I visited Greenland in June 2014. It is a land of contrasts and unlike anywhere I've ever been. Everyone has heard about colossal icebergs in fantastic shapes and the inland ice - a sheet of ice more than 14 times the size of England and many kilometres thick. But the ice is not all. Greenland is also about imposing mountains, long fjords, precipitous cliffs, welcoming people, beautiful wild flowers and fresh air.
Animals such as whales, seals, reindeer, musk ox, polar bear and Arctic fox all thrive here. Blessed with rich natural and cultural diversity, this spectacular frozen world offers a fascinating insight into a history and culture that has flourished in these harsh realms for millennia.
Although Greenland has an Arctic climate (which means the average temperature never exceeds 10°C in one month), the summers are relatively mild, particularly in areas sheltered from wind. Inside the fjords the temperatures can reach up to 20°C. But on Midsummer's Day heavy snow fell as we visited Upernavik.
Greenland is the world's largest island, with an area of more than 2.1 million square kilometres. The Inuit are proud that theirs is the only island still governed by its native people. The capital city, Nuuk, has around 16,000 inhabitants. Of the places I visited, Greenland's second-largest town Sisimiut has a population of 5,600. Most had fewer than 100 residents. Words such as 'remote' and 'isolated' do not begin to do justice to the area.
The majority of Greenland lies above the Arctic Circle and therefore benefits from the midnight sun during the summer. This meant 24 hours of daylight to experience this unique landscape, which was simultaneously exhilarating and disconcerting. You can't wait for night to fall before you go to bed! For the Inuit, cloudy summer days are welcome as they bring respite from the brightness. At 70° north, the sun does not dip below 25° at midsummer.
You'll find more about Greenland on my blog page.
One of my fellow passengers, a travel writer who used some of my pictures in a magazine feature he wrote, wryly observed that 'George took a lot of pictures'. I've tried to select some of the best to share with you. I hope you enjoy them.