As we pass this cairn we now enter the protected UNESCO World Heritage area of Ilulissat Icefjord. As you look around, take notice of the many unique rock formations. This is old bedrock consisting of granite and gneiss - rock types that formed deep in the ground millions of years ago. Roughly 120,000 years ago, the last ice age started. Greenland, being situated at a high northern latitude, was simply flooded by the ice masses and therefore inaccessible to plants and animals for most of this period. This ice age terminated approximately 10,000 years ago. At this time the ice had receded to the edge of Greenland's current coastline. At several places striations on the rock surface evidence that huge masses of ice have rubbed and worn the rock surface, making it smooth. In other places, we observe deep scour marks, which appear when smaller stones get in between the ice and rock and created natural grooves.
The topic at our next stop will be about the flora in the valley. Although the local vegetation may not seem abundant, once you learn just a little about a few species I'm sure that you will find the arctic flora here very interesting.
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