W E L C O M E T O K I S S Kangerlussuaq International Science Support The information available here is targetted at researchers using the science support facility KISS in Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland. ------------------- A booklet (with photos, maps etc.) about KISS is available, free of charge, from the Danish Polar Center in Copenhagen, at KISS, or at the Airport Administration office in Kangerlussuaq. If you have comments to the contents of the booklet or suggestions to include new information, you are most welcome to contact the Danish Polar Center, attn.: Henning Thing, phone: +45 32 88 01 20, fax: +45 32 88 01 01, or use e-mail at the address "hth@pops.dpc.min.dk". ------------------- Compiled and edited by Henning Thing, the Danish Polar Center. This edition released July 1995 ------------------- INTRODUCTION Kangerlussuaq has a long tradition as an important base for fielding geophysical and glaciological research projects, but so far the region has had only limited activities within the life science disciplines. The area lies on the edge of the Polar Cap Zone and the Auroral Zone. It is therefore of particular interest to scientists studying elements relating to the ionosphere and the magnetosphere as well as the lower and upper atmosphere. The proximity of the Inland Ice has a significant effect on the climatic regime for the living resources and further it presents unique logistic opportunities for studies on the Ice Sheet proper, the edge zone, and periglacial geomorphology. KISS and the Kangerlussuaq region is thus the ideal site for field courses in polar biology, Arctic ecology, geomorphological processes and geology. KISS offers year-round modern facilities for researchers in a comfortable building at a daily fee of 150 DKK. This price is based on the use of own sleeping bag, linen and towels. Room service (in part or in full) can be supplied at a modest additional cost. The 700 m2 accommodation area includes 23 single or double rooms (20 m2), kitchens, lounges, laundry, showers and toilets. At the 700 m2 ground floor researchers can access wet and dry labs, working rooms, storage rooms, drying room, lounges, kitchens, workshop, telefax, local and long-distance telephone calls, photocopier, PC and laser printer, as well as Internet e-mail (late in 1995). There is space available for your own specialized equipment or labs in the building at a nominal cost. In the KISS building all rooms and labs are equipped with both 115V and 208V / 60Hz outlets The road system around the airport is quite extensive - for Greenland standard. Leading East to the edge of the Inland Ice is a 13 km dirt track drivable for 4x4 vehicles; to the West an asphalt road leads a similar stretch to the harbour at the fjord. It is worth noting that Kangerlussuaq is an airport isolated from the coastal towns and hamlets. It does not hold a traditional Greenlandic society but a population of c. 350 persons dedicated to run the airport and associated facilities (e.g. KISS). At the KISS ground floor rooms or office space can be rented on a long-term basis so you have the opportunity to establish your own project office. The KISS manager can be hired to handle logistics for projects not physically present in Kangerlussuaq but which would like to draw on the services available here. Kangerlussuaq also hosts a modern conference center capable of accommodating up to 250 people. The conference facilities and prices are very competitive so you should consider placing your next scientific conference or symposium in Greenland. BOOKING All scientists engaged in research activities qualify to use KISS as the home base during their stay in Kangerlussuaq. The Danish Polar Center has been delegated the responsibility to handle all bookings for KISS thereby securing that only scientists and students engaged in research activities are allowed to use the facilities at KISS. Your stay at KISS must therefore be booked prior to your arrival in Kangerlussuaq through the Danish Polar Center in Copenhagen (address: Strandgade 100 H, DK-1401 Copenhagen K; telephone: +45 32 88 01 20; telefax: +45 32 88 01 01; e-mail: hth@pops.dpc.min.dk). NOTE: during the high season, i.e. June through August, you must book through direct contact to the on-site KISS Manager (phone: +299 11107, 6452 or fax: +299 11472). Your booking will be forwarded to the KISS management. Should you encounter any initial problems locally in Kangerlussuaq concerning registration of your booking of accommodations at KISS, please contact the Danish Polar Center right away. Renting of vehicles, equipment, separate office space, workshop, communication hardware, room service, etc., should all be finalized locally between you and the manager - even though you have originally indicated your requests in the booking form. KEYS If you arrive at Kangerlussuaq in the peak season (i.e. June through August) you should register as a KISS user with the manager in the KISS building (phone: 6452; room 101 in building 662). During the low season (i.e. September through May) you should register with Ms. Mette Bjerregaard in the Airport Administration building ("Block V", entrance 2). Upon registration you will get the keys for your room(s), the current price list for additional services and rentable items, as well as an information booklet about KISS. PAYING THE KISS BILL Your KISS bill(s) must be paid at the Cashier's Office (Block V, entrance 3). Opening hours are Monday - Friday 8.30 - 15.30. The office will accept Dankort and international credit cards (e.g. AmericanExpress, Diner's Club, Eurocard, MasterCard and Visa) as well as Traveller's Cheques. ID CARD You will get an ID card only if you opt to purchase a meal card for the Polar Bear Inn (the dining hall). Get details about this under the item "Dining Hall". BANK & CURRENCY Greenland uses Danish "kroner" (DKK) as the only official currency. There is no bank in Kangerlussuaq. You should therefore arrange for sufficient cash for your own activities prior to your arrival or plan to use a Dankort (the national Danish "credit card"), Danish cheques, or credit cards as payment. You can buy Danish currency (max. DKK 3 000/day) at the Post Office using your Dankort - and only this card. At the Airport Hotel reception counter you can also buy Danish money using AmericanExpress, Dankort, Diner's Club, Eurocard, JCB, MasterCard, Visa or Traveller's Cheques, - but only up to DKK 500 a day. The general store, "Butikken", will accept payment in cash, cheques, or by using Dankort, Eurocard, MasterCard, JCB, Visa, AmericanExpress and Diner's Club. However, when paying with Dankort or any of the international credit cards you are required to use your card-specific PIN code at the credit card terminal in the store. For PIN-coded transactions the maximum amount to be drawn per card per day is: Eurocard/MasterCard/JCB/Visa: max. DKK 1 400 AmericanExpress: max. DKK 1 500 Dankort: max. DKK 2 000 Diner's Club: max. DKK 3 000 Personal cheques (Danish banks, only): max. DKK 3 000 You may therefore use the general store to buy Danish currency, but the store manager pleads that you wait with currency purchase until after noon (Monday - Friday). POST OFFICE & MAIL There is only general delivery of mail in Kangerlussuaq. KISS has its own mail box at the Post Office (situated in block L) adjacent to the Airport Hotel building. Post Office opening hours are: Monday - Friday 8.30 - 15.30. Saturday and Sunday closed. However, mailboxes are available for checking at all times. The correct mailing address to anyone at KISS is: [name] KISS P.O. Box 109 DK-3910 Kangerlussuaq. The KISS mail box will be emptied once a day Monday - Saturday by the KISS manager and your mail will be available for personal pick-up in the KISS building (June - September only). If you would like to have your mail forwarded to your field camp you will have to arrange this with the KISS manager prior to your field period. Delivery of mail to field camps will depend entirely on the availability of reliable connections from Kangerlussuaq to your camp(s), e.g. visits by boat, chartered helicopter, or fixed-wing aircraft, and will be on a "space available basis". TELECOMMUNICATION At the upper floor in the KISS building (in the corridor next to the kitchen and lounge) is a phone for incoming calls. The same phone can be used for outgoing calls too, but only to four digit numbers within the Kangerlussuaq area. The KISS manager has a separate phone line (6452) in his room 201 upstairs and in his office downstairs. A telefax is located in the "Xerox & Computer Room (room 102) at the ground floor. This fax machine is open for incoming telefaxes for KISS residents. If you want to use the telefax for outgoing communication, just contact the manager, and the price for sending your material will be added to your KISS bill, payable when you leave Kangerlussuaq. In the side entrance corridor, adjacent to room 112, is a wall-hanged pay phone accepting Danish 1, 5, and 10 kroner coins. This phone can be used for long distance, incl. international, calls (if you have enough coins !). A good way to use this phone - for you - is to pay for a quick call to ask the other person to call back at the pay phone number (1 1473) when you hang up. You may opt to use the calling card alternative from any telephone with access to areas outside Kangerlussuaq. Pay-phones will have to be fed one initial 10-kroner coin to provide a dial tone for you to enter the toll-free number. Consult your specific calling cards to check whether their services include Greenland. The Nordic "Tele2 Calling Card" does work from the wall-hanged pay-phone (1 1473) in the KISS building and other cards may as well. KISS telephone, local incoming/outgoing calls: 6451 KISS telephone, long distance incoming calls: +299 1 1107, then enter 6451 KISS manager telephone: +299 1 1107, enter 6452 KISS pay phone, long distance incoming/outgoing calls: +299 1 1473 KISS telefax, incoming/outgoing calls: +299 1 1472 All rooms and offices are equipped with a telephone plug-in socket so you can establish your own independant telephone line and number if you so wish. Just contact the TELE Greenland staff in Kangerlussuaq (phone +299 1 1056 or local 9895) to get a quote on costs and conditions. Current fee is DKK 1 350 to establish a five digit number and an additional quarterly fee. You may not bring your own telephone as the TELE Greenland has a monopoly of selling plug-in telephones. However, if you have a need for it you may bring your own telefax machine to KISS; just make sure that your telefax equipment is of a type officially approved by the Danish Telecommunication Directorate. You may choose to use your own portable cellular phone to KISS. Before you can access any number via satellite links to western Europe and North America you must establish contact to TELE Greenland (press 'asterisk' 10 'square'). Please note, that only the NMT 900 system is in operation in Greenland. If you are a Danish NMT 900 customer the use of your portable phone while in Kangerlussuaq will be billed via the "TELE Danmark Mobil" at the address already provided by you to this company. If you are an NMT 900 customer from outside the Danish realm you will have the bill for using the portable phone in Greenland sent directly to the address that you provide to TELE Greenland. LOCAL TRANSPORTATION You are welcome to use the Kangerlussuaq bus system. The busses run according to posted schedules, primarily on the paved road system between the southern and northern part of Kangerlussuaq and mainly within normal working hours. However, the bus service is also available in "off-duty" hours, but at a lower frequency. After 20.00 a taxi can be requested at phone number 99. You will need one ticket for every ride in the bus. Tickets (also bundles of them) can be purchased at the reception counter of the Airport Hotel at a price of DKK 10 per ticket. GENERAL STORE The "Butikken" (general store) is located in Block M just north of the Airport Hotel. Opening hours are Monday - Friday 10.00 - 17.00, Saturday 10.00 - 12.00, Sunday closed. You can buy fresh, canned, frozen, dried and freeze-dried foods for household use as well as for field trips. In case you need large quantities of special items you are recommended to contact the store manager well in advance to learn the terms of payment and delivery. LIQUOR STORE At the west end of Block M is the entrance to the liquor store where you may purchase alcoholic beverages as well as tobacco products. Opening hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 16-17; Saturday 10-12; closed Tuesday and Sunday. TAX-FREE AREA Kangerlussuaq and a well defined area around the airport has the status of "special tax-free zone". This means that only residents in Kangerlussuaq have a legal access to buy tobacco products and alcoholic beverages at tax-exempted prices. In case you are planning to stay at KISS for at least 30 consecutive days - and have obtained an ID card - you will be eligible to purchase the above mentioned goods at the reduced prices. However, please note that it is illegal for you to sell or give the mentioned tax-exempted goods to anyone who is not a permanent resident in Kangerlussuaq, nor is it legal to bring these goods outside the tax-free zone. The Liquor Store, located in the west end of Block M, is open Monday - Wednesday - Thursday 16 - 17, Saturday 10 - 12, Tuesday and Sunday closed. DINING HALL The "Polar Bear Inn" (three blocks down the road from KISS) is the Kangerlussuaq staff's cafeteria and dining facilities and to gain access to the Dining Hall it is required that you buy a meal card for either certain types of meals (e.g. only dinner) or full board (i.e. breakfast, lunch, dinner as well as morning, afternoon and evening coffee/tea with pastry/rolls). With any meal all types of juice, milk and non-bottled soft drinks are included, whereas beer, wine and other bottled beverages must be purchased separately. Meal cards must be purchased at the Secretariat in the Airport Administration building (in Block V, entrance 2). The card is a photo ID card which must be presented at the cashier's counter in the dining hall when get your meal(s). Dining Hall meal hours are: Breakfast 06.30 - 09.00, Lunch 11.30 - 13.00, Dinner 17.00 - 18.30. CAFETERIA In Block A, the Airport Hotel building, a large cafeteria - catering primarily to the hotel guests - is open to everyone all days from 06.30 to 21.30. The kitchen closes at 20.00 for preparations of hot meals. You can get breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and beverages. Take-home orders can also be arranged (phone 1104). Only Danish currency, Dankort, or Danish cheques are excepted as payment. RESTAURANT Adjacent to the cafeteria is a restaurant where you can experience Greenlandic and international cuisine and professional service. The restaurant accepts AmericanExpress, Dankort, Diners Club, Eurocard, MasterCard, Visa, as well as Danish bank cheques. Opening hours: Monday - Friday 11.00 - 14.00; Monday - Sunday also 18.00 - 22.00; the kitchen closes at 21.00. You may book a table at phone 1105. ROWING CLUB You can choose to enlist as an active member of the rowing club and thereafter - during summer - use the various club vessels free of charge, or you can decide just to visit and enjoy the social and culinary benefits of the popular summer (i.e. May - September) restaurant in the club house on the shore of Tasersuatsiaq - or "Lake Ferguson", as the utility water lake has been called colloquially since the start of the American epoch. To dine at the Rowing Club you need to enlist as a guest member for a fee of DKK 10. The rowing club is located about 2 km south of "downtown" Kangerlussuaq. Call the club at phone 1144 for more info and booking of tables. The club offers free taxa service for dining guests but only if you request the taxi when you book your table. The club taxi will pick you up in front of the dining hall, Polar Bear Inn, at 18.30, 19.15 or 20.00 depending on your booked dining hours. At the club Greenland handicrafts, seal skins, and other genuine souvenirs are for sale. LAUNDRY The KISS building has its own laundry machines on the top floor, but should you desire to let someone else do your laundry, just deliver your dirty clothes at the Laundry Shop in building 576 (across the street from KISS). Please ask for a price list. The opening hours are: Monday - Friday 6.00 - 14.30. LIBRARY Kangerlussuaq hosts a public library with non-scientific literature in Danish and Greenlandic. The library is located in Block Y next to the school and you may read Danish and Greenlandic newspapers and check out books for up to one month. The library service is free. Opening hours are Monday 16-18, Wednesday 13.30-15.30 and Thursday 15-18.. In the KISS building a modest scientific library is being established at the ground floor. Selected periodicals and books as well as reprints and reports on research themes pertinent to the Kangerlussuaq region are available for in-house use only. Please, ask the KISS manager if you have any questions or comments relating to the KISS library. Please note, that it is highly recommended to any researcher visiting KISS to donate literature to the KISS library. Donations must be registered and stamped in the Manager's Office (room 101) before entering the shelves of the library. Reports and reprints that are otherwise difficult to obtain and that are dealing with subjects relevant to the region will be especially appreciated. BOWLING LANES In building 494, opposite the Dining Hall, you will find the bowling facilities with several lanes and the required equipment. The use of these facilities must be booked; call phone 9810. Opening hours are Monday-Thursday 17-22, Saturday-Sunday 12.30-18, Friday closed. The hourly fee for use of one lane and equipment is. DKK 80. Next to the lanes a small snack bar sells beverages and toasts. [Please note that the building 494 has had a fire recently and the interior is presently not usable] AERO CLUB Kangerlussuaq hosts a small aero club with a couple of single engine fixed-wing aircrafts. If you possess a pilot's certificate and register as an active club member you may be allowed to rent one of the aircrafts for local trips. You can also register as an ordinary club member and enjoy the landscapes from above as passenger if you arrange with one of the club pilots to take you on a flight. There is a seasonal membership fee and an hourly fee when using an aircraft. For more info, please call the Aero Club chairman at phone 9206. MUSEUM In the former "Sondrestrom Air Base Headquarters" building south of the airport control tower a small museum is being established with displays on the flora and fauna of the region, the military history (1941 -1992) of the US "Sondrestrom Air Base", the aviation history of the civilian airport, as well as aspects of the history of the Kangerlussuaq region. The opening hours will be posted on the bulletin board next to the Manager's Office in the KISS building. SNOWMOBILES Most winters offer sufficient snow conditions to allow snowmobiling in the terrain. Kangerlussuaq has a small snowmobile club and the members arrange recreational tours in the adjacent region. You may contact the club, phone 9011, and arrange to go along on a trip. Should you need to use one or more snowmobiles for transport tasks in relation to your fieldwork you are recommended to contact the KISS manager or the Greenland Tourism office for a quote of specific prices and conditions for renting snowmobiles and sledges. Unspecified prices are listed at the end of this booklet. SPORT FISHING As a guest in Greenland you are required to buy a sport fishing licence if you want to do any fishing. The only fish species available in this region for sport fishing in freshwater is the Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus). The licence is for sale at the Police Office (located in Block G) as well as at the Greenland Tourism counter and office in the Airport Hotel building. You can choose between a sport fishing licence valid for one month (DKK 200) or a licence valid for three months (DKK 500). If you wish to go hunting as well, any of the sport hunting licences also includes the right to sport fish. SPORT HUNTING In the region around Kangerlussuaq Airport hunting is generally banned. Check with the police officer to learn where the boundaries are for protected areas. You can purchase a sport hunting licence at the Police Office (located in Block G). With the licence comes a folder informing on harvestable species and their open seasons. The small game hunting licence is the cheapest (DKK 1 000), the most popular, and it is valid for three months. GOLF On the sandy flats about 2 km east of the Airport you will find the northernmost internationally approved, sand-based 18-hole golf course in the world. If you are into golfing, contact the Kangerlussuaq Golf Club (phone 1 1130 or 1 1174) to arrange loan or renting of the necessary equipment. The green fee is DKK 50. OTHER SPORTS The gym center is located down the road from KISS . In this huge building an array of facilities are at your disposal if you want to do work-out and body building or perhaps play badminton, volley or basket ball, indoor socker, or racquet ball. You will also find an indoor swimming pool, a hot spa pool, and saunas. Swim suits/trunks can be rented in the Gym Center. There is an admission fee of DKK 15 to the indoor facilities. Adjacent to the center are an outdoor tennis court and a softball field. The opening hours are: Monday - Thursday 16 - 19, Friday closed, Saturday - Sunday 13 - 17. If you join the sports club KALIF as a member the Gym Center is open to you also in the evenings until 22.00 (Monday - Thursday) MEDICAL AID Kangerlussuaq does not have a resident medical doctor. Every 4-6 months a doctor from the Greenland health system will visit and you may consult him/her with your medical problems which could not be solved by the Kangerlussuaq nurse. The nurse's clinic is situated in Block N of the Airport Hotel complex. Opening hours are Monday - Friday 9 - 10.30.The nurse can handle most of the more ordinary cases. Medicin may also be obtained from the nurse, after consultation with a medical doctor. In acute cases requiring immediate action by a doctor the patient will be evacuated to the nearest hospital. Please note, that medical service including medicine is free in Greenland. In case of emergency, call phone number 99 (the operator) and ask for assistance. DENTIST There is no permanent dentist in town. Only twice a year a dentist from the Greenland health system will visit Kangerlussuaq for consultations. Nothing more than an ordinary check and an ordinary cavity filling can be performed at Kangerlussuaq; this will be free of charge to you. All other dental work will have to take place at a dentist's clinic somewhere else at your own expense. FLIGHT LINE Kangerlussuaq is dissected by the flight line, i.e. 2815 m runway, the adjacent taxiways, and the aprons. All this space is reserved for aircrafts and the services directly associated with them. All the paved areas that aircrafts are allowed to use are therefore off limit to all unauthorized personnel. Should you have a need to access e.g. the aprons by vehicle in order to bring or fetch cargo in relation to your research activities you must be granted specific flight line access prior to your entering the areas. The permission can be obtained through a personal request at the Airport Administration office in Block V. While you are on the flight line always pay special attention to aircraft traffic, parked aircrafts, and refueling activities. You must - without hesitation - follow the orders given by pilots or other aircraft crew members. FUELS Scientists make use of a variety of fuel types, and the most common types will be available in Kangerlussuaq. In the general store you can purchase: Field stove gas (butane) (e.g. "Gaz Bleu" for camping stoves) in small pressurized containers; Field stove alcohol (e.g. for "Trangia Stormkökken") At the Statoil service station next to the Airport building the following products are for sale: Gasoline (e.g. for special field stoves, motor vehicles, and portable generators); Kerosene/paraffin (e.g. for primusses and lamps); DFA, Jet A-1, AVGAS and lubricating oils (e.g. for motor vehicles, aircrafts, and heating stoves). Contact the Statoil manager to get a quote of actual prices. If your scientific activities will need large quantities of fuels sold by Statoil you are recommended to contact the Statoil manager Bent Mühring (phone +299 1 1049) toset up a special arrangement. MAPS Topographic maps for the region are for sale in the general store and in the Greenland Tourism office, but only in a very limited diversity. In order to be sure to have the maps you need before you start the project in and around Kangerlussuaq you are recommended to obtain your maps prior to going to Greenland. All ice-free areas of Greenland are covered by topographic maps in scale 1:250 000 and they can be ordered from "The National Survey and Cadastre" (address: Rentemestervej 8, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark; phone: +45 35 87 50 50, fax: +45 35 87 50 51). The Kangerlussuaq inland area is represented on two separate sheets in this scale, i.e. 66V2 and 67V2. However, you can also buy one map sheet covering the whole Kangerlussuaq - Sisimiut region (from the Inland Ice to the coast of the Davis Strait between 66 21'N - 67 27'N and 50W - 54W) in scale 1:250 000. This kind of map is marketed by the company "Saga Maps" and may be ordered as "Orange no. 8" by contacting any bookstore in Greenland. The one closest to Kangerlussuaq would be Sisimiut Boghandel (address: Aqqusinersuaq 33, DK-3911 Sisimiut; phone: +299 1 5590; fax: +299 1 5690). Greenland Tourism is producing new hiking maps for various areas in West Greenland. In the summer of 1995 a hiking map (with a written guide) for the Kangerlussuaq - Sisimiut region will be available in scale 1: 100 000 and sold from the Greenland Tourism counter/office in the airport building. These maps are of high printing quality and topographic detail and can be recommended. At the Geological Survey of Greenland (address: Öster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K; phone +45 3311 8866; fax +45 3393 5352) you may purchase an excellent quaternary geology map in scale 1:100 000 of the Kangerlussuaq region. In the tourist information material available free of charge at the Greenland Tourism counter in the airport building you will find various types of maps of the local Kangerlussuaq area, i.e. primarily covering the areas adjacent to the road and track system; these maps are of no good use for any field activity. When using a compass, please note that the magnetic declination is 39.5 degrees W (in 1995) FIELD CABINS At present field cabins for researchers are scarce in the Kangerlussuaq region. Adjacent to "Lake 120", c. 15 km to the east-southeast in the inland region south of the valley Örkendalen, is a small but very suitable, cabin (two bunks + an extra madras, four chairs, a table, and a heating stove) of excellent standard for one or two field workers in summer or winter. The use of the cabin is free of charge, but as the cabin is used as a logistics base in short summer and winter periods by an outfitter you are asked to contact the head of the outfitter company, Jan Thrysöe (phone: +45 9837 3896; telefax: +45 9837 3834), to check if there will be a conflict of dates concerning your planned use of the cabin. Please notify the KISS manager about your stay in the cabin. Note that you must bring your own provision to the cabin as well as heating fuel to replace the quantity you will use for cooking and heating purposes. In the Arnangarnup Qoorua valley (often called "Paradise Valley") c. 80 km southwest of the airport another small cabin (accommodating two persons, and no more!) is located in very interesting and pleasant surroundings next to a river. The use of the cabin is free of charge; however, access to the cabin must be obtained from the owner: Geological Survey of Greenland (address: Öster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark; phone +45 33 11 88 66; fax +45 33 93 53 52). Please note, that this valley is a nature preserve and access and activities are therefore regulated accordingly. Ask the KISS manager or the Danish Polar Center for further details. You must bring your own equipment, provisions, and needed fuels along to the cabin. In the vicinity of the Kangerlussuaq road system, especially around the shore of lake Tasersuatsiaq, "Lake Ferguson", and north of the harbour, a number of privately owned cabins are used by residents of Kangerlussuaq for recreational purposes. You do not have access to these cabins - unless you are invited. The large cabin (accommodating 10-12 persons) north of the river outlet in the bay Angujaartorfik (locally called "Moskusbugten") is owned by the Kangerlussuaq airport administration. Residents of Kangerlussuaq may use this cabin freely; there is no booking so you should be prepaired that somebody else could be there when you show up. During winter you may reach this cabin by driving a vehicle on the fjord ice. For your own safety, please check with the airport administration whether the fjord ice is safe and driveable at the time you plan to go to Moskusbugten. ACCESS TO THE INLAND ICE KISS is only 20 km away from the Greenland Inland Ice. Heading east from the mountain "Keglen" (locally known as "Sugar Loaf") - where the official gravel road ends - is a track driveable by 4x4 vehicles, All-Terrain Cycles, as well as mountain bikes. This track leads to the very edge of the ice cap at the locality known as Russell Glacier. The glacier has a vertical, c. 30m high front, that is active! Although it is possible to approach the front for a close encounter with the ice, it is strongly recommended that - for your own safety - you do not pass the signs posted on locality warning against falling ice. If you sit for a while and watch the scenery you will probably experience why it is prudent to keep a distance. At several sites along the Inland Ice in this region the ice itself is accessible using the necessary glacier climbing equipment. However, unless your project includes planned activities on the ice cap and you have obtained a written permit from the Danish Polar Center to venture on to the ice for research purposes, you should restrict yourself to enjoy the icescape from the land side or from the air. Should you have an interest in establishing a field camp on the Inland Ice or just visit one or more localities on the ice you must submit your plans to the Danish Polar Center well in advance and be prepared to meet specific safety measures and insurance requirements before a permit can be issued. CLIMATE Kangerlussuaq lies within the low Arctic ecozone with diverse habitats as e.g. salt lakes, dune systems, mountain tundra and steppes with caribou and muskox populations. Caribou are indigenous but muskoxen were introduced from Northeast Greenland thirty years ago. The plant growing season is long, featuring 150 days without snow cover, 80 continuously frost-free days, and 150 consecutive days with maximum air temperature continuously above freezing; (the numbers given are average values). The climate is very stable and predictable with a monthly mean of 241 sun hours in May through August. The Kangerlussuaq region is a well exposed high grade basement terrain forming the southern border zone of the Nagssugtoqidian orogen. The region has a glacial landscape dating back 8,000 years. Kangerlussuaq has a low Arctic continental climate with quite stable weather patterns summer and winter. During winter (October - April) the air temperature may drop to below -45 C for extended periods, whereas the summer (June - August) may have warm and balmy days with +22 C in the shade. Although there is a high predictability in the local weather pattern you should never forget that the weather may change quickly. Do not venture out into the field unprepaired for adverse weather conditions! Kangerlussuaq Airport is located 55 km north of the Arctic Circle. Around the solstices the area therefore experiences a short period of midnight sun and of midday darkness, respectively. At any time, a weather forecast can be obtained for either the local area or any other place in Greenland by contacting the meteorologist on duty in the Met Office at the top floor above the general store "Butikken" in Block M. KISS MANAGER During the summer season KISS has its own on-site manager. In June - September 1995 the manager is Henrik Barner Rasmussen. Henrik is a graduate student from the Institute of Biology, University of Aarhus, Denmark. Besides taking care of the duties as manager, Henrik is also doing some fieldwork relating to his speciality: invertebrate population biology. During the remainder of the year the KISS management is located in Block V, entrance 2, in the offices of the Airport Administration. HANDY PHONE NUMBERS Four digit numbers are local, and local calls are free. Aero Club 9206 Airport Administration Office 7901 Airport Control Tower 7990 Airport Hotel Cafeteria 1104 Airport Hotel Manager 1100 Airport Hotel Reception 1101 Airport Hotel Restaurant 1105 Airport, Technical Manager 7902 Bowling Lanes 9810 Car Repair Shop 7979 Cargo Terminal 1 1213 Conference Center 5400 Danish Polar Center +45 3288 0100 / +45 3288 0120 Dining Hall "Polar Bear Inn" 9582 Fire Department 1110 First Air Booking & Ticketing 1 1488 General Store "Butikken" 7973 General Store Manager 7974 Geological Survey of Greenland +45 3388 1166 Golf Club 1 1130 / 1 1174 Greenland Air Booking 1 1488 Greenland Air Office 1 1040 Greenland Telecom 9895 / 1 1056 Greenland Telecom Workshop 7969 Greenland Tourism 1 1098 Gym / Sports Center 7982 ID cards 7901 KISS / in-house manager 6452 / +299 1 1107, 6452 KISS / local calls 6451 KISS / long distance ingoing +299 1 1107, 6451 KISS / manager in low season 7901 / +299 1 1300 / +299 1 1107, 7901 KISS / pay-phone +299 1 1473 KISS / telefax +299 1 1472 Laundry 7980 Meteorologists' Office 1 1022 National Survey and Cadastre +45 3587 5050 Nurse's Clinic 1114 / 1 1211 Operator 99 Police Station 9550 / 1 1222 Post Office 1 1011 Room Service (Arctic Contractors) 1108 Rowing Club 1144 SAS Booking & Ticketing 1 1030 Sisimiut Book Store 1 5590 Snowmobile Club 9011 Statoil 1 1049 Taxi/Bus 3000 KISS REGULATIONS At a reseanably low cost (current rate is DKK 150 per day), KISS can offer you a place to live with free access to kitchens, lounges, bathrooms, showers, laundry, offices, conference rooms, storage rooms, and laboratories. However, to keep costs low also in the future, to ensure the continued KISS services to researchers and the satisfaction of the KISS users, it is important that you observe the following in-house rules during your stay: Cleaning Private rooms: The Kangerlussuaq janitor service will clean your room only after you have checked out, so it will appear fresh and inviting to the next inhabitant. During your stay you are requested to keep your own room in an acceptable hygienic standard. It is especially important to empty ashtrays and litter bins frequently and keep the contents of your refrigerator free of decaying or smelly products. Offices, lounges, and conference rooms: Following your use of these common facilities you are expected to clear and clean tables and floor and leave the furniture in good order. Laboratories: Chemicals have to be stored away after use. KISS-owned equipment must be cleaned and left on the site allocated to it. You must clear and clean sinks, tables, and floor when you have finished your lab work - or before that if accumulated material/litter appears to be a nuisance for other users. Material that you have taken to the labs must be removed from the labs after you are through using it. While personal equipment/material is being used in the labs, please leave a label with your name and room on it to let the manager and colleagues know who is the owner. When your project is finished your are most welcome to leave any usable amount of chemical or material that you will not need to bring home. Remember, though, to label chemicals etc. and supply any necessary information as to their special purposes and/or handling; also inform the manager of your donation to KISS. Storage rooms: KISS offers you free storage space in the designated storage rooms at the ground floor. You are welcome to leave your bags, boxes, containers, or equipment in any of the storage rooms for the period that you will be gone, - but only after the manager has been notified and the items are clearly labelled with your name, home address, and date for your return to KISS. Please, do not store any perishable items. Stored items that are not picked up within three months following the labelled date of return will be disposed of by the manager. Kitchen: For the well-being of all of your fellow inhabitants of KISS, it is imperative that anyone using the kitchen facilities takes pride in leaving the place tidy and clean to the next user! Therefore, please remember to do your washing up, clean the tables and floor, and label your foods in the refrigirators and cupboards. Unlabeled items can be used by anyone at anytime. Don't use dishcloths to clean tables etc. because these cloths easily go stale. Instead, use paper towels. Towels, linen etc.: If you are using textiles delivered by the Kangerlussuaq janitor service you are expected to place dirty towels and linen in the special container in the laundry room on the upper floor where it will be picked up by the janitor. Cleaning utensils: In the "Drying Room" on the upper floor and in the "Chemicals" room on the ground floor you will find vacuum cleaners, buckets, detergents, brooms etc. - all available for your cleaning efforts according to the above mentioned requests. Please, remember to put the equipment back in place right after you are through using it. Waste disposal: A large waste container is located between the KISS building (662) and the neighbouring building (663). Use this container for all types of trash. It will be emptied by the waste truck at frequent intervals. RENTABLE ITEMS AND SERVICES (Note: Quoted prices are subject to changes) The following can be rented from Greenland Tourism; phone 1 1098 1: ITEM / SERVICE 2: PRICE (in DKK) 3: DEPOSIT (in DKK per item) 4: NOTES 1: Cabin (on the shore of Tasersuatsiaq) 2: 1 100 - 1 600/week 3: none 4: price depending on cabin size and quality 1: Tent 2: 150/week 3: 300 4: 2 - 4 persons light-weight versions 1: Sleeping bag 2: 100/week 3: 300 4: excl. liner 1: Backpack 2: 150/week 3: 300 4: unspecified type 1: Ground pad 2: 60/week 3: 300 4: closed-cell type 1: Field stove (Stormkökken) 2: 60/week 3: 300 4: excl. fuel 1: Fishing gear 2: 100/week 3: 300 4: incl. rod, wheel, line and lures, but excl. license 1: Mountain bike 2: 100/day (8 hours), 400/week 3: 100 4: 10 speed versions, excl. tools 1: Cross country skis & boots 2: 50/day, 100/weekend 3: 100 4: incl. poles 1: Ice skates 2: 25/day, 50/weekend 3: 100 4: incl. boots 1: Snowmobile 2: 800/day, 2500/week 3: 300 4: incl. one tank full of gazoline + personal injury insurance. Deductible insurance: DKK 3 000 for any damage to the snowmobile 1: VHF portable radio 2: 50/day, 200/week 3: 2 000 4: excl. the required personal radio license 1: ANNA emergency & safety package 2: 15/day, 50/week 3: 400 4: highly recommendable during field work 1: TRANSPORTATION by 8 passenger "mini-bus" Note: Mini-bus prices are for one-way transportation with a max. of 4 persons with luggage (i.e. backpacks) KISS ( Keglen (Sugar Loaf) 300/group KISS ( top of Black Ridge (TACAN) 300/group KISS ( Rowing Club / Tasersuatsiaq 300/group KISS ( harbour / "Kellyville" 400/group RENT A CAR 1: DKK/day 2: DKK/week 3: DKK/month Greenland Tourism car rental 1: 300/4 hours, 600/8 hours 2: 2 500 Airport Rent-a-car pool Dodge pickup (2 pax) 1: 500 2: 2 700 3: 7 700 Dodge truck (3 pax) 1: 500 2: 2 700 3: 7 700 Dodge van (5 pax) 1: 650 2: 3 400 3: 9 900 Toyota Dyna pickup (5 pax) 1: 650 2: 3 400 3: 9 900 Volvo 245 (5 pax) 1: 650 2: 3 400 3: 9 900 Chevrolet (6 pax) 1: 700 2: 3 675 3: 10 600 Mercedes bus (9 pax) 1: 800 2: 4 200 3: 12 200 Note: All day/week prices include just one full fuel tank; monthly prices include all fuel/oil concumption. Any off-road driving is prohibited. Deductible insurance: DKK 3 000 for any damage to the vehicle. Only the signer of the renting contract is allowed to drive the vehicle. =============================================================== This file was downloaded from Greenland Guide: http://www.greenland-guide.dk =============================================================== END OF WELCOME TO KISS