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With its 5000 inhabitants Ilulissat is the third biggest municipality in Greenland. About 4000 people lives in Ilulissat former known as Jakobshavn, and the rest of them lives in the small settlements Ilimanaq (Claushavn), Oqaatsut (Rodebay), Qergertaq and Saqqaq.
Ilulissat is situated 350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle close to one of the worlds most productive and fast moving glaciers - Kangia. The glacier front is 40 kilometres from Ilulissat and the glacier produces in average 20 million ton of ice pr day. This area has recently been nominated for inclusion in the Unescos World Heritage List.
The fact that Ilulissat is situated near this glacier is the foundation for fishing halibut, which is the citys main industry, and tourism.
Knud Ramussen, who is known for his arctic explorations and studies of the arctic world, was born in Ilulissat and his birthplace is today the museum of Ilulissat.
The importance of sledge dogs is clearly indicated by the fact that there are more dogs than people in Ilulissat. These dogs are both used for fun and sport, but also for transportation when the locals go fishing on the ice fiord during the winter.
Nearby Ilulissat you will find the former settlement of Sermermiut, which is a historical interesting place. Here you can still see the remains of the old turf houses from the different Eskimo cultures that have been living I Greenland.
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