Local Name Kalaallit Nunaat

Location northern North America, an island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean

Total Area 840,004 sq mi (2,175,600 sq km)
Greatest Distance N-S 1,660 mi (2,670 km)
Greatest Distance E-W 750 mi (1,210 km)
Coastline 8,650 mi (13,920)

Highest Elevation Mount Gunnbjørn; 12,139 ft (3,700 m)
Lowest Elevation sea level along coast

Natural Resources coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Nationality Greenlander
Population (July 2007 est) 56,344
Largest Cities Nuuk
Ethnic Groups Greenlander, Danish
Religions Evangelical Lutheran
Languages Greenlandic, Danish, English

Capital Nuuk
Dependency Status self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark, since 1979
Present Constitution Adopted June 5, 1953 (Danish constitution)
Type of Government parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy
Chief of State Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (since January 14, 1972)
Head of Government Prime Minister Hans Enoksen (since December 14, 2002)
Legislature unicameral Parliament (Landstinget)
Judiciary High Court (Landsret)
Local Administration 3 districts, 18 municipalities

Currency Danish Krone
Per Capita Income $20,000
Industries fish processing, gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining, handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards
Agricultural Products forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer, fish
Export Commodities fish and fish products
Import Commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, petroleum products

National Holiday Longest Day, June 21
Flag two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center; the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white

Questions or comments about this page?

Greenland Guide. http://www.greenland-guide.gl

This page was last updated on 11/17/2009.