Greenland Cruise - from Reykjavik - 120308

Reykjavik, the trading and cultural centre of Iceland at the South-West coast of the island was named "smoking bay" after the famous hot springs of Laugardalur. Today it has a population of around 130,000 - approximately 1/3 of the total population. The capital of iceland has plenty of tourist attractions. A stroll through the old town leads to the main shopping street, Laugavegur, and the pedestrian zone, past the historic Höfdi House (where Reagan and Gorbatschow held their summit in 1986) to the modern basalt church 'Hallgrimskirka'. The church tower offers the best view of the city. Tracing the footsteps of Icelandic history, there are many archaeological finds and artefacts from Viking times on display in the National Museum and art lovers will enjoy the Einar Jonsson Museum with its wonderful sculpture garden.

Eric the Red founded the first Viking settlement here in the year 985 and called it Brattahlid (Brattahlíð).

Greenland's capital city Nuuk is the centre of life in this country - it is the centre for trade, shipping, industry and the administration. With a population of 13,500, Nuuk is the largest city not only in Greenland, but in the whole Arctic region. Over the last 30 years, Nuuk has undergone considerable modern development.

With a population of 5,000, Sisimiut is the second-largest town in Greenland. The Greenlandic name, Sisimiut, means "foxhole inhabitant". The town has the most northerly port that remains ice-free all year. Accordingly, the fishing industry and the export of prawns are booming. The town is proud to be home to the most modern shrimp factory in the world. Sisimiut is also the first settlement North of the Arctic Circle where the Inuit kept sled dogs for use in the Winter. The museum and the old town with the oldest wooden church in Greenland, which dates from 1775, are particularly worth seeing.

Kangerlussuaq, also known by its Danish name, 'Søndre Strømfjord', lies at the end of the 170 km long Fjord of the same name in Greenland. It is home to the largest airport in the country and the starting point for exploratory and adventure expeditions. The town has been dominated by the American presence since 1941, as Kangerlussuaq was one of the most important stopovers for airforce manoeuvres during World War II. The surrounding area of this town in western Greenland is home to around 4,000 musk oxes - the largest herd living in the wild, and visitors are also likely to see reindeers.