The official world’s largest island is Greenland. With a population of 56,000 inhabitants, Greenland has its extensive local government, but it’s also part of the Realm of Denmark.
Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953; then, it was redefined as a district of Denmark. Greenland has been culturally and politically associated with Denmark for a millennium.
This article will provide you with in-depth information about Greenland. Let’s dive in!
Greenland Today
Greenland today is a blend of modernity and tradition. Modern cities with bustling airports, comfortable cafes, lively stores, cinemas, and educational institutions are found in the country.
However, it keeps its small villages and traditional settlements, where seal hunting is still the primary source of income.
Everyone has access to publicly-funded education, health care, and retirement benefits. Denmark provides a significant annual block fund to Greenland.
The essential driver of the Greenlandic economy is still fishing. Although, the fishing industry no longer supports many jobs as it used to.
Greenland’s government is looking into ways to generate revenue off the island’s mineral resources which include gold, natural gas, lead, diamonds, and zinc.
The goal is to bring in foreign investment and supply the services required.
Since 2000, the number of international overnight tourists has increased by more than 50%, while the number of cruise ship passengers stopping in Greenland has increased by over 150%.
Humpback whales, drifting icebergs, walruses, polar bears, reindeer, sea eagles, and musk oxen are all popular tourists attraction.
Nature in Greenland
The natural beauty of Greenland is impressive. Greenlanders often say, “you feel very little” in magnificent settings, including mountains, glaciers, amazing animals, and fjords.
Some of Greenland’s most beautiful natural landforms are icebergs. These great floating ice masses can reach many floors in height.
Icebergs are a result of the continual movement of the Greenlandic ice cap. Only about 10% of an iceberg is visible above water.
Recently experts have cautioned that Greenland’s massive ice sheet is shrinking. Many link this to human-caused climate change.
According to a study published in the journal of Geophysical Research letters by an international team, the ice cap covering Greenland loses about 110 million Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of water each year.
The Inhabitants of Greenland
The number of people in Greenland centers around 56,000; they dwell largely in the 20% of the nation that isn’t covered in ice and snow.
After the sea froze in the narrow strait at Thule in northern Greenland, the first humans to set foot on the island arrived from the North American continent via Canada some 4,000-5,000 years ago.
No less than six different Inuit cultures have migrated in distinct waves. Greenlanders live largely on the coast in settlements and cities due to the harsh Arctic climate.
Because of the short seasons, fishing and hunting have always been essential for survival. Except in the far South of the country, where sheep grazing is common, Greenland’s climate and geology make farming nearly impossible.
Facts About Greenland
- In Greenland, June 21 is the longest day of the year and a national holiday.
- The sun doesn’t set from May 25 to July 25.
- July is the only month when the temperature reaches above freezing.
- In Greenland, the form of government practiced is self-government within the kingdom of Denmark
- Their currency is the Danish krone (DKK)
- The official language in Greenland is Greenlandic
- 80% of Greenland is covered by ice cap and glaciers
- Sealing, whaling, fishing, and hunting are the main sources of income in Greenland.
- The head of state is Danish Monarch, Queen Margrethe ii
- Greenland is in the polar zone where winter temperatures reach as low as -50°C, and summer temperatures rarely exceed 10-15°C.
- The capital of Greenland is Nuuk.
