Some might be surprised to learn that
Greenland is the
world’s biggest island. Its large and impressive island terrain is therefore marked by the kind of topography that you might expect: surrounding sea, hills and wildlife. Yet the
sea is either permanently frozen or chilled by the mainly cold currents. Its hills are framed by
wild and rugged scenery and clear, clean air.
In the center of the country,
ice can be up to 3km (2 miles) thick. It is no wonder that most of its population huddles around the ice-free coastal region. Indeed, ’Greenland’
is a bit of a misnomer, drummed up by
Eric the Red (son of a Norwegian chieftain banished from his home in Iceland for murder) in the year AD982 to attract settlers.
Eric the Red’s strategy worked for a short while. By the 10th century, the
first European settlements of Greenland had been established. The colonists accepted Norwegian sovereignty around 1260, which lasted until the marginal lifestyle of the settlements finally led to their collapse in the 16th century. The territory was then unoccupied by Europeans until
Denmark took possession of it in the early 18th century. It became an integral part of the Danish realm in 1953. A referendum in 1979 approved internal autonomy within the Kingdom of Denmark.
In 1982, in another referendum, the population voted by a narrow majority to leave the EC (as it then was), which they had joined as part of Denmark in 1972. Greenland is now an overseas territory in association with the EU.
Those still wondering why anyone would want to inhabit such unforgiving terrain are ignorant of the
beautiful sights that Greenland grants. The arctic nights in the winter concoct a wondrous
continuous twilight and, in the far north of the country, complete darkness, coupled with the spectacular
Northern Lights. The profusion of snow creates the perfect conditions for activities such as
dog sledging and tour
cruises, which interweave in and out of Greenland’s dazzling array of
fjords,
mountains,
islands and
icebergs. The wildlife does not disappoint, either: there are abundant opportunities to view creatures such as
whales, seals and birds.
In short, Greenland is not a country for those seeking an ordinary holiday. Those seeking an extraordinary holiday might have found the right place.
GeographyGreenland is the world’s biggest island. The surrounding seas are either permanently frozen or chilled by the mainly cold currents caused by the meeting of the Arctic and the North Atlantic oceans. The inland area is covered with ice, stretching 2,500km (1,500 miles) north–south and 1,000km (600 miles) east–west. In the center, the ice can be up to 3km (2 miles) thick. The ice-free coastal region, which is sometimes as wide as 200km (120 miles), covers a total of 410,449 sq km (158,475 sq miles), and is where all of the population is to be found. This region is intersected by deep fjords which connect the inland ice area with the sea. The Midnight Sun can be seen north of the Arctic Circle; the further north you are, the longer the period of the Midnight Sun. The arctic night in the winter results in a continuous twilight and, in the far north of the country, complete darkness. The Northern Lights can be seen during the autumn, winter and early spring.
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