Travels in Greenland

Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Physiographically, it is a part of the continent of North The united states. The largest island in Greenland is also named Greenland, and comprises most of the country's land area.

Greenland has been inhabited by Inuit peoples since 2500 BC. There were Norse colonies in Greenland from AD 986 until sometime most likely in the 15th century. In the early 18th century contact between Scandinavia and Greenland was re-established and Denmark established rule over Greenland.

In 1979 Denmark granted home rule to Greenland, in a relationship known in Danish as Rigsfællesskabet (Commonwealth of the Realm), and in 2008 Greenland voted to transfer more powers to the local government. This became effective the following year, with the Danish royal government in charge only of foreign affairs, security and financial owner, and providing a subsidy of DKK 3.4 billion, or about $11,300 per Greenlander, yearly.

Greenland is, by area, the world's largest island that is not a continent. It is the least densely populated dependency or country in the world.

At a glance of Greenland :

Facts and FiguresOfficial Name : Greenland

Capital City : Godthab (Nuuk)

Population : 57,564 (July 2007 est.)

Largest Cities : N.A.

Languages : Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English

Latitude/Longitude : 72º N, 40º W

Official Currency : Danish Krone
(the latest conversion rates) here!

Religions : Evangelical Luthern

Flag and description here!

Land
Land Area : 2,166,086 sq km (839,999 sq miles)

Landforms The coastline is rugged, mountainous and barren. The land then rises to a sloping icecap that covers most of the island.

Highest Point Mt. Gunnbjorn 3,700 m (12,139 ft)