Greenland is the largest island in the world, yet it remains a mystery to many. Although the name suggests a lush paradise, ice actually covers eighty percent of the land. However, the history of this Arctic territory involves more than just snow. For instance, a Viking named it "Greenland" as a clever marketing stunt to attract settlers. Furthermore, no roads connect the towns, so residents must fly or sail to visit neighbors. Consequently, life here is unique and challenging. Therefore, bundle up and discover the secrets of the north.
Greenland
Erik the Red named the island Greenland to trick people. Specifically, he wanted to attract fellow Vikings to settle there, so he gave it a lush-sounding name.
No roads connect the towns and settlements. Therefore, people travel between cities exclusively by plane, helicopter, boat, or dog sled.
One building once housed 1% of the entire population. The infamous “Block P” in Nuuk contained so many apartments that a huge slice of the nation lived there before demolition.
The Greenland shark has toxic flesh. If you eat it fresh, the high urea content makes you “shark drunk.” Thus, locals ferment it for months to make it safe.
It is home to the world’s largest national park. In fact, Northeast Greenland National Park is larger than France and Spain combined.
Greenland has the lowest population density in the world. Consequently, you can walk for days without seeing another human being.
They host the World Ice Golf Championship. Uniquely, players use a red ball and play on a course carved directly into the ice shelf.
The sun does not set for months in the summer. Conversely, the “polar night” in winter means the sun remains below the horizon for weeks.
Nuuk is one of the smallest capital cities globally. With fewer than 20,000 residents, it feels more like a large town than a metropolis.
The Inuit invented the kayak. Actually, the word “kayak” comes directly from the Greenlandic language, along with “igloo.”
A massive canyon lies hidden beneath the ice. Scientists recently discovered a canyon longer than the Grand Canyon buried under the central ice sheet.
The country has very few traffic lights. Because the towns are small and isolated, Nuuk contains the only traffic lights in the entire nation.
It is technically part of North America. Geographically, it sits on the North American tectonic plate, but politically, it links to Europe via Denmark.
You cannot bring a dog to Nuuk. To protect the purity of the Greenland Dog breed, the government bans them from the capital city.
Finally, the ice sheet is three kilometers thick in places. If it all melted, global sea levels would rise by roughly seven meters.
