The daylight hours are decreasing rapidly during November, and
the polar winter darkness begins this month in the Northern part of Greenland.
Although the polar darkness reigns - in Qaanaaq (Thule) the sun doesn't rise for a whole three months! - it is never totally dark. During the polar night, the sky is still lit up for a few hours during the daytime. The moon reflecting off the snow and ice makes it perfectly possible to go skiing. A unique experience: White earth, dark sky, soft light. Almost like a dream.
Now is the time for outdoor winter activities. Cross-country skiing is popular as weel as downhill skiing, and November is usually the time to begin.
Riding snowscooter is another winter acticity enjoyed by some people, and as a visitor to Greenland you can rent a snowscooter or buy a guided snowscooter tour at many
local tourist offices.
Although snow covers the landscape it's still to early for dog-sledging except in the northernmost part of Greenland. You have to wait for the sea to freeze.
Greenland hosts several international winter events, and participants have started to register:
The World Ice Golf Championship usually takes place in
Uummannaq late March or early April. During the course of January and February, the weather, sea and ice field production lay down the foundations of next year's nine-hole course. This means that the layout of the course is different from year to year and is entirely dependent on how the icebergs from the seven glaciers at the foot of Uummannaq freezes on its way to the open sea.
The Arctic Circle Race for cross-country skiers, regarded the toughest ski race in the World, takes place around Sisimiut late March - early April.
