27 things you probably didn't know about Greenland

Selling points

With President Trump expressing a desire to buy Greenland and incorporate it into the United States, the name of this Arctic country is suddenly on everyone’s lips. But how much do we actually know about Greenland?

Click or scroll on and discover the intriguing, unusual, and sometimes mind-blowing facts about this enigmatic island. And just why President Trump is so keen to acquire it…

1. This isn’t the first time a US president has tried to buy Greenland

That honor goes to President Andrew Johnson. Fresh off his successful purchase of Alaska from the Russians in 1867 (pictured), Johnson attempted to acquire both Greenland and Iceland from Denmark for $5.5 million a year later. Another attempt was made by President William Taft in 1910, as part of a complex plan involving Greenland, the Danish West Indies, and a trade of US territories in the Philippines.

In 1946, President Truman offered the Danish $100 million in gold bars for the island, and Trump also tried to buy Greenland during his first term. Both Denmark and the Greenlandic government rejected the 2019 proposal, saying: "Greenland is not for sale."

2. It's the world's biggest island

If you were paying attention in geography class, you probably already know this. And that Australia doesn’t count because it is considered a continent.

Regardless, Greenland extends 1,660 miles from north to south and more than 650 miles from east to west at its widest point, covering a staggering 836,330 square miles. To give you some context, that’s more than three times the size of Texas.

3. 80% of the country is covered in ice

One of the defining physical features of Greenland is the massive ice sheet that covers almost the entirety of the country. It is second in size only to Antarctica’s ice sheet and covers a mind-blowing 660,000 square miles.

And it’s thick too – 10,000 feet deep at some points, with an average thickness of 5,000 feet. Altogether it covers four-fifths of Greenland’s total land area.

4. So why is it called Greenland then?

It seems strange, doesn’t it? Especially when neighboring Iceland has considerably less ice. It turns out it was christened Greenland by the famous Norse chieftain, Erik the Red, in order to entice people to move there.

Erik is credited with establishing the first European settlement on the island in AD 985 and hoped that such a pleasant name would encourage others to join him. To be fair to Erik, he settled in the south of the island which, is in fact, the greenest part.

5. It’s geologically part of North America

Erik’s son, Leif Erikson, is credited as one of the first Europeans to reach North America, landing around the year AD 1000 – nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus.

Greenland is part of the North American tectonic plate and is an extension of the Canadian Shield, a rugged plateau in northern Canada made up of ancient Precambrian rocks. While Greenland is geologically linked to the continent, it is separated from mainland North America by the Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay. 

6. It is the least densely populated country in the world

The Inuit name for Greenland – Kalaallit Nunaat – translates to 'Land of the Kalaallit' (the Kalaallit being the Greenlandic Inuit people), something of a misnomer as the island has very few people. And those that are there are very far between.

In 2021, it was determined that the country had 56,421 inhabitants, less than 0.36 people per square mile. It is easily the least densely populated country in the world, with second-placed Mongolia rammed with 5.5 people per square mile.

7. Humans have inhabited Greenland for 4,500 years

It is estimated that first humans arrived in Greenland around 2,500 BC, making their way from Canada after the sea froze in the narrow strait at Thule in Northern Greenland. Over the millennia, several different Inuit cultures made the trip, in six distinct waves.

The last to arrive were the Thule from which today’s Inugsuk culture developed. Norsemen, led by Erik the Red settled in the south before disappearing in mysterious circumstances around AD 1500. Apart from a few Dutch and English whalers in the 16th and 17th centuries, the locals have had the island pretty much to themselves ever since. 

8. It is an autonomous country

A lot of people assume Greenland is simply part of Denmark, but in 1979 it was granted Home Rule, making it an autonomous country within the Danish Kingdom. This autonomy was further expanded with the Self-Government Act of 2009, which transferred additional decision-making powers to Greenland.

Greenland now retains a greater percentage of oil and mineral revenue and manages virtually all domestic affairs. Foreign relations and defense matters are decided in collaboration with Denmark. Here we see the Prime Minister leading MPs to the first day of Parliament in the capital, Nuuk.

9. Most Greenlanders can speak three languages

When self-rule was granted in 2009, Greenland’s official language changed too. Danish was dropped and Kalaallisut, the West Greenlandic language, took its place.

The political and administrative elites in the country still predominantly speak Danish, but the rest of the population prefer to converse in Greenlandic. Learning English at school is now compulsory for all of Greenland’s children, so that language is becoming more widely spoken too.

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10. The local culture is rich and colourful

Nearly 88% of Greenlanders are Inuit, identifying as Kalaallit (West Greenlanders), Inughuit (from the Thule district), or Tunumiit (East Greenlanders). Like their ancestors, they cherish storytelling, particularly when it involves heroic exploits in hunting and fishing.

Their extraordinary traditional outfits (pictured) are a testament to how they have adapted to the island’s harsh landscapes. Historically made from sealskin, fox fur and reindeer hide, these garments were designed to withstand the Arctic climate. Over time, bright cottons, silks, and glass beads were incorporated, creating vibrant and eye-catching attire that remains a cultural symbol to this day. 

11. Inuit hunters invented the kayak

Kayaks were invented by the Thule people who migrated to Greenland from Canada around AD 1200. They even gave kayaks their name. It’s just spelled ‘qajaq’ in their native language.

Traditional qajaqs were ingeniously crafted with frames made from driftwood or whalebone, covered in stretched seal skins, with a speed and maneuvrability that transformed fishing and hunting in frigid Arctic waters. They are still used today by hunters, like this man paddling in the waters off Sisimiut in western Greenland.

12. The local diet hasn't changed for centuries

Short summers and the country’s icy interior means that fishing and hunting provide much of the food for Greenland’s larders. Whale, seal, fish, musk-ox, reindeer, and ptarmigan, a kind of Arctic grouse, are the staples here, as they have always been.

An influx of Thai and Filipino immigrants in recent years has seen the introduction of Asian flavors and techniques. But the sight of thousands of fish drying on wooden racks, like this one in Rode bay, is set to remain part of the local landscape for the foreseeable future.

13. The colours of buildings have meaning

The bright wooden buildings that dot Greenland’s coastal towns and villages are a legacy of Danish colonial times. The meaning behind the eye-catching hues date from those times too. Back then, the color of a building also denoted its function.

Red signified churches and schools and the houses of teachers and ministers. Green buildings belonged to tradespeople, blue the fishing industry. Black was allocated to the police and yellow marked out hospitals and the houses of doctors and nurses. It was eminently practical, but is no longer enforced. Greenlanders are free to paint their houses any color they want.

14. Only one breed of dog is allowed in Greenland

There are five different breeds of sled dogs in the world but only one is legally allowed in Greenland, the aptly named Greenlandic sled dog. Brought to the island by the Saraqaq people between 3000 to 2000 BC, they are a tough, powerful breed and a reliable draught animal in Greenland’s hostile icy interior.

Great effort is made to maintain the purity of the breed. It is illegal to import any dog from outside of Greenland, and every dog is microchipped at birth. Exceptions are made for specially trained police and assistance dogs, but even then a special permit is required. 

15. Nuuk is the most northerly capital city in the world

Sitting at 64º15'N, Nuuk is the most northerly capital in the world. Locals will, however, grudgingly admit that if you restrict the list to sovereign nations, the capital of Iceland, Reykjavík, perched at 64º08'N, takes the crown.

Include the capitals of dependencies, however, and the title is all theirs. The folk of Nuuk also like to point out that they are also the gateway to the enormous Nuup Kangerlua Fjord, the world's second-largest fjord system. 

16. Most of Greenland’s airports were built by the US

Located on the most direct flight path between North America and Europe, Greenland occupied a strategic position for the allies during World War II. In a war time agreement with the Danish government, the US was allowed to build a number of airports and military bases on the island as part of the war effort.

After the war two of those air bases, Narsarsuaq and Kangerlussuaq, became civilian airports with Kangerlussuaq (pictured) serving as the major international airport for the island until 2024, despite being 198 miles away from the capital, Nuuk.

17. New airports mean Greenland is more accessible than ever

An upgrade of Nuuk’s airport, completed in November 2024, saw its runway extended and a new terminal built. International flights can now land in the Greenlandic capital for the first time, with United Airlines set to offer twice-weekly flights from New York in 2025.

Two more airports are scheduled to open in 2026: a second international airport in Ilulissat, a popular tourist town famous for its gigantic icebergs, and a regional airport in Qaqortoq. Visitors will be able to reach most parts of the country within an hour and a half.  

18. Greenland’s longest road is only 22 miles long

With 90% of the country covered in ice, and virtually all human settlements clinging to the coast, it should come as no surprise that Greenland has very few roads. Or that the longest road in the country is a measly 22 miles long.

Located in the southwest of the country, the road runs from Kangerlussuaq to the edge of the vast Greenland Ice Sheet at Point 660. It was originally built by Volkswagen as an extreme cold weather testing track. Today it is used mainly by tourists.

19. Greenland has more boats than cars

Work is currently underway on a new 80-mile road between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut, the country’s second-biggest settlement. 

The ocean and fjords remain the most extensively used ‘highway’ in the country. As such, more Greenlanders own boats than cars, with most cars found in large settlements like Nuuk and Sisimiut. In many of the small settlements you won’t see a single car, but like in this harbor in Ilulissat, you’ll see plenty of colorful boats.

20. There’s a huge mega canyon underneath the ice sheet

As Greenland’s climate changes and its ice sheet retreats, more of the country’s secrets are being revealed. In 2013, British scientists uncovered proof of an extraordinary mega canyon hidden 1.2 miles under the ice.

The scientists believe the canyon is at least 466 miles long and up to 2,625 feet deep in places, making it comparable in size to the Grand Canyon in the US. It’s ancient too, formed several million years ago by a river that flowed through Greenland before the ice sheet.

21. Greenland is home to the largest National Park in the world

Covering the entire northeast of Greenland, the Northeast Greenland National Park is the largest national park. Established in 1974 and expanded to a massive 375,292 square miles in 1988, it is a haven for Arctic wildlife like musk ox (pictured), polar bears, walruses, narwhals, wolves, and even lemmings.

It is possible to enter the national park from the only neighboring settlement, Ittoqqortoormiit, but you’ll need special permission from the Greenlandic Government. Most tourists visit the area on cruise ships, with cruise companies organizing all the necessary permits ahead of time.

22. And three UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Greenland has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, each wildly different and each reflecting a unique aspect of the country’s extraordinary nature and culture. All three can be found in the south of the island.

The Ilulissat Icefjord, known for its fast-moving glacier, was inscribed in 2004. Kujataa (pictured) was inscribed in 2017 and covers five different sites reflecting Norse and the Inuit farming cultures in the far south of the country. Aasivissuit, inscribed in 2018, has been an Inuit hunting ground for more than 4,200 years. 

23. Its glaciers are literally iceberg factories

Jakobshavn Glacier in southwest Greenland is the world’s fastest-moving glacier, shuffling ice towards the Ilulissat Icefjord at a staggering 10.6 miles a year. It is the major drainage outlet for the Greenland Ice Sheet and a veritable iceberg machine.

Colossal icebergs, many of them multiple stories high, calve from its terminus and drift down its fjord and out into Disko Bay. From here they make their way down the North Atlantic before parading down Iceberg Alley between Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada.

24. An avenging monster is the country’s most popular souvenir

Tupilaks (pictured) are fantastical creatures carved from bone by master craftsmen and the most popular souvenir in Greenland. Delve a little deeper, however, and you’ll discover they once served a darker purpose.

Tupilaks were originally created by shamans for the sole purpose of killing a designated victim. To look upon a tupilak brought instant death. These days the only trouble you’ll face is if you buy one made from the teeth of protected species like narwhals and sperm whales rather than sanctioned materials like reindeer antler or musk-ox horn. 

25. The US built a city under the ice here during the Cold War

In 1951, the US signed the Defense of Greenland Pact with Denmark allowing them to build military bases on the island. In 1959, the US Army Corps of Engineers began working on the most extraordinary of them all – Camp Century, a base for 200+ personnel literally drilled into the ice.

This ‘City under Ice,’ as it became known, was built by digging deep trenches in the snow and ice and then covering them with a roof of steel arches which was then topped with snow. It was part of an early warning system in case of a Soviet missile attack.

26. And now have their sights set on Greenland’s rare earth minerals

As Greenland’s Ice Sheet melts, accessing its abundant natural resources has suddenly become easier. Not just oil and gas, but rare earth materials like graphite and lithium too, vital for electric cars, wind turbines, and military equipment.

China currently dominates global rare earth production, accounting for 72% of what the US imports, 100% in the European Union. As geopolitical tensions rise between the US and China, finding another reliable source of these precious minerals has become a vital imperative.

27. And vital Arctic shipping routes

The loss of ice has also opened up the possibility of new shipping routes, creating faster and shorter trade routes for 80% of the most industrialized nations and leading to a vast drop in fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

The Northern Sea Route (NSR), as it has become known, could become a viable alternative to the Suez Canal, with some analysts suggesting it could reduce travel time between Asia, Europe, and the east coast of the US by 10-15 days. And in the process making it one of the most strategic maritime regions in the world.

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