Greenland

Click a letter for the index

Or search the encyclopaedia:

 

 

Go

 

Click image to enlarge
World's largest island, a dependency of Denmark, lying between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans east of North America; area 2,175,600 sq km/840,000 sq mi; population (2003 est) 56,500, comprising Inuit (Ammassalik Eskimoan), Danish, and other Europeans. The capital is Godthåb (Greenlandic Nuuk) on the west coast; other important settlements are Holsteinborg (Sisimut), Egedesminde (Aasiaat), and Julianehåb (Qaqortoq). More than 90% of the population live along the Western coast. The main economic activities are fishing and fish-processing.

History
Greenland was discovered in about 985 by Eric the Red, who founded colonies on the west coast soon after Inuit from the North American Arctic had made their way to Greenland. Christianity was introduced to the Vikings in about 1000, and Greenland became a bishopric c.1110. In 1261 the Viking colonies accepted Norwegian sovereignty, but in the 14th and 15th centuries Greenland was neglected, and the colonists either died out or assimilated with the Inuit, who had moved on to the east coast. The British explorers Martin Frobisher and John Davis rediscovered Greenland in the 16th century but found no trace of Norsemen. Modern colonization was begun in 1721 by the Norwegian missionary Hans Egede, and Danish trading posts were established shortly afterward. It became a Danish colony in the 18th century, and following a referendum in 1979 was granted full internal self-government in 1981.

The yellow of the emblem is said to denote Angola's natural wealth. Red is said to stand for the blood spilt by the freedom fighters. Black represents Africa. Effective date: 11 November 1975. >>