The Basics

Location: 76° 32' N, 68° 45' W (see the map at the bottom of this page)

History: Pituffik was the northernmost hunting village of Greenland's Inuit until the United States was given permission to build the Thule Air Base in 1951. By 1953 all residents of Pituffik and nearby Dundas had been forced to move (most by dog-sled) 80 miles north to the new town of Qaanaaq, commonly known at the time as "New Thule".

Current status: Thule Air Base is run by the United States Air Force Space Command, under an agreement with the government of Denmark, which controls the foreign affairs of Greenland. Thule is primarily used as a base for research projects conducted by several countries. In 2001, Pituffik is a vandalized ghost town of about 25 homes, but a group of former residents are attempting to gain permission to return. There is also talk, though, of expanding the base as part of the controversial US missile defence system.

The Details

The Ultimate Guide to Thule Air Base
The name of the Web site is accurate - a superb look at the history and current status of the base.

Historic postcards from Thule Air Base
Fourteen 1950s images of Inuit, sled dogs, base buildings and scenery.

Pituffik
The people of this village were moved to Qaanaaq when the Thule Air Base was built - now the Inuit want it back.

Thule Forum
A personal look at the construction and operation of the base, by Steffen Winther, with a forum for contacting other people who live(d) there.

Thule Memories
Larry Rodrigues was with the 1983rd Communications Squadron (AFCS) at Thule from July 1967 to June 1968, and has posted an excellent photojournal of the experience.

Weather at Thule Air Base
The current conditions and a detailed report of the past 24 hours, from NOAA.

Weather Averages
A chart showing monthly average and record high and low temperatures, and average precipitation.

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Northern Communities Index

Northern Weather Information

Photos of the Circumpolar North