History UsefulNotes / Greenland

The Europeans discovered Greenland in the late 10th century. Leif Erikson's father, Erik the Red, established the island's first Norse settlement and the explorer himself grew up and died in Greenland. The Norse settlements submitted to UsefulNotes/{{Norway}} in 1261. By the 15th century, the island's entire Norse population had disappeared for a reason yet to be confirmed. The most accepted theory is that [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age a sudden drop in global temperature]] killed off harvests and livestock; the Norse were either too afraid or too cocky to ask the more experienced Inuit for help, so eventually they perished. The island was not colonized by the Europeans again until the 18th century. By this time, Norway was ruled by Denmark, so the claim of the lost settlements went to the latter, hence why the island is currently Danish.

Like UsefulNotes/{{Iceland}}, Greenland escaped the [[UsefulNotes/NaziGermany Nazi German]] occupation of Denmark during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. While Iceland was occupied by UsefulNotes/{{Britain}}, Greenland was occupied by the UsefulNotes/UnitedStates. Unlike Iceland, it returned to Danish rule after the war's end.

* '''ISO-3166-1 Code:''' GL

* '''Currency''': Danisk (kr.) (DKK)

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* ''Literature/ChildrenOfMotherEarth'' is a futuristic novel set in a time after climate change has made Greenland futile and prosperous.

* ''Literature/TheTaleOfEinarSokkason'' is a Norse folk tale from the time of the Norse settlements in Greenland.

Greenland ('''Greenlandic:''' ''Kalaallit Nunaat''), owned by UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}}, is a huge overseas territory in Northern America and the largest island on Earth, home to a mere 50,000 people. Often cited for the extreme temperatures that it can reach, Greenland is home to the northernmost piece of land on Earth, Kaffeklubben Island.

The capital and largest city is Nuuk (known in Danish as Godthåb). However, "largest" is a relative term, because Nuuk is in fact the smallest capital city of any country in the world (as of 2018, the city has a population of around 18,000). And that may very well be a good thing, seeing as big cities don't tend to be all that good for the environment.

The island was first settled in the 3rd millennium BCE by the Paleo-Eskimos, chiefly the Dorset culture, who journeyed from what is now Northern UsefulNotes/{{Canada}}. However, they are not the ancestors of the current indigenous people of Greenland, the Greenlandic Inuits. The Inuits are instead descended from the 13th century Thule culture, who introduced such technological innovations as toggling harpoons (used in whaling) and dogsleds. The Thule almost immediately displaced the Dorset in Greenland, but the latter actually survived for a couple more centuries in Canada.

The Europeans discovered Greenland in the late 10th century. Leif Erikson's father, Erik the Red, established the island's first Norse settlement and the explorer himself grew up and died in Greenland. The Norse settlements submitted to UsefulNotes/{{Norway}} in 1261. By the 15th century, the island's entire Norse population had disappeared for reasons yet to be confirmed. The most accepted theory is that [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age a sudden drop in global temperature]] killed off harvests and livestock; the Norse were either too afraid or too cocky to ask the more experienced Inuits for help, so eventually they perished. The island was not colonized by the Europeans again until the 18th century. By this time, Norway was ruled by Denmark, so the claim of the lost settlements went to the latter, hence why the island is currently Danish.

The capital and largest city is Nuuk (known in Danish as Godthåb). However, "largest" is a relative term, because Nuuk is in fact the smallest capital city of any country in the world. And that may very well be a good thing, seeing as big cities don't tend to be all that good for the environment.

The island was first settled in the 3rd millennium BCE by the Paleo-Eskimos, chiefly the Dorset culture, who journeyed from what is now Northern UsefulNotes/{{Canada}}. However, they are not the ancestors of the current indigenous people of Greenland, the Greenlandic Inuits. The Inuits are instead descended from the Thule culture, who introduced such technological innovations as toggling harpoons (used in whaling) and dogsleds. The Thule almost immediately displaced the Dorset in Greenland, but the latter actually survived for a couple more centuries in Canada.

The Europeans discovered Greenland in the late 10th century. Leif Erikson's father, Erik the Red, established the island's first Norse settlement and the explorer himself grew up and died in Greenland. The Norse settlements submitted to UsefulNotes/{{Norway}} in 1261. By the 15th century, the island's entire Norse population had disappeared for reasons yet to be confirmed. The most accepted theory is that [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age a sudden drop in global temperature]] killed off harvests and livestock; the Norse were either too afraid or too cocky to ask the more experienced Inuits for help, so eventually they perished. The island was not colonized by Europeans again until the 18th century. By this time, Norway was ruled by Denmark, so the claim of the lost settlements went to the latter, hence why the island is currently Danish.

Greenland ('''Greenlandic:''' ''Kalaallit Nunaat''), owned by UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}}, is a huge overseas territory in Northern America and the largest island on Earth, home to a mere 50,000 people. Often cited for the extreme temperatures that it can reach, Greenland is home to the northernmost piece of land on Earth, Kaffeklubben Island. The people are primarily Inuit, though many Danes also live here.

The capital and largest city is Nuuk. (known in Danish as Godthåb.) However, "largest" is a relative term, because Nuuk is in fact the smallest capital city of any country in the world. And that may very well be a good thing, seeing as big cities don't tend to be all that good for the environment.

Greenland ('''Greenlandic:''' ''Kalaallit Nunaat''), owned by UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}}, is a huge overseas territory in North America and the largest island on Earth, home to a mere 50,000 people. Often cited for the extreme temperatures that it can reach, Greenland is home to the northernmost piece of land on Earth, Kaffeklubben Island. The people are primarily Inuit, though many Danes also live here.

Greenland ('''Greenlandic:''' ''Kalaallit Nunaat ''), owned by UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}}, is a huge overseas territory in North America and the largest island on Earth, home to a mere 50,000 people. Often cited for the extreme temperatures that it can reach, Greenland is home to the northernmost piece of land on Earth, Kaffeklubben Island. The people are primarily Inuit, though many Danes also live here.

Greenland ('''Greenlandic:''' ''Kalaallit Nunaat ''), owned by UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}}, is a huge island territory in North America and the largest island on Earth, home to a mere 50,000 people. Often cited for the extreme temperatures that it can reach, Greenland is home to the northernmost piece of land on Earth, Kaffeklubben Island. The people are primarily Inuit, though many Danes also live here.

Greenland ('''Greenlandic:''' ''Kalaallit Nunaat ''), owned by UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}}, is the largest island on Earth, and is home to a mere 50,000 people. Often cited for the extreme temperatures that it can reach, Greenland is home to the northernmost piece of land on Earth, Kaffeklubben Island. The people are primarily Inuit, though many Danes also live here.

The capital and largest city is Nuuk. (known in Danish as Godthåb.)However, "largest" is a relative term, because Nuuk is in fact the smallest capital city of any country in the world. And that may very well be a good thing, seeing as big cities don't tend to be all that good for the environment.

[[AC: The Greenlandic flag]]
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/225px-flag_of_greenland_svg_728.png
-> It features two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of centre. The top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white. The creator of the flag, Thue Christiansen, described the white stripe as representing the glaciers and ice cap, which cover more than 80% of the island; the red stripe as representing the ocean; the red semicircle as representing the sun, with its bottom part sunk in the ocean; and the white semicircle as representing the icebergs and pack ice. The design is also reminiscent of the setting sun half-submerged below the horizon and reflected on the sea.

The capital and largest city is Nuuk. (known in Danish as Godthab.)However, "largest" is a relative term, because Nuuk is in fact the smallest capital city of any country in the world. And that may very well be a good thing, seeing as big cities don't tend to be all that good for the environment.

Greenland, or Kalaallit Nunaat, owned by UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}}, is the largest island on Earth, and is home to a mere 50,000 people. Often cited for the extreme temperatures that it can reach, Greenland is home to the northernmost piece of land on Earth, Kaffeklubben Island. The people are primarily Inuit, though many Danes also live here.

Whilst part of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland is an autonomous country with its own separate government, much like the Faroe Islands.

The southwestern area of Greenland is by far the most populated, the northeastern half taken up mostly by Greenland's national park. Roughly ninety percent of Greenland is taken up by the Greenland ice sheet, the second largest ice sheet on Earth (just behind UsefulNotes/{{Antarctica}}).

The capital and largest city is Nuuk. (known in Danish as Godthab.)However "largest" is a relative term, because Nuuk is in fact the smallest capital city of any country in the world. And that may very well be a good thing, seeing as big cities don't tend to be all that good for the environment.

Whilst part of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland is an autonomous country with it's own separate government, much like the Faroe Islands.

The capital and largest city is Nuuk. (known in Danish as Godthab.)

Greenland, owned by UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}}, is the largest island on Earth, and is home to a mere 50,000 people. Often cited for the extreme temperatures that it can reach, Greenland is home to the northernmost piece of land on Earth, Kaffeklubben Island. The people are primarily Inuit, though many Danes also live here.

The southwestern area of Greenland is by far the most populated, the northeastern half taken up mostly by Greenland's national park. Roughly ninety percent of Greenland is taken up by the Greenland ice sheet, the second largest ice sheet on Earth (just behind UsefulNotes/{{Antarctica}}).