Tasiusaq Bay (old spelling: Tasiussaq) is a bay in the Upernavik Archipelago in the Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland. It is an indentation of northeastern Baffin Bay. The name of the bay derives from the name of the settlement of the same name in the bay.
The bay is located in the north-central part of Upernavik Archipelago, between Sugar Loaf Bay in the north, and Upernavik Icefjord in the south. At its widest − from the Cape Shackleton promontory on Apparsuit Island in the north at 73°48′13″N56°49′57″W / 73.80361°N 56.83250°W , to the mouth of Upernavik Icefjord in the south [1] [2] − Tasiusaq Bay stretches for approximately 93 km (58 mi).
There is a large number of islands and skerries in the bay, scattered over the entire area. They can be divides into several groups:
The northernmost group of islands lies between the Nasaussap Saqqaa fjord emptying into Sugar Loaf Bay in the north, and the Kangerlussuaq Icefjord in the south. The major islands, listed from north to south, are: [1]
The central group of islands lies between the Kangerlussuaq Icefjord in the north, and the mouth of Upernavik Icefjord in the south. The major islands, listed from north to south, are: [2]
The southern group of islands bounds the Upernavik Icefjord from the north. The major islands, listed from east to west, are: [2]
The coastline of mainland Greenland in the region is a series of alternating nunataks and glaciers draining the Greenland ice sheet (Greenlandic : Sermersuaq). the major features, from north to south, are:
The major waterways of Tasiusaq Bay are the Nasaussap Saqqaa fjord in the north, Kangerlussuaq Icefjord, and Upernavik Icefjord in the south. [1] [2]
The mainland is uninhabited, and only some of the islands are settled. Tasiusaq is the largest settlement in the bay. [3] Other settlements are Nutaarmiut, Innaarsuit, and Naajaat. [2] The former settlement of Tussaaq has one inhabitant left.
Nuussuaq, formerly Kraulshavn, is a settlement in the Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland. It is the only mainland settlement in the Upernavik Archipelago, located near the western tip of the Nuussuaq Peninsula, on the northern coast of Sugar Loaf Bay, an indentation of Baffin Bay.
Naajaat is a settlement in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. Former spellings include Naujât, Naujat, and Naajat. Located on a small island of the same name, the settlement has 49 inhabitants as of 2020.
Upernavik Archipelago is a vast coastal archipelago in the Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland, off the shores of northeastern Baffin Bay. The archipelago extends from the northwestern coast of Sigguup Nunaa peninsula in the south at approximately 71°50′N56°00′W to the southern end of Melville Bay in the north at approximately 74°50′N57°30′W.
Qullikorsuit Island is an uninhabited island in the Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland. It is located in the northern part of Upernavik Archipelago.
Inussulik Bay is a bay in the Upernavik Archipelago in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.
Anarusuk Island is an uninhabited island in the Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland.
Amitsorsuaq Island is a small, uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.
Sugar Loaf Bay is a bay in the Upernavik Archipelago in the Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland. It is an indentation of northeastern Baffin Bay. The name of the bay derives from the name of an island of the same name in the bay, Sugar Loaf Island.
Kittorsaq Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. It is located in the northern part of Upernavik Archipelago.
Qallunaat Island is an uninhabited island in the Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland.
Nuuluk Island is an uninhabited island in the Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland.
Tuttorqortooq Island is an uninhabited island in the Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland.
Giesecke Glacier is a glacier in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. Its outflow is split in the center by a nunatak. Through two tongues it drains the Greenland ice sheet westwards into Kangerlussuaq Icefjord. The northern tongue reaches the fjord at 73°35′N55°36′W. The southern tongue reaches the fjord at 73°30′N55°28′W.
Kangerlussuaq Icefjord is a fjord in the Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland.
Aukarnersuaq Island is an uninhabited island in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.
Nunatarsuaq is a nunatak in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland.
Alanngorsuup Sermia is a tidewater glacier in the Qaasuitsup municipality on the northwestern shore of Greenland. It drains the Greenland ice sheet northwestwards into Tasiusaq Bay. The glacier front is located to the south of the Nunatarsuaq nunatak, and to the north of the Qassersuaq Peninsula. Nunatakassaup Sermia, a sibling glacier to the north, drains the icesheet into the same point at the inner end of Tasiusaq Bay.
Cape Shackleton is a cape in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. The cape is the western promontory on Apparsuit Island, delimiting the northern end of Tasiusaq Bay, an indentation of Baffin Bay in the Upernavik Archipelago.
Naajaat Island is a small island in the Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland, home to the Naajaat settlement.
Qassersuaq Peninsula is a mainland peninsula in northwestern Greenland, located in the south-central part of Upernavik Archipelago.
