The valley has the only natural forest in Greenland and is about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) long, running roughly north to south and terminating at Tasersuaq Lake.
[1] The valley is situated about 50 kilometres (31 mi) from the sea and protected from the cold winds coming off the interior glaciers of Greenland.
The forest in Qinngua Valley is a thicket consisting mainly of downy birch (Betula pubescens) and gray-leaf willow (Salix glauca), growing up to 7–8 metres (23–26 ft) tall.
Growing sometimes to tree height is the Greenland mountain ash (Sorbus decora), which is usually a shrub.
[2] It is possible that other forests of this type once existed in Greenland but were cleared by early settlers for firewood or building material.