a polar bear, Ursus maritimus, walks on a small piece of floating ice Greenland
a stand-up paddle boarder near an iceberg in the Greenland Sea
two climbers stand atop an iceberg floating in the Greenland Sea
a polar bear, Ursus maritimus, swims in the Greenland Sea
clouds swirl around the rocky walls of the remote cirque in Southeastern Greenland
an iceberg floating in the Greenland Sea at sunset
two hikers stop to rest as they cross a glacier
ice floating on the Greenland Sea
a person fishing on the shore of southeastern Greenland
a boat as it navigates through the icy waters off Greenland
a man paddle boards near a polar bear as it swims in the Greenland Sea
aboat slowly weaves its way through icebergs in the Greenland Sea on a foggy day
an adventurer filling his water bottle from a pool of melted water Greenland
a stand-up paddle boarder in the Greenland Sea
the Tolkien-esque landscape in southeastern Greenland
colorful houses dot the hill on a foggy day in southeastern Greenland
a shore of a remote cirque at sunset Greenland
sunset at a graveyard, Tasiilaq Greenland
a climber explores the rocky landscape of a remote Greenland fjord
an Arctic fox in Greenland
a river flows through green vegetation on a small island in southeastern Greenland
a boat at twilight in the icy waters of the Greenland Sea
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A polar bear navigates the Arctic climes of Greenland. After the International Union for Conservation of Nature classified polar bears as a vulnerable species, Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia, and the U.S. created the Circumpolar Action Plan, a 10-year global conservation strategy to secure the long-term survival of polar bears.
Photograph by Keith Ladzinski

22 awe-inspiring images of icy adventures in Greenland

Spot polar bears, scale icebergs, and sample local flavors on the world’s largest island

Photographs byKeith Ladzinski
ByStarlight Williams
May 22, 2019
3 min read

The world’s largest island, Greenland—or Kalaallit Nunaat, as it’s known in the Eskimo-Aleut language spoken by nearly 60,000 Greenlandic Inuit—is a vast land of wild beauty and abundant adventure.

In the summer months, a midnight sun illuminates northern towns such as Qaanaaq and Uummannaq for 24 hours a day; while this may challenge some sleep patterns it flings open the doors to practically endless explorations. During the summer solstice (June 21), locals pour into the streets for Greenland’s National Day, a nation-wide kaffemik—social gathering—celebrating Greenlandic culture.

Start by exploring the island’s many fjords in East Greenland by kayaking around icebergs—you may even glimpse an elusive polar bear. Heli-ski down remote slopes, trek on slippery glaciers, learn to lead a dogsled, and straddle a snowmobile. Then venture to the the southern and western coasts for epic hiking trails, secluded fishing spots, and picturesque campgrounds. And, in more populated areas such as Nuuk and Sisimiut, learn about Inuit culture and cuisine. (Read more on how Greenlanders preserve their heritage through kayaking)

Discover boundless Arctic adventures in this set of images by National Geographic photographer Keith Ladzinski.

Based in New York, photographer and videographer Keith Ladzinski focuses on natural history, extreme sports, and advertising. Follow his adventures on Instagram @ladzinski
Starlight Williams is an editorial researcher and writer at National Geographic. Follow her on Twitter @star_lightw and Instagram @starlightwilliams
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