Greenland with the capital city Nuuk (Godthåb) is located in North America (Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean). It covers some 2,166,086 square kilometres (slightly more than three times the size of Texas) with 56,375 citizens.

About the flag and history of Greenland

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; the design represents the sun reflecting off a field of ice; the colors are the same as those of the Danish flag and symbolize Greenland's links to the Kingdom of Denmark.

Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland was made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute centered on stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament; the law went into effect the following year. Greenland voted in favor of increased self-rule in November 2008 and acquired greater responsibility for internal affairs when the Act on Greenland Self-Government was signed into law in June 2009. Denmark, however, continues to exercise control of Greenland''s foreign affairs, security, and financial policy in consultation with Greenland''s Home Rule Government.

National administrative regions of Greenland

• Greenland (general)
• Kujalleq
• Qaasuitsup
• Qeqqata
• Sermersooq

Geography Quick-Facts

List of current world heritage sites