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.
Innaarsuit is an island settlement in Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland, located on an island of the same name. the settlement had 180 inhabitants in 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 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 Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland.
Anarusuk Island is an uninhabited island in Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland.
Amitsorsuaq Island is a small, uninhabited island in Avannaata 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 Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland. It is located in the northern part of Upernavik Archipelago.
Qallunaat Island is an uninhabited island in Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland.
Sarfaq is a former settlement in the Upernavik Archipelago region of northwestern Greenland. It was located on Qallunaat Island, an island in Tasiusaq Bay, in the north-central part of the archipelago. The village was perched near the eastern cape of the island, on the shores of Kangerlussuaq Icefjord. The settlement was abandoned in 1919.
Nuuluk Island is an uninhabited island in Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland.
Giesecke Glacier is a glacier in Avannaata 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 Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland.
Aukarnersuaq Island is an uninhabited island in Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland.
Nunatarsuaq is a nunatak in Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland.
Nunatakassaup Sermia is a tidewater glacier in Avannaata municipality on the northwestern shore of Greenland. It drains the Greenland ice sheet southwestwards into Tasiusaq Bay. The glacier front is located to the southeast of the Nunatarsuaq nunatak, and to the north of the Qassersuaq Peninsula. Alanngorsuup Sermia, a sibling glacier to the south, drains the icesheet into the same point at the inner end of Tasiusaq Bay.
Cape Shackleton is a cape in Avannaata 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.
Innaarsuit Island is an island in the Avannaata municipality in northwestern Greenland, home to the Innaarsuit settlement.
Naajaat Island is a small island in 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.