
Tunulliarfik Fjord (old spelling: ''Tunugdliarfik''; ) is a
fjord
In physical geography, a fjord (also spelled fiord in New Zealand English; ) is a long, narrow sea inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by a glacier. Fjords exist on the coasts of Antarctica, the Arctic, and surrounding landmasses of the n ...
near
Qaqortoq
Qaqortoq (), also known as Julianehåb, is the capital city of the Kujalleq municipalities of Greenland, municipality in southern Greenland, located near Cape Thorvaldsen. With a population of 3,050 in 2020, it is the most populous town in sout ...
in the
Kujalleq
Kujalleq (Greenlandic language, Greenlandic: , ) is a municipality on the southern tip of Greenland, operational from 1 January 2009. The administrative center of the municipality is in Qaqortoq (formerly called Julianehåb).
Creation
The munic ...
municipality in southern
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous territory in the Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark. It is by far the largest geographically of three constituent parts of the kingdom; the other two are metropolitan Denmark and the Faroe Islands. Citizens of Greenlan ...
. It is the inner section of
Skovfjord (Skovfjorden). In times of the
Norse settlement in southern Greenland, it was known as ''Eiriksfjord''.
Geography
The fjord head at approximately is formed by the estuary of a river flowing from the glacial outflow lake in
Johan Dahl Land. At approximately , south of the
Narsarsuaq
Narsarsuaq (lit. ''Great Plain'';''Facts and History of Narsarsuaq'', Narsarsuad Tourist Information old spelling: ''Narssarssuaq'') is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. It had 123 inhabitants in 2020. There is a thr ...
settlement, the fjord is joined by its tributary
Qooroq Fjord from the northeast, changing direction from southern into southwestern. Bounded by long peninsulas and low-lying islands from the southeast and the northwest, it has its mouth in the Skovfjord which empties in
Labrador Sea
The Labrador Sea (; ) is an arm of the North Atlantic Ocean between the Labrador Peninsula and Greenland. The sea is flanked by continental shelf, continental shelves to the southwest, northwest, and northeast. It connects to the north with Baffi ...
at approximately .
[Ivittuut/Narsarsuaq/Qaqortoq, Saga Map, Tage Schjøtt, 1992]
The Narsaq Sound, between the peninsula forming the northern shore of Tunulliarfik Fjord and
Tuttutooq and
Illutaliq islands, connects with neighbouring
Bredefjord and
Nordre Sermilik to the north.
Settlement

There are several small settlements near the shores of the long Tunulliarfik Fjord. Narsarsuaq and
Qassiarsuk
Qassiarsuk ( Danish: ''Bratalid'' from Old Norse ''Brattahlíð'') is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality, in southern Greenland. Its population was 39 in 2020. Qassiarsuk is part of the Kujataa World Heritage Site, due to its historical ...
are located on the opposite sides of the fjord near its head. Further south, the settlement of
Igaliku
Igaliku is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. The town was founded as Igaliko in 1783 by the trader and colonial administrator Anders Olsen and Greenlandic wife Tuperna. In 2020, Igaliku had 21 inhabitants. The n ...
occupies the
isthmus
An isthmus (; : isthmuses or isthmi) is a narrow piece of land connecting two larger areas across an expanse of water by which they are otherwise separated. A tombolo is an isthmus that consists of a spit or bar, and a strait is the sea count ...
of a peninsula bounding the fjord from the south. At the far end of Narsaq Peninsula bounding the upper reaches of the fjord from the north the town of
Narsaq
Narsaq ( Danish: ''Nordprøven'') is a town in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. The name ''Narsaq'' is Kalaallisut for "Plain", referring to the shore of Tunulliarfik Fjord where the town is located.
History
People have liv ...
occupies a wide lowland with arable ground. There are no settlements in the lower reaches of the fjord.
Transport

Narsaq is a port of call for the
Arctic Umiaq Line
Arctic Umiaq Line A/S (AUL) or Arctic Umiaq is a passenger and freight shipping line in Greenland. Its name derives from the Kalaallisut word for the traditional Inuit passenger boat, the umiak, distinguished from the kayak, used for hunting. Th ...
coastal ship in the summer season.
Arctic Umiaq Line, Timetable 2009
/ref> The southbound ferry route backtracks from Qaqortoq
Qaqortoq (), also known as Julianehåb, is the capital city of the Kujalleq municipalities of Greenland, municipality in southern Greenland, located near Cape Thorvaldsen. With a population of 3,050 in 2020, it is the most populous town in sout ...
until the mouth of Tunulliarfik, to then sail northeast alongside the lower part of the fjord, anchoring at Narsaq port before turning around the same day.
Narsaq Heliport
Narsaq Heliport is a heliport in the northwestern part of Narsaq, a town in the Kujalleq municipality, in southern Greenland.
The route of the Arctic Umiaq Line no longer extends to Narsarsuaq during summer, hence the need for Europe-bound pass ...
and the international Narsarsuaq Airport
Narsarsuaq Airport () is an airport located in Narsarsuaq, a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. Along with Nuuk Airport and Kangerlussuaq Airport, it is one of three civilian airports in Greenland capable of serving ...
operate year-round, with STOL
A short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft is a fixed-wing aircraft that can takeoff/land on short runways. Many STOL-designed aircraft can operate on airstrips with harsh conditions (such as high altitude or ice). STOL aircraft, including tho ...
connections to Nuuk
Nuuk (; , formerly ) is the capital and most populous city of Greenland, an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark. Nuuk is the seat of government and the territory's largest cultural and economic center. It is also the seat of gove ...
, Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq (; ; ) is a settlement in western Greenland in the Qeqqata municipalities of Greenland, municipality located at the head of the Kangerlussuaq Fjord, fjord of the same name. It was Greenland's main air transport hub and the site of G ...
, and Paamiut
Paamiut, also known as Frederikshåb, is a town in southwestern Greenland in the Sermersooq municipalities of Greenland, municipality.
Geography
Paamiut is located on the coast of Labrador Sea in the southern end of a small estuary called Ku ...
, and helicopter connections to Alluitsup Paa
Alluitsup Paa (old spelling prior to the orthography reform in 1973: ''Agdluitsup pâ'') is a village in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. Alluitsup Paa had 202 residents in 2020. Presently, the community's religious activities ...
, Nanortalik
Nanortalik (, ), formerly Nennortalik, is a town in Nanortalik Island, Kujalleq municipalities of Greenland, municipality, southern Greenland. With 1,072 inhabitants as of 2024, it is the List of cities and towns in Greenland, eleventh-largest ...
, and Qaqortoq.[Air Greenland, Departures and Arrivals](_blank)
Igaliku
Igaliku is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. The town was founded as Igaliko in 1783 by the trader and colonial administrator Anders Olsen and Greenlandic wife Tuperna. In 2020, Igaliku had 21 inhabitants. The n ...
and Qassiarsuk can be reached by boat.
See also
*List of fjords of Greenland
This is a list of the most important fjords of Greenland:In Greenland, Northern Greenland, a large area made up entirely of fjords; therefore Peary Land above not a fjord but a fjord area.In Greenland, Northeastern Greenland, a large area made ...
References
{{Authority control
Fjords of Greenland