Avannaata (, ) is a municipality of Greenland created on 1 January 2018 from the bulk of the former Qaasuitsup municipality. It encompasses an area of 522,700 km2 and has 10,989 inhabitants.
Geography In the south, Avannaata is flanked by the Qeqertalik municipality. In the southeast, it is bordered by the Sermersooq municipality; the border runs north–south (45° West meridian) through the center of the Greenland ice sheet (), so is free of traffic. In the east and northeast it is bordered by the Northeast Greenland National Park. Pituffik Space Base is an enclave on the Avannaata coast that is administered by the United States Space Force.
At the southern end of the municipal coastline are the waters of Disko Bay, although some Disko Bay communities belong to the municipality of Qeqertalik. This bay is an inlet of the larger Baffin Bay, which to the north edges into the island of Greenland in the form of Melville Bay. The coastline of northeastern Baffin Bay is dotted with islands of the Upernavik Archipelago, which is entirely contained within the municipality. In the far northwest near Qaanaaq and Siorapaluk, the municipal shores extend into Nares Strait, which separates Greenland from Canada's Ellesmere Island.
Avannaata's western side extends to the formerly disputed Hans Island's eastern half, while Canada's Qiqiktaluuk Region administers the western half.
Politics Avannaata's municipal council consists of 17 members, elected every four years.Avannaata.gl "Kommunalbestyrelsen"
Municipal council Election Party Totalseats Turnout Electedmayor2017312291763.1%Palle Jeremiassen (S)20212132969.5%20252413760.6% Lars Erik Gabrielsen (S) (S-N coalition)Data from Valg.gl
Administrative divisions
Ilulissat area Ilulissat (Jacobshavn) Ilimanaq (Claushavn) Oqaatsut (Hollandshuk) Qeqertaq (Øen) Saqqaq (Solsiden)
Qaanaaq area Qaanaaq (Thule) Qeqertat Savissivik Siorapaluk
Uummannaq area Uummannaq Ikerasak Illorsuit Niaqornat Nuugaatsiaq Qaarsut Saattut Ukkusissat
Upernavik area Upernavik Aappilattoq Innaarsuit Kangersuatsiaq (Prøven) Kullorsuaq Naajaat Nutaarmiut Nuussuaq (Kraulshavn) Tasiusaq Tussaaq Upernavik Kujalleq (Søndre Upernavik)
Language
Kalaallisut, the West Greenlandic dialect, is spoken in the towns and settlements of the western and northwestern coasts. Inuktun is also spoken in and around Qaanaaq.
See also KANUKOKA
References and notes