title: Savissivik
text: # Savissivik
  
  Savissivik (West Greenlandic; old spelling: Savigsivik) or Havighivik (Inuktun) (IATA: SVR) is a settlement in the Avannaata municipality in northern Greenland. Located on Meteorite Island, off the northern shores of Melville Bay, the settlement had 55 inhabitants in 2020.
  
  ## History
  
  In the Greenlandic language, the name Savissivik means "Place of Meteoric Iron" or "Knives", alluding to the numerous meteorite fragments that have been found in the area dating to about 10,000 years ago. The Cape York meteorite is estimated to have weighed 100 tonnes before it exploded. The iron from the meteorite is believed to have attracted migrating Inuit from Arctic Canada.
  
  ## Transport
  
  Air Greenland operates settlement flights to Qaanaaq Airport via Pituffik Space Base. The twice-weekly flights are subsidized by the Government of Greenland. Transfers at the airbase are subject to access restrictions by the Danish Foreign Ministry.
  
  ## Population
  
  The population of Savissivik decreased by over 40 percent relative to the 1990 levels, and by 10 percent relative to 2000 levels.
  
  