Icefjord Centre - One visit
Upon arriving in Ilulissat on the west coast of Greenland on our Pole to Pole cruise with Hurtigruten Expeditions to visit the magnificent Ilulissat Icefjord, we followed this with a visit to the Icefjord Centre.
We were impressed with the incredible architecture, with minimal impact and nicely blended with its surroundings, using only steel and wood to construct over two years.
The Icefjord Centre only opened 11 months ago. It was imposing and a great way to learn about the life stages of ice, from a drop of rain to snowflakes, calving, drifting and melting!
A friendly chap who worked there joined us for coffee (the cafe onsite makes exceptional coffee) and shared his stories about Ilulissat and the dramatic change they are experiencing due to climate change; recently, the permafrost has been reducing, and the houses are beginning to shift and become damaged, among the changes in the ice. Thirty years ago, it was much closer to go and touch; now, the drive has become much longer.
In the Ilulissat Icefjord, global warming is evident. The Greenlanders are thankful for the growing interest in an issue they live with and adapt to constantly. The area is a site of extensive research undertaken for centuries and, as a result, is said to facilitate insight into climate change.
We enjoyed listening to and hearing about the village and how tourism is doubling and becoming stronger each year from around the globe; it was a beautiful, charming community with excellent infrastructure, nestled among a seascape of ice.
There is a viewing platform on the roof of the structure, which provides a sensory overload of the Icefjord. Be sure to visit if you are fortunate to find yourself in this magical part of the world.