The kayaks found the world over trace their origins to the Inuit people of the arctic north. Today, modern kayak designers are still replicating the work of the early kayak makers, and the very finest kayak craftsmen of all remain Greenland's Inuit residents.

In the arctic, Inuits created kayaks -- or qajaqs -- for the practical purposes of hunting and surviving in their extreme environment. Kayaks leveled the playing field between Greenlanders and their marine mammal neighbors and allowed hunters to move rapidly in pursuit of their ever-moving quarry. Kayaks also allowed Inuit culture to explode throughout Greenland during the Thule period, starting in the 11th century A.D. Within 150 years, these hunters had colonized much of the island by boat, expertly living off the land and the water.

With kayaks, hunters could pursue and hunt seals in the water. And everything hinged on a successful hunt. In the arctic, before the modern era, if one couldn't hunt down seals or whales, one's family could easily starve. By the same measure, if a paddler could not roll his kayak after tipping over, he could drown or freeze in minutes. If the boats could not navigate the northern water's treacherous eddies, currents, and waves, the Inuit would not have successfully colonized the world's largest island with the vigor they did. Quite simply, the boats were built to overcome the harshest conditions imaginable, and the Greenlanders masterfully rose to the occasion.

Traditional kayaks are seals-skin boats with bone and wood frames. Designs differ between the Inuit peoples from Siberia to Greenland. The Greenlandic boats tend to have finer lines, and longer, sleeker bodies than their cousins of Alaska, for instance. (Go here to learn more about Greenlandic kayak designs.)

In addition to the kayaks, Inuits constructed larger seal-skin-covered boats called umiaks, or women's boats. These were used primarily used by women and children. They could fit 18 persons in a single craft. Umiaks would follow the kayaks as the mobile Inuit lived a nomadic hunting life off Greenland's harsh coastline.

Today, kayak building has returned in most Greenland communities. Behind this cultural renaissance is an organization of 25 local kayak clubs called Qaannat Kattuffiat, which is responsible for saving the old kayaking skills in Southwest Greenland, before they were forgotten forever. The club founders realized that an entire generation had grown up without knowledge of kayaking, and they arranged for the old seal catchers to teach a whole new generation of young kayakers, like those seen in this picture.

The affiliated clubs throughout Southwest Greenland are supported by this new generation of enthusiastic kayakers. At these clubs, they build their own boats using traditional designs and methods. While rediscovering their heritage, they've added some new twists. For instance, one also sees young women in modern kayaks, unlike the past when the boats were used by male hunters alone. Greenland also holds an annual kayaking championship. During the event, contestants test their skills in distance paddling, spear throwing, and the multitude of rolling techniques perfected by their forefathers.

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Kayak Class in Sisimiut

Kayak instructor Elias Inusûgtoq, front, and student Lasse Andersen practice the kayak roll in Sisimiut's bay.

Kayak Roll, No Paddle

In Qaqortoq, a national kayak rolling champion practices one his paddle-less maneuvers.

Kayak World

This hanging display of kayaks shows both historic craft and frames under construction.

Women's Boat

The Greenlandic umiak, or women's boat, could carry more than 15 people and was used to colonize Greenland's coastal communities during the Thule period. (Boat on display in Nuuk)

Alaskan Inuit Kayak

As seen in this Alaskan Eskimo kayak on display at the Sheldon Jackson Museum in Sitka, Alaska, the Alaskan kayaks were builkier than those used by Greenlanders, and this particular boat has a shorter stern than its Greenlandic counterparts.