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World > North America > Greenland
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Greenland |
Introduction:
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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. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs in consultation with Greenland's Home Rule Government.
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| Official name: |
Greenland |
| Capital: |
name: Nuuk (Godthab)
geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 45 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
note: Greenland is divided |
| Government type: |
parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy |
| Population: |
56,344 (July 2007 est.) |
| Languages: |
Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English |
| Official Currency: |
Danish Krone (DKK)
Current Danish Krone Exchange Rates
Historical Danish Krone Exchange Rates
Chart Danish Krone Exchange Rates |
| Currency code: |
DKK |
| Area: |
total: 2,166,086 sq km
land: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq km ice-covered) (2000 est.) |
| Climate: |
arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters |
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Map of Greenland
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