Cape York (Greenland)

Lore & Background

Cape York is a pronounced projection on Greenland's northwestern coast, delimiting the northwestern end of Melville Bay. De Dodes Fjord and Sidebriksfjord lie north of the cape, and the Crimson Cliffs to the west. A chain of small coastal islands stretches between Cape York and Cape Melville to the east, the largest of which is Meteorite Island. The cape is 37 km west-south-west of Savissivik, the settlement on Meteorite Island. There was one nearer permanent settlement, Perlernerit, approximately 2 km northeast of the cape.

Reader's Guide

Cape York holds significance as a landmark in northern Baffin Bay and as a site associated with the Cape York Meteorite fragments. The iron from the meteorite attracted migrating Inuit from Arctic Canada. The Greenlandic name of the settlement Savissivik means 'place of meteorite iron' (savik = iron/knife), alluding to the numerous meteorites found in the area. A way east across the bay is the island of discovery of the Cape York Meteorite fragments.

Did You Know?

• Cape York is also known as Perlernerit in Greenlandic and Kap York in Danish.
• The cape delimits the northwestern end of Melville Bay, with the other end commonly defined as Wilcox Head on Kiatassuaq Island.
• The largest island in the chain between Cape York and Cape Melville is Meteorite Island.
• The settlement Savissivik means 'place of meteorite iron' in Greenlandic.