Who lives in Greenland population is the capital. Greenland is the largest island in the world

The article tells about the largest island in the world, which is occupied by Greenland. What is its history, what country does it belong to and what is there in general? At the same time, try to guess how much one kilogram of cheese costs on the island? You will find the answer at the end of the page!

According to the latest census, 60 thousand people live here. All of them are concentrated in 18 cities and 59 villages. The rest of the land is occupied by glaciers. At last count, 84% of Greenland is covered with ice. For this reason, the island regularly delivers new icebergs to the ocean. Scientists talk about a figure of 15 thousand blocks per year. By the way, it was one of them that sank the Titanic more than a hundred years ago.

Interesting:

• The area of ​​Greenland is 2,166,086 km². This is 50 times the size of Denmark, to which it belongs;
• Here is the world's largest national park, the most gigantic glacier and only one very modest fountain;
• From the middle to the middle, the northern lights regularly blaze in the sky. From here it is a polar day and the sun practically does not set.
• Population: 57 thousand people. 90% of them are Inuit (Eskimos). The rest are Europeans. Mostly Danes.

Where is located on the world map

Who owns Greenland

Greenland is the largest island on the planet. It is incorrect to call it a country, since it is part of the Danish kingdom, has its representatives in parliament and uses Danish krones in circulation. On the other hand, the inhabitants of the island enjoy a great deal of autonomy. Here are three examples of the willfulness of the northerners:

• Greenland left the European Union, although it belongs to Denmark.
• To get to the ice island, Russians and residents of many other countries will need a visa. Schengen does not apply here.
• What language do the locals speak? The main language is Greenlandic, not Danish. Although the latter is known and understood on the island, like English.

Why such a name and briefly about the history

The name for the "Green Land" was invented by the Scandinavian navigator Eric the Red at the very end of the 10th century. It was he who founded the first settlement on the island, after he was expelled from Iceland for 3 years for a double murder. Then the southern coastal zone was indeed greener than it is now. But there is a version that Eric the Red deliberately gave the new land a harmonious name in order to lure new colonizers.

By the beginning of the 15th century, the climate had deteriorated. Glaciers crawled to the outskirts of the island, a plague raged on the island and the colonists were forced to leave their settlements. For a while, all links between Greenland and Europe were interrupted. The island has become a haven for rare pirate ships and wild Inuit tribes. Regular expeditions resumed only in 1605. Since then, the colonization of the island has not stopped.

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Important Features

The thickness of the ice here is from one and a half to three kilometers. They say that if all Greenland ice melted, the water level in the world's oceans would rise by seven meters.

Before the trip, it is important to learn that there are no large settlements on the island. local cities- small Inuit villages in which several hundred people live on the strength. Even in Gothob (Nuuk), the capital of Greenland, there are hardly 15 thousand inhabitants. In this regard, one should not count on a stormy city ​​life: nightclubs, a wide selection of bars, museums and shopping centers.

This is, first of all, a country of wild, untouched nature, where any influence or even the presence of a person goes unnoticed. You will feel like an invisible grain of sand against the backdrop of an immense white desert, especially on ice sheet the central part of the island, where a harsh arctic climate prevails, and the temperature in it often reaches -60.

Animal world

Greenland is an absolutely unimaginable land of permafrost. Only 30 species of mammals live here, 22 of which are marine. Greenland is home to 170 bird species, and over 100 fish species swim in the surrounding waters.

Polar bears roam freely on the ice. Sometimes they wander into the villages. coastal zones occupied by walruses, seals, seals and sea otters, which carelessly bask on the pebbles. On East coast you can meet polar wolves, hares, reindeer and herds of musk bulls. Several species of dolphins and whales live in coastal waters: Greenland, blue, narwhal, white whale and others.

Landmarks of Greenland

ice canyon

Once on the central plateau, visit ice canyon. This amazing place formed as a result of the inevitable melting of ice. The canyon is a zigzag, wide fracture in the body of the glacier up to 45 meters deep. Melt water of an unusual blue color flows along its bottom, which, continuing to bore the ice, increases the area of ​​​​the fault every year. The heavenly color of the water contrasts with the snow-white walls of the glacier sparkling in the sun.

Lake Motzenfeld and the Koororssuaq Valley

The reservoir is located in a harsh and inaccessible area. The lake is constantly fed by melting glaciers, it has an unusual angular shape and is surrounded by huge, sharp peaks rising into the sky to a height of 1600 meters. The only road to Motzenfeld runs through the no less harsh, but even more picturesque Koororssuaq valley. The Koorkup Kuua River flows along its bottom: it flows out of the lake, and on the sides it is supported by two giants - the ice giants Illerfissalik and Suusukutaussa.

Mountain Uummannak

Mountain from afar Uummannak looks like a heart. It rises above the snow cover to a height of 1170 meters and appears before the eyes of a tourist in a successively alternating color of black, white and red. The mountain changes shades depending on the lighting.

In addition, you can go on a short kayak trip off the Southwest Coast to appreciate the true size of passing icebergs, visit the world's largest fjord, Scoresbysand, which cuts 250 kilometers inland, and just take a break from people in the vast snowy expanses.

Entertainment

Most of the local entertainment is tied to nature. Here are the most popular ways to spend time in harsh edge:

• Campaigns of all stripes;
• Rides in dog areas;
• Swims in kayaks, boats and boats;
• Traditional winter activities: snowboarding, skiing, snowmobiling, etc.
• Rock climbing;
• Watching wild animals: whales, deer, bears, seals, etc.;
• Photo tours of local landscapes;
• View from the air of the glacier and other beauties;
• Visiting traditional holidays: the main ones are in February, and.

Please note that hunting in Greenland is prohibited for tourists. For fishing, you will need to buy a license in tourist office. Violating the rules is fraught with huge fines and expulsion from the territory of the island.

What visa is needed

If you are not a citizen of Denmark or other Scandinavian countries you will need a visa to visit Greenland. At the same time, Schengen, through which you can get to Denmark itself, will not work here. A special document is required. You can get it at the Danish embassy or consulate, which can be found in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don and Novosibirsk. Do not forget to indicate that you need a visa specifically for Greenland. If you are going to spend more than three months there, you will need a residence permit.

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How to get to the harsh north

The easiest way to visit the largest island in the world is by taking a plane ticket from Copenhagen. There are other options, but for residents of Russia this is the most optimal. Planes from the Danish capital almost always land at one of two airports: Kangerlussuaq or Narsarsuaq. Your destination can be reached with the help of local airlines Air Greenland or Arctic Umiaq Line. Since the railways are actually big island in the world is not. There is also a problem with ordinary highways. They say the climate is to blame.

Denmark who owns Greenland owns this huge island for several centuries now. Until 1536 it was part of Norway. After Greenland went to Denmark, almost nothing has changed here for many generations. In 1979, the inhabitants of the island received wide autonomy from the government in Copenhagen.

History of the island

At first glance, it may seem that a huge north island- This independent state, but this is not the case at all. So who owns Greenland? Formally, it is part of the Danish kingdom, but it has its own authorities that manage the island much more efficiently than far European autonomy.

Since time immemorial, these uninhabitable lands have been of interest only to brave navigators and scientists. The island of Greenland was discovered by the Vikings, who were the first to visit here in the early Middle Ages. European colonies appeared much later. In the XVIII century, the Danish authorities began the construction of seaside towns, where fishermen and hunters mainly lived. This order continued for several centuries.

During the Second World War, it was occupied by the troops of Nazi Germany. When the US joined the Allies, the Americans began to build on free island bases, it was they who helped in the fight against the Wehrmacht. After the onset of peace, the authorities of the States and Denmark signed several documents stipulating the organization of the defense of the island. These arrangements were updated after Copenhagen decided to join NATO in 1949.

Relations with Denmark

Colonial politics European states became a thing of the past when, in the second half of the 20th century, most of the colonies declared independence (in Africa and on other continents). Denmark, who owns Greenland, also did not escape these transformations. Greenland was too large and sparsely populated to create an effective state of its own. Therefore, it was decided to agree on autonomy, which suited both parties. The capital held referenda several times, in which the population of the island expressed their opinion regarding the future of the country.

Autonomy

Recent changes in legal status happened in 2009. Extended autonomy provided for many new things. For example, Greenlandic became the official language on the island. Local authorities received new powers. Now they have become responsible for the courts and the police.

The small population of the island (56,000 people) gained complete control over natural resources. Many of them are located deep in the arctic bowels. Their development is a matter of the future. These are oil, gas, gold and diamonds that Greenland owns. Denmark retained control of foreign policy and printing money. official currency crown remains.

Denmark, who owns Greenland, often makes it clear that it will not resist if the autonomy wants complete independence. In this case, the island can become an independent Eskimo state.

Life in Greenland

The Danes did a lot to ensure that Greenland acquired all the infrastructure necessary for life. Missionaries and colonists founded several cities that are now administrative centers communes of the island. The capital Nuuk was built in the 18th century. Since then, its population has never exceeded 20,000 permanent residents.

The city is home to the only university on the island. There are also many churches left by Protestant missionaries. In Nuuk, as in other Greenlandic cities, the extraction of crabs, as well as halibut, is developed. Sea delicacies are sold all over the world, including in Denmark.

Greenland is also an exotic place that tourists love to visit. Nuuk has a museum dedicated to the history of the island. However, many guests who come here buy tickets in order to admire the secluded nature of the harsh Arctic region with its unusual panoramas and beauties. On south coast Greenland's climate is mild enough for these latitudes due to the warm sea ​​current. But even here in summer the temperature does not exceed ten degrees above zero.

This was the name given to this land in 962 by Eirik Rauda (Red), an Icelander of Norwegian origin, who was the first to explore the island.

Perhaps this was done by him in order to attract more settlers here. Or maybe in those days the island really was green. Greenland is currently an island high mountains, bluish-greenish icebergs, picturesque fjords and bare rocks. The rocks of the island are among the oldest on Earth.
From a height, the island looks like an endless desert of the infinite blinding ice, sometimes interrupted by black peaks. 80% of Greenland is covered in ice.
In summer, coastal meadows are covered with flowers and in some places thickets of mountain ash and birch. But central part Greenland is covered by a huge ice cap both in winter and in summer. No vegetation for many hundreds of miles.

Greenland has been an autonomous territory of Denmark since 1536. Previously, the island belonged to Norway. It has maritime border with Canada, it is washed by the Arctic and Atlantic oceans.

State symbols

Coat of arms- is an image of a white polar bear on a blue background. The polar bear signifies the harsh winter climate and the national animal. The blue background means the water of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, which surrounds the island from all sides. The coat of arms was approved in 1989.

State structure

Form of government- a constitutional monarchy.
Status is an autonomous province of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Head of autonomy- The monarch of Denmark, represented by the High Commissioner.
Head of the government- Prime Minister.
Administrative center and largest city- Nuuk.
Official language- Greenlandic.
Territory- 2,166,086 km².
Administrative division– 4 communes, which are divided into municipalities. The executive power in the communes is represented by burgomasters. Thule Air Base (Pituffik) and Northeast Greenland National Park remain excluded. Thule Air Base- US air base in the north of Greenland, the northernmost US air base.

Northeast Greenland National Park is the only national park in Greenland. It is the northernmost national park and the largest national park in the world. Its area is 972,000 km², it exceeds the area of ​​163 countries (individually).

Population- 59 000 people Greenlanders (Eskimos) make up about 90%. Over 9/10 of the population is concentrated in the south west coast Greenland, where the largest settlements (cities) are located: Nuuk (capital, 15 thousand inhabitants), Qaqortoq, Sisimiut, Maniitsok.
Religion Mostly Christian (Lutheran).
Currency- Danish krone.
Economy- economic life is focused on a narrow, free from continental ice coastal strip, occupying approximately 15% total area Greenland, mainly in the southwest of the island.
Export: fish products, especially processed shrimp, for which Greenland is ranked leading place in the world. Import: dominated by food and consumer goods, machinery and equipment, vehicles.

From 25% to 50% of the economically active population is employed in fishing and fish processing. Fish catch: 25-30 thousand tons per year, mainly cod, which is exported in dried and salted form. There are several fish canning factories, shipyards for the repair and construction of small fishing vessels, net knitting and knitting factories. Meat and wool sheep breeding and reindeer breeding are developed. Cryolite is mined (a rare mineral from the class of natural fluorides, widely used in metallurgy for the production of aluminum, enamel and other purposes). About half of Greenland's budget revenue comes from an annual financial subsidy from Denmark.

The road network in Greenland is practically absent, driving by car is possible only within one settlement and its environs. This is due to the peculiarities of the relief and climate, as well as the remoteness of settlements from each other. It is possible to move between neighboring settlements by dog sledding and snowmobiles. Railways not on the island. Developed air communication.
Education- The school system is built on the Danish model. Pre-school classes are being introduced for children aged 5-6. General secondary education is provided by gymnasiums. Vocational education - various colleges: medical college, college of social workers, business college, industrial, journalistic and construction schools. There is a pedagogical institute. Higher education can be obtained at the University of Greenland. Gymnasium graduates can continue their education in the Scandinavian countries.

On the autonomy of Greenland

The Danish parliament introduced broad autonomy for Greenland in 1979. In 1985, Greenland withdrew from the European Community (predecessor European Union), while Denmark remained in it. On June 21, 2009, the extended autonomy of Greenland was proclaimed. official language on the island became Greenlandic. The local administration assumed responsibility for the island's police and judicial system. Greenland gained control over all the natural resources that are rich in the subsoil of the Arctic island, including gold, diamonds, oil and gas. Denmark remained in control of its defense, foreign and monetary policy. Queen Margrethe II remains the formal head of state.

Nature

Greenland is the largest island in the world. Greenland has the second largest ice sheet in the world after Antarctica, it makes up 84% of the island, the rest is permafrost. There is a very low population density here - 0.026 people / km².
Vegetation is rare. Climate arctic and subarctic with cool summers and cold winters.

Northeast Greenland National Park

The park was founded on May 22, 1974, and acquired its current form in 1988. In 1977, it received the status of an international biosphere reserve. It is not included in the territory of any municipality and is administered by the Greenland Department of Nature and environment. There is no permanent population in the park; the staff of scientific stations and a military base live in it.
The flora of the park is quite poor, represented mainly by mosses and lichens. There are dwarf willows and birches.

From 5 to 15 thousand musk oxen (40% of the world population) live in the park. IN coastal areas you can meet a lot of polar bears and walruses. Other mammals: arctic fox, stoat, reindeer, lemming and arctic hare.

arctic hare
The reindeer and the wolf have disappeared from the park, although wolves visit the park periodically. Among other mammals: different types seals, seals, narwhals and whales.

Loon
Among the birds that breed their offspring in the park are the polar loon, different kinds geese, partridge, snowy owl, polar falcon, crows.
On a whale safari, you can admire humpback and large whales. lovers extreme tourism can go in for the most popular sport here - ice climbing (ice climbing). The same as rock climbing, only you need to climb on glaciers or icebergs. Puzzling descents from the icy mountains are also popular.

In those places of Greenland where the thickness of the ice cover reaches 700 m, melt waters grind deep canyons up to 40 meters or more.
The main attraction of Greenland is the aurora borealis, which can be observed here almost all year round.

The aurora borealis is a fascinating sight: multi-colored arcs, rays, spots, rings, whirlwinds that quickly move through the air, shimmering in different colors, changing shape and covering most sky. For the ancient Vikings, the aurora borealis was considered an auspicious phenomenon. The inhabitants of Greenland are sure that in the flashes of the aurora are the souls of their ancestors, who live after death in heaven.

Cities of Greenland

Nuuk

Capital of the self-governing territory of Greenland. The city is located on southwest coast Greenland Island at the mouth of the Good Hope Fjord, about 240 km south of the Arctic Circle.
The city was founded in 1728 by the Norwegian missionary Hans Egede, but there were settlements on this site before that, the oldest known being 4,200 years ago. Egede arrived there in 1721 with the aim of converting 12 Eskimo families living there to Christianity. He gave the city the name Gothob, which in Danish means " good hope". Since 1733 the Herrnhut brothers have been missionaries here and founded the New Herrnhut mission. Today the church houses the university and the local archive. The city officially bears the Eskimo name Nuuk, also in Danish.
In 2002, the Arctic Winter Games were held in Nuuk, in which athletes from Russia also took part.
The city is an exotic object for tourists. Here is the Greenlandic National Museum. The house of the founder of the city, Hans Egede, has been preserved, where the seat of the government of Greenland is currently located. In 1997 was opened Cultural Center Catuac.
Born here Ole Jorgen Hammeken- Greenland explorer.

Qaqortoq

A city on the southwest coast of Greenland. With a population of 3,100, it is the fourth most populated city in Greenland. It was founded by the Norwegian merchant Anders Olsen in 1775. Qaqortoq has a gymnasium, a trade college and a center for folk crafts. Employment is provided by the shipyard and the leather factory, the only one in Greenland that produces fashionable fur clothes.

Upernavik

Not Big city in northern West Greenland with a population of 1,144. In 1824, a runic stone was found on the outskirts of Upernavik, on which the inscriptions left by the Vikings around the end of the 13th century were inscribed.

Story

The island was first discovered by an Icelandic sailor Gunbjorn about 875, but the navigator did not go ashore. In 982, the first survey of the island was made by an Icelander of Norwegian origin Eirik Rauda (Redhead).

Norman (Icelandic) colonies, founded in the south of Greenland in 983, lasted until the 15th century. In the XI century. The people of Greenland converted to Christianity. From 1262 to the beginning of the XVIII century. Greenland formally belonged to Norway.
In the XV century. glaciers began to advance towards Greenland, the summer thawing of the soil became more and more short-lived, and by the end of the century, permafrost was firmly established here.
It is believed that the re-discovery of Greenland by Europeans was made around 1500 by the Portuguese brothers Kortirial.
In 1721, the colonization of the island by Denmark began, which in 1744 established a state monopoly on trade with Greenland, which lasted until 1950. In 1953, Greenland was declared part of the territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.

In April 1940 Denmark was occupied by Germany. After the end of World War II, the United States began to establish military bases on Greenland. Under an agreement of 1951 between the Danish and American governments, Denmark and the United States carry out joint defense of the island. In 1971, the USA had 2 military bases and other military installations in Greenland.

Exploration of Greenland began in the 17th century: initially by the British, and after the colonization of the island, by the Danes and Norwegians. IN last years almost continuous research, including stationary observations on the ice sheet, is carried out by scientists from the USA and Great Britain; in 1968-1969 expedition of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.
On August 6, 2004, the United States and Denmark signed an agreement modernizing the 1951 Greenland Defense Treaty, which deals with the modernization of the American Thule base as part of the US-created anti-missile defense system. But Greenland considers it expedient to turn the Thule Air Base into an international observation and satellite communications station under the control of the UN.
Through progress the latest technologies, especially the development of aviation, Greenland has now become much more accessible to the outside world.

On the western coast of the Caspian Sea, where the Caucasian spurs come quite close to the sea area, ancient Derbent is located on the coastal plains and hills. Today it is the second largest city in the Republic of Dagestan, after the capital, Makhachkala, which lies 125 km to the north.

Derbent is one of ancient cities not only the Caucasus, but the whole of Russia. Its history, according to archaeologists, has five millennia - it was then, back in bronze age, a small settlement arose on this site, which later acquired city fortifications.

However, the documented formation of Derbent as a fairly large city is associated with the Persian king of the Sassanid dynasty, Yezdegerd II (ruled in 435-57 AD), who erected it on the northern border of his possessions, on an elevated and strategically important place - between the mountains and by the sea (which is reflected in the name itself: the Iranian "derbend" means "mountain pass", or "mountain outpost").

About a century later, i.e. in the 6th century, during the reign of another king of the same dynasty (Khosrow I Anushirvan - ruled in 531-579), a fortified Upper (Old) city was erected on the ruins of former fortifications, the center of which is impregnable fortress Naryn-Kala. Two stone fortress walls are also being erected (they are equipped with powerful towers and majestic entrance gates), which departed from the citadel and went parallel to each other towards the sea. These walls, now only partially preserved, once reached the very shore, and even went into shallow water, thus enclosing not only the city itself, which was, as it were, in a “wall” protected from the enemy, but also the harbor. In addition to the two main walls, there was previously another fortress wall - Dag-Bary (Mountain Wall), 3 m thick and up to 10 m high, which departed from the southwestern corner of the citadel and went to the side Caucasus mountains for as much as 40 km! (now the Mountain Wall is almost completely destroyed, only a few fragments remain).

Subsequently, thanks to the advantageous geographic location, Derbent is turning into one of the largest and most developed medieval cities East. True, its history is full of drama: it finds itself at the epicenter of turbulent events, experiences many storms and destruction, experiences periods of prosperity and decline. In the 630s. Derbent was captured by the Khazars, since 652 it was part of the Arab Caliphate, in the 10th century. becomes the center of an independent emirate. Further, in 1071 the city was captured by the Seljuk Turks, in the XIII century. it is conquered by the Mongols, in the period from the 16th to the beginning of the 18th centuries. Derbent is part of Iran. Since 1743 it has been the center of the Derbent Khanate, and in 1813 Derbent joins Russia.

The Naryn-kala citadel, which has been well preserved to our time, is limited by thick (2-4 m) and high (10-12 m) fortress walls, built of two rows of well-crafted stone blocks filled with fragments and lime mortar. On its territory you can see the ruins of the palace of the Derbent Khan (2nd half of the 18th century), this is also a special underground structure - " stone bag"(cellar or prison for khan's prisoners), baths, guardhouse. The ruins of palace structures of earlier periods (starting from ancient times) have also been preserved.

In the area adjacent to the citadel, there is a typical Muslim medieval city with a network of narrow crooked streets, on which blind facades of 1-2-storey houses go, with mosques, fountains, baths. In this part of the city there are: the Juma mosque complex, consisting of the mosque itself (VIII century), a madrasah (XV-XIX centuries) and 3 arched gates (XVII-XIX centuries), as well as the Kyrkhlyar mosque (XVII century BC). ), Minaret-mosque (XVIII century, partially rebuilt in the XIX century) with the only dilapidated minaret in Derbent (XIV century), Chertebe mosque (XVII-XIX centuries), the former Khan's mausoleum (late XVIII century). Here you can see special tanks for storing water - underground cisterns(XVII-XIX centuries), which for Derbent, like any other fortified city of those times, was almost of paramount importance. Water was supplied here from mountain springs - through numerous stone and ceramic conduits discovered during excavations.

From 1926 to Upper city valid local history museum, and in 1989 the State Historical-Architectural and art museum-reserve"Ancient Derbent".

Cultural criteria: iii, iv
Year of inscription world heritage: 2003

This site on the UNESCO World Heritage Center website whc.unesco.org/en/list/1070

It is closer to North America, but belongs to Europe, as it is located between Europe and America. It is separated from the North Pole by only 740 km.

Greenland is famous for its magical landscapes, so it is visited by many tourists who are not afraid of the cold.

Most of the attractions in Greenland are associated with ice. Here, for example, you can find igloo hotels, huge glaciers and, of course, the northern lights.

Also here you can see Whale Bathing, visit the National Museum of the capital Nuuk and look at its amazing collections, and also on this island there is a unique opportunity to taste the local cuisine that is unlike anything else.

Greenland on the map

Size of Greenland on the map

Real size of Greenland

Who owns Greenland

Denmark. However, this island is a self-governing territory. Technically, the queen of Denmark rules the island, but the Greenlanders choose their own prime minister.

Greenland belongs to the northeast of America. His northern part washes the Lincoln Sea (the waters of the North Arctic Ocean), in the northeast the island meets the waters of the Greenland Sea, and in the southeast it is washed by the Denmark Strait, right behind which is Iceland. In the south of the island is the Atlantic Ocean.

Greenland

Travelers from Iceland and Denmark settled in Greenland as early as 986, and one of them was the famous Viking, navigator and discoverer Eric the Red, who was also called Eirik Rauda and Eirik the Red (because of the color of his beard and hair). He founded the first settlement in Greenland.

Population

Today, the island has a population of 57,728, making it the area with the lowest population density on earth.

12% of the population are Europeans, mostly Danes, and the remaining 88% are Greenlandic Eskimos who call themselves Inuit.

Climate of Greenland

The climate of the island is divided depending on the region into:

Coasts of the sea

Subarctic

Arctic

Continental Arctic.

Greenland is often crossed by cyclones that bring with them strong winds, precipitation and sudden changes in temperature.

January

Temperatures range from -7°C on the south coast to -36°C on the north.

July

The temperature varies from +10 °C in the south to +3 °C in the northwest.

In the center of the island average temperature February is -47 °C, and in July -12 °C.

Most of the snow falls in the autumn-winter period, but it is worth noting that snow can fall at any time of the year.

If you want to visit Greenland, it is better to do it during the polar "white nights", which falls between May and July. For those who love winter, April is the right time.

Time Zones

The territory of the island is divided into 4 time zones. In the capital Nuuk and most big cities South Greenland time behind Moscow by 6 hours during summer time and by 7 hours during winter time.

The time difference with Scoresby Land in eastern Greenland is 4 hours in summer time and 5 hours in winter

Time in Danmarkshavn (northeast of Greenland) is 4 hours behind Moscow time all year round.

The difference with Thule and the Pituffik area is 8 hours all year round.

The area between Cape Brewster and Trail Island is 5 hours behind Moscow.

Time in the area between Daneborg and Shannon Island is in the Greenwich time zone.

The most West Side islands is 7 hours behind Moscow time.

Briefly about Greenland

Total area: 2,166,086 sq. km. 81% of the territory is covered with eternal ice.

Ice free area: 410,449 sq. km.

Official language: Greenlandic, but the Home Rule Act obliges everyone to learn Danish.

Head of State: queen of Denmark.

Head of Administration: executive minister.

Currency unit: Danish krone.

Interesting Facts

Why is Greenland called that?

1. Greenland translates as " green earth". The first Eskimos arrived on the island in 985 from Norway and Iceland and decided to name the island that way in order to attract more people here.

Why is it wrong to call local residents Eskimos?

2. Despite the fact that many people call the inhabitants of Greenland Eskimos, this is not entirely correct. The word "Eskimo" means "raw eater", and it appeared in the Indian tribes. North America, after which they began to call the Inuit tribes living in the continental United States and Canada. However, the inhabitants of Greenland are not among them.

Capital of Greenland

3. The largest city in Greenland is its capital, Nuuk. From a bird's eye view, it looks like it was created from Lego blocks. It combines: the old European school of construction, the Greenlandic school, as well as the old quarters in the historic district.

4. Every year, due to global warming, the island loses 217 cubic kilometers of ice.

5. Greenland is the world's largest glacier after the glacier that covers Antarctica.

6. WITH geographic point Greenland is part of North America, but politically it is a province of Denmark (although it is 50 times larger than Denmark).

7. Most of the inhabitants live on the southwest coast, or rather on a narrow coastal strip, which is located between the ice sheet and the sea. It is here that the climate is milder.

8. The colors of the island's flag symbolize its connection with Denmark. One version says that the circle on the flag is a symbol of the sun that rises over Greenland. According to another version, the red part of the circle is the fjords of the island, and the white part is icebergs, and the red and white background symbolizes the ocean and the sheet glacier.

9. The inhabitants of the island are mainly engaged in hunting and fishing.

10. The speed of some winds on the island reaches 70 meters per second.

11. The ice shell that covers the island has an average thickness of 1,500 meters.

12. If all the ice in Greenland melts, the sea level will rise by 7 meters.

13. The symbol of the island is the polar bear, so its image can be seen on the coat of arms of Greenland.

14. Almost all residents of the island receive money on the card and in all settlements can be found a large number of ATMs that accept many different cards.

15. Prices on the island are quite high, since everything except fish and meat has to be imported. At the same time, the stores have a very wide range of goods.

16. Greenland has very high-quality high-speed Internet. Moreover, the island is one of the leaders in network services per capita.

17. On the west coast of the island is the city of Upernavik, which is one of the northernmost cities in the world. It is also the northernmost ferry crossing on our planet. They even say here that a person does not know real cold until he visits Upernavik.