Nord, Greenland

Station Nord is a military and scientific base in northeastern Greenland lying 1700 km north of the Arctic Circle at 81°36'°N. It is about 924 km (574 miles) from the geographic North Pole, on Prinsesse Ingeborg Halvø (Princess Ingeborg Peninsula) in northern Kronprins Christian Land, making it the northernmost permanent settlement and base of the Northeast Greenland National Park and of Greenland as a whole (two stations in Peary Land further north, Brønlundhus and Kap Harald Moltke, are not permanently occupied). The Danish Defense Command has a base there, which is staffed by five Danish NCO's who have a tour of duty lasting 26 months; accommodation is also available for over twenty scientists and other personnel during the summer months. The station has about 35 buildings. It is not accessible by ship. Ice conditions would permit a passage only every five to ten years. The name Nord simply means "north" in Danish.

History

The station was built by “Grønlands Televæsen” for the Americans during the period of 1952 to 1956 as a weather and telecommunications station, with a runway, ICAO code BGMI. It was needed for more accurate weather reports for Thule Air Base, and also as a base for the Sirius Patrol. The station would serve as an airstrip for aircraft from the US Air Force that operated in the polar region, and for civilian aircraft en route across the North Pole. The construction of Station Nord was undertaken by...
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