Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland was made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute over stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament. The law went into effect the following year. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs.
Regions and territories: Greenland
Greenland is the world's largest island. Formerly a province of Denmark, it gained the status of an autonomous Danish dependent territory with limited self-government as well as its own parliament in 1979.Denmark is in charge of foreign affairs and defence policy and contributes two thirds of its budget revenue, the rest coming mainly from fishing. Denmark is also Greenland's main trading partner.
The climate in Greenland is extremely harsh. Over 80 per cent of the island is covered by an ice cap 4 km thick in places.
Many of the Eskimo (Inuit) people survive by hunting and fishing and are struggling as fish stocks become depleted. The island's population is only 56,000. Inhabitants face severe social problems, notably unemployment, alcoholism and rates of AIDS infection.
Recent environmental studies have raised fears that global warming is causing Greenland's ice cover to melt increasingly fast and that this could have serious implications for future sea levels and ocean currents unless the process is rapidly halted and then reversed.
US plans for a national missile defence system have highlighted the strategic importance of Greenland. The Americans have expressed interest in using their Cold War radar base at Thule in the north of the island as part of this defence system.
Dozens of Inuit families were forced off their lands in 1953 to allow expansion at the base. Many Greenlanders would like to see it closed down. Others see economic reasons for keeping it.
A substantial proportion of Greenland's population favours independence. However, the former colonial power, Denmark, has the final say on the matter.
- Population: 56,000 (Danish government, 2002)
- Capital: Nuuk (Godthab)
- Area: 2.17m sq km (840,000 sq miles)
- Major languages: Greenlandic, Danish
- Major religion: Christianity
- Life expectancy: 65 years (men), 72 years (women)
- Monetary unit: 1 Danish krone = 100 ore
- Main exports: Fish, fish products, hides and skins
- GNI per capita: n/a
- Internet domain: .gl
- International dialling code: +299
Queen: Margrethe II of Denmark
Prime minister: Hans Enoksen
Mr Enoksen continues as prime minister in a coalition government following general elections in November 2005.
His social democratic Siumut party won 10 seats in the 31-seat Greenland parliament and has reached a coalition agreement with the pro-independence left-wing Inuit Brotherhood which has seven seats and the centre-right Atassut party which has six.
The last elections in December 2002 in which Siumut also won 10 seats were followed by three years of fractious government involving a series of coalitions, the most recent of which ended in wrangling over alleged misuse of funds by two ministers.
The 2005 elections were called early when budget negotiations collapsed.
There are no daily newspapers in Greenland. KNR - Kalaallit Nunaata Radio (Radio Greenland) - broadcasts daily radio and TV programmes to the whole of Greenland. Programmes are in Greenlandic and Danish.
The press
Television and radio
The economy remains critically dependent on exports of fish and substantial support from the Danish Government, which supplies about half of government revenues. The public sector, including publicly-owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in the economy. Despite several interesting hydrocarbon and mineral exploration activities, it will take a number of years before production can materialize. Tourism is the only sector offering any near-term potential, and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs.
Greenlandic natural resources include coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast, but close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice cap
Greenlandic religion is Evangelical Lutheran.
Natural hazards in Greenland include continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island.