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The Qorlortorsuaq Hydroelectric Dam, about 43 miles south of Narsaq. Opened in 2007, Qorlortorsuaq has an installed capacity of 7.6 megawatts, and powers South Greenland's two largest towns, Qaqortoq and Narsaq. (Photo by Zane Cooper)

The Qorlortorsuaq Hydroelectric Dam, about 43 miles south of Narsaq. Opened in 2007, Qorlortorsuaq has an installed capacity of 7.6 megawatts, and powers South Greenland's two largest towns, Qaqortoq and Narsaq. (Photo by Zane Cooper)

The Kvanefjeld Plateau at sunset, seen from the kitchen window of the Narsaq International Research Station (NIRS). (Photo by Zane Cooper)

The Kvanefjeld Plateau at sunset, seen from the kitchen window of the Narsaq International Research Station (NIRS). (Photo by Zane Cooper)

Situated to the Northeast of Qaqortoq, the Kujataa World Heritage Site contains Greenland's most well-preserved Norse ruin, the Hvalsey Church. This site borders the license area of the TANBREEZ rare earth project. (Photo by Zane Cooper)

Situated to the Northeast of Qaqortoq, the Kujataa World Heritage Site contains Greenland's most well-preserved Norse ruin, the Hvalsey Church. This site borders the license area of the TANBREEZ rare earth project. (Photo by Zane Cooper)

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Narsap Ilua and the Kvanefjeld Plateau as seen from the Eqqaavik Landfill. (Photo by Zane Cooper)

Narsap Ilua and the Kvanefjeld Plateau as seen from the Eqqaavik Landfill. (Photo by Zane Cooper)

Piles of radioactive waste rock abandoned by the Danish government in the early 1980s after the closure of the Kvanefjeld uranium mine. This radioactive rock sits adjacent to a popular hiking trail, about five miles from Narsaq.

Piles of radioactive waste rock abandoned by the Danish government in the early 1980s after the closure of the Kvanefjeld uranium mine. This radioactive rock sits adjacent to a popular hiking trail, about five miles from Narsaq.

A geiger counter resting near the river bed in Narsap Ilua, measuring ambient radiation. If averaged over a year, 3.54 millisieverts per hour nearly exceeds the occupational exposure limit in the United States.

A geiger counter resting near the river bed in Narsap Ilua, measuring ambient radiation. If averaged over a year, 3.54 millisieverts per hour nearly exceeds the occupational exposure limit in the United States.

Community Spotlight

Community engagement has been one of the most important parts of our work in South Greenland. While hopes for future development in Narsaq have been held hostage by the specter of the Kvanefjeld Project, South Greenland is a uniquely vibrant region simply brimming with possibilities. In partnership with the Narsaq International Research Station, Zane Griffin Talley Cooper continues to work making this project’s research legible and useful to communities in Narsaq and South Greenland more broadly.

Graduate Students from the Yale School of Architecture, led by Billy Fleming and Zane Griffin Talley Cooper, wait for a ferry at the docks near the Narsarsuaq Airport

Graduate Students from the Yale School of Architecture, led by Billy Fleming and Zane Griffin Talley Cooper, wait for a ferry at the docks near the Narsarsuaq Airport

Graduate students from the Yale University School of Architecture relax after a grueling hike at Theodora Høegh’s Ulu Net Café, one of only two restaurants in Narsaq.

Graduate students from the Yale University School of Architecture relax after a grueling hike at Theodora Høegh’s Ulu Net Café, one of only two restaurants in Narsaq.

Jan Rehtmar-Petersen presents on the history, present, and future of Urani? Naamik to a group of students from the Yale School of Architecture. Jesper Enevoldsen translates.

Jan Rehtmar-Petersen presents on the history, present, and future of Urani? Naamik to a group of students from the Yale School of Architecture. Jesper Enevoldsen translates.

Zane Griffin Tally Cooper speaks to students at Campus Kujalleq in Qaqortoq about connections between local mining projects and global demand for digital devices. Students share their personal feelings about growing mining interests in South Greenlan

Zane Griffin Tally Cooper speaks to students at Campus Kujalleq in Qaqortoq about connections between local mining projects and global demand for digital devices. Students share their personal feelings about growing mining interests in South Greenland

Employees of Narsaq’s Neqi slaughterhouse take a break to pose for the camera. Neqi is Narsaq’s largest employer, and the center of South Greenland’s sizeable sheep farming industry

Employees of Narsaq’s Neqi slaughterhouse take a break to pose for the camera. Neqi is Narsaq’s largest employer, and the center of South Greenland’s sizeable sheep farming industry

Jesper Enevoldsen, head curator at the Narsaq Museum, gives a tour of the collection

Jesper Enevoldsen, head curator at the Narsaq Museum, gives a tour of the collection

A farmer tends to a lettuce crop at the Upernaviarssuk Farm, just northeast of Qaqortoq. Upernaviarssuk is an experimental farm attempting to expand the agricultural possibilities in South Greenland.

A farmer tends to a lettuce crop at the Upernaviarssuk Farm, just northeast of Qaqortoq. Upernaviarssuk is an experimental farm attempting to expand the agricultural possibilities in South Greenland.