Cities of Greenland: NUK (Gothob)

Located on the west coast of Greenland, on a small peninsula at the foot of Mount Sermitciak, the town of Nuk (Gothob) is one of the smallest capitals of the planet (his population is barely exceeds 14 thousand people). NUK was founded in 1728 by the Norwegian missionary and a public figure Hans Egyse (Egiede) as the very first city on the island (the biggest settlements of that time did not exceed the limit of 300 inhabitants). His first name – Gothoba (good hope) got the city due to responsiveness of local Inuit for the sermon Egg and relatively favorable natural conditions of this area.

Nowadays, the city is very unusual "alloy" old European architecture, few samples of the original Greenland school of urban planning and huge (and sufficiently faceless) residential quarters built on a block principle. From the view of a bird’s eye view, the city looks as if built from the children’s designer LEGO, and the only pleasant exception in his appearance are the old quarters of Colonikhavnen – the historical nouter kernel. Here you can see the House of Egyse, in which the local parliament reception room is now located, the Church of Savur Cherch with the Statue of the Eden is a little south and the Arctic Garden of Eastern Fences, Church of Hans-Eagerch-Cherch, University of orimatusarfyk and Seminaria, Coloring "Meat market" Bradyt, Kayak Club, Library and Queen Margrete Memorial. All these buildings are concentrated on a small triangle, almost on two streets stretching between the Queen Ingrid hospital in the south, the Greenland College in the north and post office of Santa Claus in the south-west.

Most of the historical collections of the capital focused on the National Museum of Greenland (WWW.Natmus.GL), also located in the old part of the city (building dates back 1728 g.). It contains a unique collection of objects and documents covering the past islands over the past four and a half thousand years, including unique mummies from kilakits (approximately XIV-XV centuries.), extensive exhibitions of a folk costume, means of transportation (including various dogs, kayaks and umiacs of all ages), traditional tools, decorative and applied items and a large geological exposition. Here is the National Archive with a large collection of documents and relics. The museum complex is open from 13.00 to 16.00 in winter (from October 1 to April 30) and from 10.00 to 16.00 in the summer (from May 1 to September 30), day off – Monday. Archive and reading room open from Tuesday to Friday from 10.00 to 15.00.

Also deserve attention to the Cultural Center Katuas (the only exhibition center of the city and the placement of the only cinema of Greenland, the Arts Schools, the Polar Institute (NAPA), as well as cafes and the Internet salon), the house of the famous Greenland painter and the priest Nils Lingnes (Lingga, 1880-1965 GG.), Art Museum, as well as located south of the city tourist office, on the very coast of Buffin, the famous Santa Claus house (WWW.Santqa.GL) with its post office and office.

The real attractiveness of Nuke is its unique conditions for outdoor activities. Surrounded by three sides by the sea, the city literally repletes with beautiful landscapes: north of the stadium there is a famous wave-watching spot – the most unusual observation platform of the planet for whale observation, the eastern bay is occupied by the local Marina Igia (the only Polar Yacht Parking in the World), and Northeast, at the very fence of Nuke International Airport, the Kaniya ORORAUK (Kleften) begins with a whole network of ski tracks, lifts, roads for downhill and hiking excursions. And all this is located almost within the city feature! From here, numerous excursions begins to the inland areas of the island, in the picturesque fjords of the surroundings of the capital, as well as the snow-white wall of the western edge of the ice shield.