Greenland Facts and Information

This article includes a brief overview of Greenland as well as variety of facts, statistics, and other information.

Greenland is the world's largest island. The majority of the land is ice-capped and unsuitable for human habitation.

In its native language, Greenland is called Kalaallit Nunaat, which means “the Country of the Greenlanders”.

Greenland is a self governing country that is part of the kingdom of Denmark.

Greenland has political and cultural ties with Denmark, Norway, and Iceland.

The currency of Greenland is the Danish krone (DKK).

Greenland withdrew from the European Union in 1985. Its relations with the EU are now guided by a special agreement. Greenland's exit from the EU is sometimes known as "Grexit."

Nuuk, the capital, is home to approximately one quarter of Greenland's population.

Fishing is the main industry in Greenland. In addition to commercial fishing, Greenlanders practice subsistence fishing, sealing, whaling, and other activities.

Greenland is home to some of North America's most iconic animals, including seals, walruses, whales, polar bears, arctic foxes, arctic wolves, reindeer, musk oxen, lemmings, snow hares, and many species of birds.

The longest day of the year, June 21, is a national holiday.

Greenland is a member of the Arctic Council, Nordic Council, and other international organizations.

sources: Statistics Greenland, Government of Greenland, CIA World Factbook

An Overview of North America

North America is one of the world's great continents.

Wikipedia defines North America as:

"North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It can also be considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the west and south by the Pacific Ocean, and to the southeast by South America and the Caribbean Sea."

Occupying North America are 23 countries; Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States of America (USA).

There are also many dependent territories: Anguilla (UK), Aruba (Netherlands), Bermuda (UK), Bonaire (Netherlands), British Virgin Islands (UK), Cayman Islands (UK), Clipperton Island (France), Curacao (Netherlands), Greenland (Denmark), Guadeloupe (France), Martinique (France), Montserrat (UK), Navassa Island (USA), Puerto Rico (USA), Saba (Netherlands), Saint Barthelemy (France), Saint Martin (France), Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France), Sint Eustatius (Netherlands), Sint Maarten (Netherlands), Turks and Caicos Islands (UK), and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USA).