Fjord glacé d’Ilulissat

Photo : Christoph Strässler from Oberdorf BL, Schweiz (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Located in western Greenland, a territory of Denmark, this natural site encompasses a fjord system dominated by the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, one of the most active and fastest-moving glaciers in the world. The site is characterised by its dynamic glacial landscape, where massive icebergs regularly calve from the glacier terminus into the fjord waters below. The inscription recognises the site's outstanding geological and glaciological significance, as it provides crucial evidence of climate change and glacial processes. The fjord itself represents a striking example of the interaction between glacial ice, freshwater, and marine environments in Arctic conditions. Visually, the landscape is defined by the interplay of blue-white ice masses against dark rock and water, creating a dramatic Arctic scenery that has been shaped by thousands of years of glacial activity.