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Greenland:
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Other pages in this profile of Greenland:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland was made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973, but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute centered on stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament; the law went into effect the following year. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs in consultation with Greenland's Home Rule Government. |
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Location |
Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada |
Geographic coordinates |
72 00 N, 40 00 W |
Map references |
Arctic Region |
Area |
total: 2,166,086 sq km land: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq km ice-covered) (2000 est.) |
Area - comparative |
slightly more than three times the size of Texas |
Land boundaries |
0 km |
Coastline |
44,087 km |
Maritime claims |
territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line |
Climate |
arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters |
Terrain |
flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast |
Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m |
Natural resources |
coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas |
Land use |
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
NA |
Natural hazards |
continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island |
Environment - current issues |
protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting |
Geography - note |
dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast, but close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice cap |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |