I Photographed A Place In Greenland Which Is Known For Its Countless Icebergs

I come from the land of Nomads. Born in the Russian Far East and raised in Southern Kazakhstan, I became a nomad myself. I am immensely grateful to have the opportunity to travel the world and capture its Nature and people through photography. I’ve been going to Greenland for years, and one of my favorite towns to visit is Ilulissat, famous for its surreal landscapes, where small colorful houses are surrounded by countless icebergs. There is one area there that I find particularly attractive – Ilulissat Icefjord. In the summertime, I love coming there at around midnight, sitting down with a thermos full of hot coffee and listening to the icebergs calving while they are making their way into the ocean. Allow me to share my amazement with this place through the images below.

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Greenland’s Ilulissat Icefjord

Two people walking on a path near a calm body of water surrounded by countless icebergs in Greenland.

Located on the west coast of Greenland, 250 km north of the Arctic Circle, it is a tidal fjord covered with floating brash and massive ice

Blue iceberg floating in calm dark waters under an overcast sky in Greenland, known for its countless icebergs.

It is situated where the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier calves ice into the sea.

Sermeq Kujalleq is also one of the fastest moving (40 m per day) and most active glaciers in the world

Massive icebergs in Greenland with a boat nearby under a large moon and pink twilight sky.

Icebergs breaking from the glacier are often so large – up to a kilometer (3,300 ft) in height – that they are too tall to float down the fjord and lie stuck on the bottom of its shallower areas

Large icebergs floating in calm water at sunset in Greenland, known for its vast iceberg formations and scenic views.

Sometimes they lie there for years, until they are broken up by the force of the glacier and icebergs further up the fjord.

Surreal colours of Midnight Sun in Ilulissat Icefjord

Icebergs in Greenland at sunrise with a natural rock arch and birds flying over a calm sea landscape.

On breaking up the icebergs emerge into the open sea and initially travel north with ocean currents before turning south and running into the Atlantic Ocean.

Larger icebergs typically do not melt until they reach 40-45 degrees north – further south than the United Kingdom and level with New York City

Massive icebergs floating in the icy waters of Greenland under a soft pastel sky with a visible moon at dusk.

I was born in the Russian Far East. Even though I never lived there, you can say that cold and darkness are in my blood! I grew up with my mother’s stories about indigenous peoples of the north, their traditions and tales. When I grew up and had a chance to discover the Arctic there was no turning back, I forever fell in love with the frozen landscapes and magical skies filled with Northern Lights. However, there are some challenges I have to overcome when traveling around the arctic region. I love having control, it gives me comfort and a sense of security. Not being able to control my surroundings often brings me anxiety. When you are traveling and exploring new places and new cultures, control is the last thing you have. Especially in the Arctic. This is definitely a challenge but a positive one. Learning how to just sit back and focus on observing the world is a skill I hope to keep developing throughout my life.

The Icefjord at around 1am in summertime

Large blue iceberg in Greenland against a soft purple sky, showcasing countless icebergs in a frozen landscape.

Whales are often seen feeding in the area

Humpback whale swimming near countless icebergs in Greenland’s icy waters at sunset with seagulls flying above.

Moon rising over “parked” icebergs

Massive icebergs in Greenland under a large glowing moon during twilight, showcasing the icy landscape and natural beauty.

Sermeq Kujalleq is a very productive glacier

Iceberg floating in calm Greenland waters during a pink sunset, showcasing the region known for countless icebergs.

It annually calves over 35 km3 of ice, i.e. 10% of the production of all Greenland calf ice and more than any other glacier outside Antarctica.

Ilulissat Icefjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Boat navigating among countless icebergs in a remote Greenland location with vast blue ice formations.

The combination of a huge ice sheet and the dramatic sounds of a fast-moving glacial ice-stream calving into a fjord full of icebergs make for a dramatic and awe-inspiring natural phenomenon. My next project is a multi-media study of the effects of climate change on the Arctic. I am using my vast library of images from Iceland, Greenland and Norway and combining them with 3D renders of ice, water and fire simulations. While writing this I realize how vague it sounds. I guess I will have to hurry up and finish it so that I can show you the results!