted by the icesheet for long periods in the past. The Nasaasaaq ridge connects to the other latitudinal ridges approximately 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Sisimiut.
To the east the ridge gradually falls to nearly 300 m (984.3 ft), before turning east-north-east towards the Aappilattorsuaq massif. The southern wall of Nasaasaaq falls directly to Amerloq Fjord.
The northern wall is not a uniform surface, dissected by ledges, dihedrals, and ramps. The main access route to the summit leads through one of the ramps to the saddle between the main summit and its western trabant. The passage on the top cone is secured by ropes for unprepared tourists.
to the north of the town airport. An alternative route to the top of interest to mountaineeers leads through the hard to find low pass to the east of the main summit, and from there directly on the summit cone ridge.
mountain to the north, with the summit of the latter sometimes visited by way of a variant. A small lift for downhill skiing
is also installed on the saddle.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
in the Qeqqata
Qeqqata
Qeqqata is a new municipality in western Greenland, operational from 1 January 2009. The municipality was named after its location in central-western part of the country. Its population is 9,677 as of January 2010. The administrative center of the municipality is in Sisimiut...
municipality in western Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. It is located on the mainland of Greenland, immediately to the southeast of Sisimiut
Sisimiut
Sisimiut is a town in central-western Greenland, located on the coast of Davis Strait, approximately north of Nuuk. It is the administrative center of the Qeqqata Municipality and the second-largest town in Greenland, with a population of 5,460 people as of 2010. The site of the present-day town...
on the northern coast of Amerloq Fjord
Amerloq Fjord
Amerloq Fjord is a long fjord in the Qeqqata municipality in western Greenland. The fjord empties into Davis Strait just south of Sisimiut.- Geography :The fjord mouth is located at approximately south of the town of Sisimiut...
, a tributary of Davis Strait
Davis Strait
Davis Strait is a northern arm of the Labrador Sea. It lies between mid-western Greenland and Nunavut, Canada's Baffin Island. The strait was named for the English explorer John Davis , who explored the area while seeking a Northwest Passage....
.
The mountain massif is spread out over 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) in the west-east direction, constituting the terminal point of a long mountain range extending from the Pingu mountain group halfway between Davis Strait and the Greenland ice sheet
Greenland ice sheet
The Greenland ice sheet is a vast body of ice covering , roughly 80% of the surface of Greenland. It is the second largest ice body in the world, after the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The ice sheet is almost long in a north-south direction, and its greatest width is at a latitude of 77°N, near its...
. The range flattens considerably towards the east in the area of Kangaamiut dike swarm north of Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq is a settlement in western Greenland in the Qeqqata municipality, located at the head of a fjord of the same name. It is Greenland's main air transport hub, being the site of Greenland's largest commercial airport....
, due to pressure exerted by the icesheet for long periods in the past. The Nasaasaaq ridge connects to the other latitudinal ridges approximately 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Sisimiut.
Topography
The Nasaasaaq ridge has several summits. The main summit is the most prominent, rising over the remainder of the ridge in a tall 150 m (492.1 ft) cone at 784 m (2,572.2 ft). The ridge terminates in a 611 m (2,004.6 ft) trabant overlooking Sisimiut.To the east the ridge gradually falls to nearly 300 m (984.3 ft), before turning east-north-east towards the Aappilattorsuaq massif. The southern wall of Nasaasaaq falls directly to Amerloq Fjord.
The northern wall is not a uniform surface, dissected by ledges, dihedrals, and ramps. The main access route to the summit leads through one of the ramps to the saddle between the main summit and its western trabant. The passage on the top cone is secured by ropes for unprepared tourists.
Tourism
The main summit is visited for its long-range view of the coast, although more limited to the north than that of Palasip QaqqaaPalasip Qaqqaa
Palasip Qaqqaa is a high mountain in the Qeqqata municipality in western Greenland. It is located on the mainland of Greenland on the coast of Davis Strait, immediately to the north of Sisimiut Airport....
to the north of the town airport. An alternative route to the top of interest to mountaineeers leads through the hard to find low pass to the east of the main summit, and from there directly on the summit cone ridge.
Polar Route
The tough, 160 km (99.4 mi) long Arctic Circle Race takes place each winter, with the trail partially overlapping with the Polar Route from Sisimiut to Kangerlussuaq. The race was inaugurated in 1998, since then becoming an international competition. The Polar Route passes through the saddle between Nasaasaaq and the much lower AlanngorsuaqAlanngorsuaq
Alanngorsuaq is a high mountain in the Qeqqata municipality in western Greenland. It is located on the mainland of Greenland in Sisimiut valley, approximately east of the town.- Geography :...
mountain to the north, with the summit of the latter sometimes visited by way of a variant. A small lift for downhill skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
is also installed on the saddle.