Village of Color: Tasiilaq, Greenland

Tasiilaq stands on Ammassalik Island beside King Oscar Harbour, a sheltered inlet whose narrow entrance gives it the appearance of a lake. The name Tasiilaq means “the place that looks like a lake.” With 1,811 residents on January 1, 2026, it is the largest town in East Greenland.

The town was established in 1894 as a Danish trading station and mission under the name Angmagssalik, later spelled Ammassalik. The name derives from ammassat, capelin, and means “the place where capelin are found.” Ammassalik remains the name of the island and district, while Tasiilaq is the town’s official name.

Brightly painted timber houses extend across steep, rocky slopes between the harbor, heliport, and surrounding mountains. Tasiilaq is reached from Kulusuk by helicopter throughout the year and by boat during the summer; supply ships serve the harbor seasonally. On the outskirts of town, Flower Valley supports dense displays of Arctic wildflowers during the short summer, including common harebell and broad-leaved willowherb.