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(opens in new window) The world's largest island, Greenland 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 European Union) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985 over a
dispute over 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. Northern North America, island between the
Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada 72 00 N, 40 00 W total:
2,166,086 sq km arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold
winters flat to gradually sloping icecap covers
all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum,
gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and
gas arable land:
0% NA sq km continuous permafrost over northern
two-thirds of the island protection of the arctic environment;
preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and
seal hunting 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 56,384 (July 2004 est.) Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born
whites), Danish and others 12% (January 2000) Evangelical Lutheran Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English
part of the Kingdom of Denmark;
self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979
parliamentary democracy within a
constitutional monarchy Nuuk (Godthab) none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark;
self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979) Danish The economy remains critically dependent
on exports of fish and substantial support from the Danish Government, which
supplies about half of government revenues. The public sector, including
publicly-owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role
in the economy. Despite several interesting hydrocarbon and minerals
exploration activities, it will take several years before production can
materialize. Tourism is the only sector offering any near-term potential,
and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs. 24,500 (1999 est.) 10% (2000 est.) revenues:
$646 million forage crops, garden and greenhouse
vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish fish processing (mainly shrimp and
Greenland halibut), handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards, mining
fish and fish products 94% (prawns 63%)
Denmark 66.8%, Japan 14.3%, China 4.5%
(2003 est.) machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured goods, food, petroleum products Denmark 81.5%, Norway 8.5%, Sweden 3%
(2003 est.) Danish krone (DKK) is the official legal
tender. 26,000 (2001) 16,747 (2001) total: NA
(there are no roads between towns) (2003) Aasiaat (Egedesminde), Ilulissat (Jakobshavn),
Kangerlussuaq, Nanortalik, Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthab), Qaqortoq (Julianehab),
Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Tasiilaq total: 3
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,593 GRT/3,640 DWT 14 (2003 est.) total: 9 total: 5 defense is the responsibility of Denmark
uncontested dispute between Canada and
Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere
Island and Greenland |
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