Today, we'll head south along the spectacular west coast of Greenland on our way to the the Westlands. Following in the footsteps of the Greenlandic Norse into the Western fjords, it's easy to appreciate why Erik the Red chose this land as his home and gave Greenland its name: every direction you look rewards visitors with vistas of blue, ice-strewn waters set against a breathtaking backdrop of lush, verdant valleys, and pastures bursting with blooms. Unique to Greenland, and indeed the entire Arctic, warm microclimates deep in the fjords have created a surprisingly fertile Arctic Garden of Eden. South Greenlandic farming traditions dating back to Viking days are still kept alive. Many families work their remote sheep farms along the shores of the fjords, their lives very much attuned to the seasons as they produce a variety of organic home-grown produce (such as potatoes, turnips, and kale). Also in the west, we find the perfect access points to the Greenland Ice Sheet, which we'll reach by helicopter. You'll enjoy the most incredible views of the largest mass of ice in the northern hemisphere and second largest in the world, flowing from the heights of the polar plateau to sea level. Become one of the very few people to ever set foot on this incredible body of ice during an included Greenland Ice Sheet Experience. Over these two days you will have the opportunity to explore the ice sheet, hike the surrounding foothills, cruise or paddle through the azure ice-filled waters, and engage with local friends and partners during the most meaningful and in-depth community experiences offered on any Quark Expeditions voyage. Guests will learn more about the history and culture of this region at the Kujataa UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is a living history lesson in Viking farming. We hope to visit charming Qassiarsuk, a small sheep farming settlement across the fjord from Narsarsuaq, where you can experience true South Greenland hospitality and gain insight into the fascinating lives of sheep farmers living at the edge of the ice sheet. Consider taking time to explore the remains and replicas of Brattahlid, Erik the Red's estate, once the epicenter of the Greenland Norse Eastern Settlement. ...
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