gneiss

Ilulissat, the hometown of icebergs – gap year Arctic trips (VII)

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Our third stop in Greenland: the Ilulissat Icefjord! Kangerlussuaq sits at 67°N while Ilulissat is roughly 69°N. Since both share the same longitude of 51°W, our flight path from Kangerlussuaq was essentially a straight shot north. The hop in the small propeller plane took less than an hour. Unlike the inland landscape of our previous … Read more

Kangerlussuaq by the ice sheet – gap year Arctic trips (VI)

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In the afternoon of our third day in Greenland, we departed Nuuk aboard a small Air Greenland plane heading for the tiny settlement of Kangerlussuaq. This village sits quietly just inside the Arctic Circle, right next to the massive Greenland Ice Sheet. A bird’s-eye view of the ice sheet and glaciers Nuuk was overcast, but … Read more

Greenland’s capital on Archean gneiss – gap year Arctic trips (V)

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Nuuk’s new international airport officially opened at the end of 2024. As a result, United Airlines announced a new direct route from New York (Newark EWR) to Greenland’s capital for June through September 2025. I excitedly bought my tickets not long after. Booking ten months in advance makes this the most “long-term” planning I have … Read more

Glaciers and narwhals of northern Baffin – gap year Arctic trips (III)

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My last post covered first impressions of Nunavut’s capital Iqaluit, and this one will continue our journey further up north to the Inuit village of Pond Inlet in Northern Baffin, as well as the adjacent Sirmilik National Park. Pond Inlet: “the place of Mittima’s grave” Pond Inlet is a traditional Inuit village on the northern … Read more

First impressions of Baffin permafrost tundra – gap year Arctic trips (II)

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We took a trip to Baffin Island (i.e. “Qikiqtaaluk” in Inuktitut, meaning “very big island“) in August 2025, exploring lively permafrost, ancient rock formations, and spectacular Arctic fjords, while also getting a glimpse of the unique lifestyle of Inuit people today. This trip was overflowing with fascinating and thrilling experiences, far too many to capture … Read more

Are there picturesque metamorphic rock formations in North America?

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Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park south rim Painted Wall View 甘尼逊黑峡谷国家公园南沿

Yes! Among the three major types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic), metamorphic rocks might not be quite straightforward to identify – unless there are extremely distinct foliated textures. Recently I encountered some impressive metamorphic rocks in three locations in North America: Kings Canyon in California, Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado, and Tablelands … Read more