logo
Iceberg dead ahead! Amazing images show skyscraper-sized frozen blocks drifting towards houses on Greenland's shores

Iceberg dead ahead! Amazing images show skyscraper-sized frozen blocks drifting towards houses on Greenland's shores

Daily Mail​11-07-2025
Incredible images show a huge iceberg drifting dangerously close to the shore in Greenland.
The towering structure has been edging closer to a harbour in Innaarsuit, where local authorities have issued warnings to the public.
It is now near the Royal Greenland fish factory and the local food store, where people are being advised to take care when visiting.
The Avannaata Municipality said: 'Emergency services encourage families not to go in a group towards the store, while at the same time asking people with walking difficulties to be extra careful when walking towards the store.
'The emergency services also want you to be careful when sailing both to and from the settlement.
'The emergency services are aware of the iceberg and are prepared if it breaks apart.'
Dennis Lehtonen, who works locally, said the iceberg originally came to the village approximately a week ago, but appeared to move on.
He said: 'This Monday, however, the iceberg would return to Innaarsuit and since then it has been (almost) in the same location since then.
'Because of this, the Avannaata Kommunia (North Greenland municipality) issued the official warning for the iceberg and we are temporarily closing the local fish factory where I work as well as the small shop.'
He added: 'I have asked the locals about their feelings for the iceberg. Some say they're worried, but there are plenty of people who are sort or excited (like me).'
It comes just weeks after a fisherman spotted a black iceberg off the coast of Canada.
Hallur Antoniussen, originally from the Faroe Islands, was aboard a fishing trawler when he spotted the strange sight.
'I have seen icebergs that are rolled, what they say have rolled in the beach with some rocks in it,' he told CBC Radio.
'This one here is completely different. It's not only that he is all black. He is almost…in a diamond shape.'
Mr Antoniussen, 64, said it was hard to estimate the size of the iceberg since it was roughly six kilometres away when he took a photograph of it.
However, he believes it was at least three times the size of a regular bungalow.
Icebergs traditionally appear white because they are filled with tiny pockets of trapped air that scatter all wavelengths of light.
One explanation for the rare black iceberg is that it became mixed with a lot of debris thousands of years ago when it was part of a larger glacier.
As glaciers move towards the ocean they grind along the ground, stirring up debris that becomes mixed in with the ice.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

A town divided: how cruise tourism tore Greenland's iceberg capital in two
A town divided: how cruise tourism tore Greenland's iceberg capital in two

The Guardian

time7 hours ago

  • The Guardian

A town divided: how cruise tourism tore Greenland's iceberg capital in two

It is known as the 'iceberg capital of the world' but to the mayor of Ilulissat in northern Greenland, it is also a town divided where friends and neighbours have stopped talking to each other in a dispute over the cruise ships that bring tourists to see its frozen wonders. Its Unesco-listed icefjord draws thousands of visitors in the summer months, each potentially bringing lucrative business to the town. But frustrated local tour operators say they are being shut out by larger companies from elsewhere in Greenland and Denmark, who are undercutting local businesses or excluding them entirely – while local boats sit unused in the harbour. Ilulissat's mayor, Lars Erik Gabrielsen, has called on residents to protest against the cruise ship arrivals with demonstrations and signs – drawing the ire of a minister in the territory's government who has accused him of scaring off tourists. The community, he said, is divided between those who have chosen to work with Greenland Cruises, a Greenlandic-owned company based in Nuuk, and Danish company Vela Nordic, and those who have not. 'We don't even recognise ourselves,' said Gabrielsen. 'We are not saying hello to each other because we are split.' If cruise ships stopped working with these two companies and Diskoline, a transport company owned by Topas Explorer Group, a Danish travel company, they would be supporting local taxpayers, he said. 'It's very awful. We are very sad. And our government cannot even understand us.' Greenland's minister for business, Naaja Nathanielsen, condemned Gabrielsen's call for action with a statement accusing him of 'a very unfortunate mix of exercising authority and activism'. He was, she said, sending 'a clear signal' to operators that they 'risk being met with demonstrations arranged by the authorities'. Several cruise calls to the town had already been cancelled, she said, and several others were considering bypassing Ilulissat. A cruise ship was last year blocked from entering the port over claims it was only using foreign-owned tour providers. The dispute comes at a key time for the territory, where traditionally fishing has been the dominant industry but tourism is playing an increasingly important role as the Arctic ice melts. Tourism is also seen as an important economic component to securing independence from Denmark, which ruled Greenland as a colony until 1953 and still controls its foreign and security policy. US interest in Greenland is meanwhile soaring amid Donald Trump's threats to acquire the territory, centred around both minerals investment and tourism. This summer saw the introduction of direct flights from New York to Nuuk, the Greenlandic capital, after the opening of a new international airport. An airport is also under construction in Ilullisat, due to open next year. Gabrielsen accused Nathanielsen of painting him and his allies as 'bad people', but said they simply want to ensure local involvement in the cruise industry. 'We want to also be involved in tourism in the future, so that our children and grandchildren can see themselves in this growing industry,' he added. Sign up to This is Europe The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment after newsletter promotion A tourism act was last year passed aimed at sustainable development of the sector and locally rooted tourism but Gabrielsen disputed it would make any difference. He instead proposes that Greenland should have a tourism agency run by municipalities and the industry so tasks and customers can be distributed more fairly. Tax law also needs changing to tackle the problem, he said. The Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), which last year facilitated multiple meetings in Ilulissat with local stakeholders and operators, said it is 'aware of the concerns raised in Ilulissat and understands that the frustration appears to be directed primarily at companies registered in Greenland.' A spokesperson added that the situation 'appears to reflect local dynamics and differing views on how tourism should be managed.' Anne Nivíka Grødem, CEO of Visit Greenland, said: 'We view the recent developments in Ilulissat with great concern, where local calls for protest against certain tourism operators have led to unrest and uncertainty. This not only affects our visitors but also disrupts the collaboration between those who contribute to creating jobs and income in the town.' Christian Keldsen, director of Greenland Business Association, said the dispute centres around differing definitions of 'local'. 'In the word of the law all the companies operating here are Greenlandic, although some may have owners that live abroad, for example in Denmark.' Diskoline said in a statement: 'We believe there is room for both established and new operators, and that the growing number of visitors can support a diverse and vibrant local tourism sector. Our goal is to work collaboratively, with mutual respect and openness. 'We also take pride in being a year-round employer in Greenland. Many of our employees are local, and we always prioritize hiring locally before seeking candidates from abroad, including Denmark.' Greenland Cruises declined to comment and Vela Nordic did not respond to requests.

A town divided: how cruise tourism tore Greenland's iceberg capital in two
A town divided: how cruise tourism tore Greenland's iceberg capital in two

The Guardian

time14 hours ago

  • The Guardian

A town divided: how cruise tourism tore Greenland's iceberg capital in two

It is known as the 'iceberg capital of the world' but to the mayor of Ilulissat in northern Greenland, it is also a town divided where friends and neighbours have stopped talking to each other in a dispute over the cruise ships that bring tourists to see its frozen wonders. Its Unesco-listed icefjord draws thousands of visitors in the summer months, each potentially bringing lucrative business to the town. But frustrated local tour operators say they are being shut out by larger companies from elsewhere in Greenland and Denmark, who are undercutting local businesses or excluding them entirely – while local boats sit unused in the harbour. Ilulissat's mayor, Lars Erik Gabrielsen, has called on residents to protest against the cruise ship arrivals with demonstrations and signs – drawing the ire of a minister in the territory's government who has accused him of scaring off tourists. The community, he said, is divided between those who have chosen to work with Greenland Cruises, a Greenlandic-owned company based in Nuuk, and Danish company Vela Nordic, and those who have not. 'We don't even recognise ourselves,' said Gabrielsen. 'We are not saying hello to each other because we are split.' If cruise ships stopped working with these two companies and Diskoline, a transport company owned by Topas Explorer Group, a Danish travel company, they would be supporting local taxpayers, he said. 'It's very awful. We are very sad. And our government cannot even understand us.' Greenland's minister for business, Naaja Nathanielsen, condemned Gabrielsen's call for action with a statement accusing him of 'a very unfortunate mix of exercising authority and activism'. He was, she said, sending 'a clear signal' to operators that they 'risk being met with demonstrations arranged by the authorities'. Several cruise calls to the town had already been cancelled, she said, and several others were considering bypassing Ilulissat. A cruise ship was last year blocked from entering the port over claims it was only using foreign-owned tour providers. The dispute comes at a key time for the territory, where traditionally fishing has been the dominant industry but tourism is playing an increasingly important role as the Arctic ice melts. Tourism is also seen as an important economic component to securing independence from Denmark, which ruled Greenland as a colony until 1953 and still controls its foreign and security policy. US interest in Greenland is meanwhile soaring amid Donald Trump's threats to acquire the territory, centred around both minerals investment and tourism. This summer saw the introduction of direct flights from New York to Nuuk, the Greenlandic capital, after the opening of a new international airport. An airport is also under construction in Ilullisat, due to open next year. Gabrielsen accused Nathanielsen of painting him and his allies as 'bad people', but said they simply want to ensure local involvement in the cruise industry. 'We want to also be involved in tourism in the future, so that our children and grandchildren can see themselves in this growing industry,' he added. Sign up to This is Europe The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment after newsletter promotion A tourism act was last year passed aimed at sustainable development of the sector and locally rooted tourism but Gabrielsen disputed it would make any difference. He instead proposes that Greenland should have a tourism agency run by municipalities and the industry so tasks and customers can be distributed more fairly. Tax law also needs changing to tackle the problem, he said. The Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), which last year facilitated multiple meetings in Ilulissat with local stakeholders and operators, said it is 'aware of the concerns raised in Ilulissat and understands that the frustration appears to be directed primarily at companies registered in Greenland.' A spokesperson added that the situation 'appears to reflect local dynamics and differing views on how tourism should be managed.' Anne Nivíka Grødem, CEO of Visit Greenland, said: 'We view the recent developments in Ilulissat with great concern, where local calls for protest against certain tourism operators have led to unrest and uncertainty. This not only affects our visitors but also disrupts the collaboration between those who contribute to creating jobs and income in the town.' Christian Keldsen, director of Greenland Business Association, said the dispute centres around differing definitions of 'local'. 'In the word of the law all the companies operating here are Greenlandic, although some may have owners that live abroad, for example in Denmark.' Diskoline said in a statement: 'We believe there is room for both established and new operators, and that the growing number of visitors can support a diverse and vibrant local tourism sector. Our goal is to work collaboratively, with mutual respect and openness. 'We also take pride in being a year-round employer in Greenland. Many of our employees are local, and we always prioritize hiring locally before seeking candidates from abroad, including Denmark.' Greenland Cruises declined to comment and Vela Nordic did not respond to requests.

UK weather: Storm Floris sparks amber warning
UK weather: Storm Floris sparks amber warning

Sky News

time2 days ago

  • Sky News

UK weather: Storm Floris sparks amber warning

Why you can trust Sky News Storm Floris is nearing the UK - with train companies in the hardest-hit areas urging passengers not to travel today. The Met Office has issued an amber "danger to life" warning for wind in parts of Scotland, with gusts of up to 90mph possible. That alert is in force from 10am until 10pm, with forecasters warning "unusually strong" winds could close roads and damage buildings. A wider yellow warning - covering the North of England and Northern Ireland - is also active between 6am this morning and 11.59pm tonight. Train operator LNER has warned passengers not to travel north of Newcastle, while Avanti West Coast has advised its customers not to travel north of Preston as it will be "heavily affected" by the weather. "We're expecting heavy rain and high winds to result in disruption of services," LNER said in a statement. Some trains have already been cancelled in Scotland, with Network Rail saying several lines will be closed from 12pm. Other routes will run with a reduced timetable and longer journey times. Among the routes set to close at midday are Edinburgh to Fife, Perth to Dundee, and Aberdeen to Inverness, as well as the West Highland Line. The storm could also lead to road closures - and several ferry services have already been cancelled by Scottish operator CalMac. The Met Office said that much of Scotland, particularly western coastal areas, will be battered by heavy rain and winds of up to 85mph. The strongest gusts are expected this afternoon and into the evening - but a Met Office spokesperson warned "there remains some uncertainty in the depth and track of Floris". Sky News' weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "Storm Floris is likely to bring a spell of weather not usually associated with the height of summer. "Travelling across the Atlantic, this otherwise unremarkable, low-pressure system will cross a powerful jet stream, exiting on the cold side, renowned for storm formation." She said inland gusts of 50mph to 60mph are widely possible, potentially reaching 80mph to 90mph over exposed coasts, hills and bridges. "The rain associated with this storm will largely clear through early tomorrow, but it's as the rain goes that the winds start to strengthen," she warned.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store