Greenland: Uunartoq Island – Hot Springs
Hot Springs in Greenland? Yes it’s actually true Uunartoq Island is of volcanic origin and has of of the few Greenlandic hot springs and the hottest one. The name “Uunartoq” translates as “the hot place” in the Inuit language, perfectly capturing the island’s main feature. The hot springs have a permanent year round temperature of 37–38°C (98–100°F), basically ideal! Interestingly, unlike Iceland’s volcanic hot springs, here in Greenland the heat comes from deep within the Earth’s mantle, not surface volcanism, making it a unique geological feature in the Arctic. The scenery is truly surreal – you are soaking surrounded by snow-capped mountains, drifting icebergs, and the vast Arctic fjords. The hot springs have been known for over 1,000 years. Norse explorers, including Leif Erikson, used them as a spot to bathe before voyages.
