History of Kangerlussuaq

The history of the settlement of Kangerlussuaq is unique to the region: it did not emerge as a traditional Inuit village or a Danish trading post, but as a strategic facility in the mid-20th century. Unlike most towns on the island, which boast centuries of history, this settlement owes its existence to the development of aviation.

Foundation and Military Beginnings

The official beginning of the settlement's history is considered to be 1941. At the height of the Second World War, the US military established a base here under the code name "Bluie West-8," later known as Sondrestrom Air Base. The location was chosen after careful reconnaissance: a site was required for the intermediate landing of aircraft being ferried from North America to Europe.

Key Factors of Development

The transformation of the military base into a key transport hub was determined by unique geographical conditions:

• Climatic Stability: The settlement is located deep inland in Greenland, at the end of a long fjord, approximately 160 km from the open ocean. This provides protection from coastal fogs and storms, guaranteeing the highest number of flyable days per year.
• Landscape: An extensive plain formed by river deposits allowed for the construction of a long runway capable of receiving heavy aircraft.
• Logistics: Initially, the base served only military purposes, but its advantageous location quickly made it indispensable for civilian transatlantic flights in the era before the advent of long-haul liners.

Early Features and Transformation

For a long time, Kangerlussuaq remained a closed enclave with a typically American way of life, differing significantly from the lifestyle of traditional Greenlandic settlements. The economy and culture here were built exclusively around servicing the airfield. Only in the early 1990s, after the infrastructure was transferred to the local government, did the settlement begin to acquire the features of a civilian community, becoming the country's main air gateway.

Development Chronology

• 1941 — The US military establishes the Bluie West-8 base to support transatlantic flights during the Second World War.
• 1951 — A defence agreement is signed, cementing the airfield's status as an important strategic NATO site in the Arctic.
• 1954 — SAS airlines launches the world's first commercial polar route, Copenhagen — Los Angeles, with a refuelling stop in Sondrestrom.
• 1957 — A regular flight to Tokyo via the North Pole is launched, turning the base into a vital international transit point.
• 1960s — The airfield becomes a logistics centre for supplying the radar stations of the early warning system (DEW Line).
• 1970s — The infrastructure begins to be used to support large-scale scientific expeditions on the Greenland ice sheet.
• 1992 — The US Air Force officially leaves the base, transferring the runway and buildings to the island's government for a symbolic price.
• 1998 — The process of transforming the military facility into a civilian settlement under local administration is completed.
• 2002 — Kangerlussuaq definitively secures its status as the main international hub for Air Greenland.
• 2010s — The settlement becomes a popular centre for adventure tourism thanks to easy access to the Russell Glacier.
• 2020 — Construction begins on the first extensive road in the region's history, which will connect the airport with the town of Sisimiut.

Milestones of Transformation and Regional Significance

The evolution of Kangerlussuaq is a journey from a closed military facility to the open air gateway of an entire nation. Several key stages can be highlighted that radically changed the economic and urban appearance of the settlement:

• Creation of an Engineering Foundation. The construction of the base in the 1940s provided this territory with infrastructure unparalleled in Greenland. The appearance of a powerful runway and communications far from the coast predetermined the site's destiny as the island's main transport hub.
• Integration into Global Aviation. The use of the airfield for refuelling SAS transatlantic flights in the mid-20th century brought the first elements of civilian service and international standards to the settlement, linking it with Europe and North America.
• Transition to Civilian Management. The departure of the US military and the transfer of assets to the local government in the 1990s allowed the closed garrison to be transformed into a fully-fledged municipality, where private business and the social sector began to develop.
• Becoming a National Hub. Securing the status of Air Greenland's main base for the airport became the economic backbone of the settlement. This decision guaranteed a constant flow of passengers and cargo, creating hundreds of jobs in logistics and services.
• Formation of a Scientific Cluster. Convenient access to the ice sheet made the settlement a centre for international climate research. The presence of scientists stimulates the development of specific services and supports year-round activity in the settlement.
• Tourism Diversification. The development of excursion programmes to the Russell Glacier and muskox safaris allowed the town to become not just a transit point, but an independent travel destination, which contributed to the opening of new hotels and souvenir shops.
• Overcoming Isolation. The project to build a road to the city of Sisimiut marks a new era in the region's urban planning. This will connect the main airport with a seaport, creating a transport link unique to the Arctic and opening up new commercial perspectives.

Industrial Heritage and Military Functionalism

The architectural appearance of Kangerlussuaq is unique and has no analogues among other settlements in the region. There is no historical centre in the traditional sense, nor are there buildings from the era of classicism or wooden architecture of the 18th century. The urban structure of the settlement is a monument to mid-20th-century engineering, where aesthetics were completely subordinated to the utilitarian tasks of supporting flight operations.

The development of the settlement is inextricably linked to one dominant era — the period of the American military base's presence (1941–1992). This defined the prevailing style of construction: military functionalism and industrial minimalism. The layout of the streets is dictated not by the natural landscape, but by the strict logistics of the airfield and the location of the runway.

Development Features and Landmarks

Unlike the colourful coastal towns for which Greenland is famous, local architecture is characterised by strict geometry and restraint. Most buildings are standard modular constructions designed for extreme weather conditions.

• Airport Terminal Complex: The main architectural dominant feature and the heart of the settlement. This is an example of concentrated infrastructure: the building unites the terminal, a hotel, shops, a post office, and restaurants, effectively performing the function of a town square under a roof.
• Base Housing Stock: Characteristic low-rise blocks and dormitories that have retained the numbering from military times. Today, many of them have been renovated and painted in bright colours to visually diversify the harsh industrial landscape.
• Technical Hangars: Massive structures made of steel and concrete, intended for servicing aircraft, form a recognisable silhouette of the settlement against the backdrop of the tundra.

Distinguished Figures

Although Kangerlussuaq is a young settlement, its history as a strategic aviation hub has linked it with the names of distinguished military personnel, diplomats, and world leaders. Here are the key figures who influenced the fate of the town and the region:

• Bernt Balchen
  Colonel, USAF, Polar Aviator
  Considered the de facto founder of the settlement. It was Balchen who, in 1941, selected this plain for the construction of the secret Bluie West-8 airbase. His experience flying in the Arctic allowed him to identify a unique location with the best weather on the island, which predetermined Kangerlussuaq's future as the country's main air gateway.
• Henrik Kauffmann
  Danish Ambassador to the US
  Played a key historical role by signing the "Agreement relating to the Defense of Greenland" with the US government in 1941. This bold diplomatic step legalised the construction of American bases in the Danish colony, kickstarting infrastructure development in this area.
• Willi Dansgaard
  Paleoclimatologist, Professor
  A pioneer in ice core research who revealed the history of the Earth's climate to the world. For decades, he used the Kangerlussuaq airfield as the main logistical base for supplying scientific expeditions to the ice sheet (Camp Century, Dye-3 projects), turning the town into a centre for polar science.
• Ban Ki-moon
  8th Secretary-General of the UN
  Visited the town and the nearby Russell Glacier in 2014. His visit attracted unprecedented attention from global media to Kangerlussuaq as a "climate outpost" of the planet, clearly demonstrating the consequences of global warming.
• Hillary Clinton
  US Secretary of State (2009–2013)
  Made an official visit to Greenland in 2011, choosing Kangerlussuaq as the venue for negotiations. This event highlighted the growing geopolitical status of the Arctic region and the town's role as a key access point to the resources and scientific data of the North.