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Greenland is located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, towards the east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and Baffin Bay in the west. The neighboring countries are Iceland that lies in the east of Greenland in the Atlantic Ocean, and Canada, to the west and across Baffin Bay. Greenland is the world's largest island. It also comprises of the world's largest national park. The total land area is 2,166,086 sq km. Being a island has no land boundary and has a coastline that stretches upto 44,087 km. It claims a territorial sea of 3nm and exclusive fishing zone of 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line.
Geographically the terrain is flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast. The lowest point in Greenland is Atlantic Ocean 0 m and the highest point is Gunnbjorn at 3,700 m. Physiographically and ethnically it is associated with North America, politically and historically it is closely tied to Europe, particularly Iceland, Norway, and Denmark.
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| Climate |
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Greenland is covered with snowsheet, which is melting down at a very fast rate. The climate varies from arctic to subarctic. Summers are cool and winters are cold. The natural resources to be found in Greenland are coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower and possible oil and gas.
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| People |
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Greenland population is estimated to be around 56,326. 88% of the inhabitants are Greenlanders including Inuit and Greenland-born whites, 12% belong to Danish and other ethnic groups. The majority religious belief followed by the inhabitants is Evangelical Lutheran. The chief language used is Greenlandic or the East Inuit, Danish and English.
In the 10th century, Vikings reached the island from Iceland. In 18th Century the Danish colonization began in Greenland and it was made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community now known as the EU with Denmark in 1973, but withdrew in 1985 over a disagreement centered on severe fishing quotas. In 1979, Greenland was granted self-government by the Danish parliament and the law went into effect in the following year. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs in discussion with Greenland's Home Rule Government. |
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| Government |
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Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and is a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979. The government follows a framework of parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is the Chief of the state represented by High Commissioner and the prime minister is the head of the government. The Home Rule Government is elected by the parliament known as the Landstinget on the basis of the strength of parties. The monarchy is hereditary and high commissioner is appointed by the monarch. The prime minister is elected by parliament who is usually the leader of the majority party.
Greenland is administratively divided into 3 districts Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland). There are 18 municipalities in Greenland
Capital: Nuuk (Godthab)
High Commissioner Soren Moller
Prime Minister: Hans Enoksen |
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| Economy |
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The economy significantly relies on exports of fish and a considerable subsidy from the Danish Government, which supplies about half of government revenues. The public sector, the dominant role is played by publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities. A number of fascinating hydrocarbon and mineral exploration activities are happening. Two international aluminum companies were considering building smelters in Greenland to take advantage of local hydropower potential, as per the press reports in early 2007. Tourism is the budding and is expected to be a potential help to the economy, but it is limited due to a short season and high costs.
Chief agricultural products to be found in Greenland are forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables, sheep, reindeer and fish. The major industrial produce and services are fish processing mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut, gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining, handicrafts, hides and skins and small shipyards.
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