Qaqortoq is in Southern Greenland.

Qaqortoq is Southern Greenland’s largest town, with about 3,000 inhabitants. The main industry in the town is fishing, but there are also administrative and education centers in Qaqortoq. There are also some natural hot springs near Qaqortoq that are open for visitors to take a dip in, the water is nearly 38 degrees.

Climate

Qaqortoq has a maritime-influenced polar climate with cold, snowy winters and cool summers. The southern tip of Greenland does not experience permafrost. The cold waters of the Labrador Basin ensure that summer stays below the tree line in spite of it being below the 61st parallel. Winters are much milder than at much lower coastal parallels in continental North America due to the marine effect. Therefore, the seasonal variation in the climate is very small for a location so far north.

Tourism

Tourism is a significant contributor to the economy of the town. The Qaqortoq Tourist Service – Greenland Sagalands – is the tourist office. Roughly two-thirds of all tourists (65.5%) are from Denmark. There are several facilities offering accommodations, including the Qaqortoq Hostel. The Qaqortoq Museum offers services in English, Danish, and Kalaallisut. The Great Greenland Furhouse is also a popular tourist attraction. Tourists are offered year-round activities such as kayaking, guided hiking, whale-watching, cross-country skiing, and boating. In recent years, Qaqortoq has experienced a decline in tourist revenue, with an average of 1,700 tourists annually staying in the town overnight, very much due to the lack of an airport close to the town. The Qaqortoq Stadium is the first artificial grass football stadium in Greenland. The Danish Crown Princely family visited the town as part of an official tour of Greenland in summer 2014.