The city neighbours the Ilulissat Icefjord, where there are enormous icebergs from the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere.

The town was established as a trading post by Jacob Severin's company in 1741 and was named in his honor[8][9] after the Battle of Jacobshavn.

[11] The joint meeting between Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia, and the United States was held to discuss key issues relating to territorial claims in the Arctic (particularly Hans Island - eventually settled in 2022[12] -, and Arktika 2007) and Arctic shrinkage produced by climate change.

It stated that the law of the sea provided for important rights and obligations concerning the delineation of the outer limits of the continental shelf, the protection of the marine environment (including ice-covered areas), freedom of navigation, marine scientific research, and other uses of the sea.

[20] Ilulissat has a tundra climate (ET) with long, cold winters and short, cool summers.

Ilulissat is one of the driest settlements in Greenland, receiving only 271 millimetres or 10.67 inches of precipitation.

[25] Ilulissat Airport is located 2.8 km (1.7 mi) to the northeast of the town center and was built in 1983.

The Arctic Umiaq ferry links Ilulissat with Sisimiut, Nuuk, and other towns and settlements on the western and southwestern coast of Greenland.