August 27, 2015
Located between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans, just east of Canada’s Arctic Archipelago, Greenland is the world’s largest island. Although it is geographically closer to the continent of North America, Greenland is politically defined as an autonomous constituent country belonging to the Kingdom of Denmark. It was not until the 18th century that Scandinavian explorers claimed the land for Denmark-Norway. Norse explorers are believed to have been the first to establish settlements in Greenland in the 10th century, although they appear to have vacated the land during the 15th century. Inuit migrants from Northern Canada arrived in the 13th century and still comprise the majority of Greenland’s population today. Residents rely on the traditional industries of hunting and fishing, although tourism is slowly becoming a staple for Greenland’s economy. The rough terrain and lack of roads make it a challenge to navigate Greenland, but many towns are accessible by helicopter.
