We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culture

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Should I Know About Greenland?

By Rebecca Partington
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,017
Share

At 836,109 square miles (2.2 million sq km), Greenland is the world's largest island that is not also a continent. Due to its climate and proximity to the North Pole, roughly 80% of its surface is permanently covered in ice. It has a population of over 55,000 and its capital city is Nuuk, which is the nation's largest city with over 15,000 residents.

In prehistoric times, the island was settled by several Paleo-Eskimo cultures. The island's first outside settlers were the Vikings, who arrived in the tenth century but disappeared after roughly 500 years. The Danes colonized the area in the 1700s, and Greenland became a province of Denmark in 1953. It was also briefly part of the European Union, but withdrew its membership after disagreements over the European Union's strict fishing quotas. In 1979, Denmark granted Greenland self-government, but continued to control the country's foreign relations in conjunction with Greenland's own government.

The government consists of an executive branch, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch. The executive branch is nominally headed by the ruler of Denmark, but as a practical matter, it is lead by the prime minister, who is advised by his or her cabinet. The legislative branch consists of a single-house Parliament with 31 seats. The members are chosen in popular elections, and the legislature is responsible for electing the prime minister. The judicial branch is headed by a High Court.

Greenland's climate varies from arctic to subarctic, with cool summers and cold winters. The land is almost entirely covered by a flat icecap, but a narrow strip of mountainous coastline around the island is not covered by the icecap. All of Greenland's cities are situated within this strip of coastline.

Greenland possesses many valuable natural resources, such as coal, lead, zinc, diamonds, and iron ore. The economy is generally good, but is heavily dependent on the export of fish and also requires much support from the Danish government. In fact, Danish subsidies account for half of the government's revenues.

Most of the population is Inuit and whites who were born in Greenland, while Danish people and people of other ethnicities make up about 10%. The predominant religion iss Evangelical Lutheran, and the most commonly spoken languages are Greenlandic, Danish, and English. Culturally, Greenlanders are closely linked to European cultures, especially those of Denmark, Iceland, and Norway, even though the North American nation of Canada is much closer. This is likely due to the early Viking settlements, as well as Denmark's continuing influence over the nation.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon134428 — On Dec 14, 2010

This helped me a lot, you have no idea how much. Thanks!

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-should-i-know-about-greenland.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.