Dennis Lehtonen’s Aerial Views of Remote Greenland Villages Illuminate an Evolving Land

The world’s largest island that isn’t its own continent, Greenland spans more than 836,000 square miles. As we’ve been reminded recently, the territory is part of the Realm of Denmark, although it has its own systems of local government. Greenland is home to only about 56,000 people, the vast majority of whom are Inuit and live on the southern part of the island that’s not covered in ice. The largest city, Nuuk, houses around one-third of the country’s population. And situated just south of the Arctic Circle, residents only see a few hours of sunlight during the day in mid-winter.

Hunting and fishing have traditionally sustained a subsistence lifestyle for Greenlanders, and today, the latter continues as the foundation of the nation’s economy. It’s a stunning island, with dramatic mountains, fjords, and rocky coastlines. For photographer Dennis Lehtonen, who moved to Greenland in early 2023 and found work in its fish factories, the inherent beauty of the region is endlessly enchanting.

An aerial photograph of a small village called Narsamijit in Greenland, situated amid mountains and water — Narsamijit

Lehtonen captures atmospheric images of distinctive landscapes and tiny villages, like when a pair of monumental icebergs floated by one community earlier this year. He illuminates the vernacular architecture and remote, rugged beauty of the country while drawing attention to changing demographics.

Like many places around the world, populations are declining in rural, small towns due to younger people moving away to larger cities for different job opportunities, creating a domino effect of industry decline in smaller settlements. In many areas, a number of homes stand abandoned, and since the mid-20th century, a few ghost towns have emerged.

Using a drone, Lehtonen captures these otherworldly places where time-honored traditions confront our contemporary, globalized world. He aims to photograph all of the approximately 70 inhabited places in Greenland, creating a kind of poignant record.

“With many young people moving to a few bigger cities, it means that many smaller, remote places experience severe depopulation,” Lehtonen says. “It’s therefore highly realistic that some places I have lived in will be closed as I get older.” See more on Instagram.