Moriusaq

Moriusaq
Moriusaq Location within Greenland
Coordinates:
State	Denmark
Constituent country	Greenland
Municipality	Qaasuitsup
Population (2012)
• Total	0
Time zone	UTC-04
Postal code	3970 Pituffik

Moriusaq (also: Moriussaq) is a closed settlement located in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northern Greenland, approximately 42 km (26.1 mi) to the northwest of the Thule Air Base and 83 km (51.6 mi) to the southwest of Qaanaaq. Hunting and fishing resources in the area are plentiful, particularly fish, narwhals, seal, and polar bears.

Facilities

Moriusaq used to offer its inhabitants direct TV and radio broadcasting, Internet access, private telephones, and a small power station for electricity, costing tax payers 2 million DKK (US$330,000) annually. Moriusaq had a small store, and the "recreation building" housed a school, a church, and even a small library. In 2007, the school closed and the last teacher left for Qaanaaq because there were no school-aged children living in the settlement.

Population decline

Moriusaq was established in 1963, and it reached a population peak in 1980 when the census reported 80 inhabitants, but it quickly dropped to 39 in 1998. In the subsequent years nearly all families moved away, particularly to Qaanaaq where the infrastructure is better and services are thus more readily available, making it the destination of choice despite the social problems prevalent in the town.

In the 2009 census, the population of Moriusaq was 5, which dropped from 21 according to the 2005 census. Two of the remaining villagers were already permanently living in Qaanaaq although they are listed as inhabitants of Moriusaq. Further, a case of self-defense in 2009 decreased the remaining population, effectively leaving the settlement with only 2 inhabitants in 2010.

In September 2010, the last occupants of Moriusaq moved to Qaanaaq and the settlement was closed down. On December 31, 2010, the post office in Moriusaq officially closed. The last two residents of Moriusaq were a father and a son. The son fit the local power plant, supplying power to their homes. Statistics Greenland recorded the population in 2012 as 0 and they now list Moriusaq as a closed settlement.

Moriusaq population growth dynamics, 1991-2010. Source: Statistics Greenland

Moriusaq population growth dynamics, 1991-2010. Source: Statistics Greenland