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Factsheet Denmark: Greenland
Factsheet Denmark: Greenland
Factsheet Denmark
For thousands of years, life in Greenland has been a unique interaction of the amazing and changeable nature – as here at Uummannaq in North Greenland
– and a population that has understood how to adapt to its changes. Photo: Kristian Fridriksson, Greenland Tourism.
JUNE 2008
GREENLAND
The development of Home Rule in Green- Geography The east coast is dominated by the
land in many ways serves as a model for Greenland is part of the North American East Greenland polar current, covering it
other indigenous population groups continent. It is the world’s largest island, with a sheet of ice over a metre thick dur-
around the world, especially the Arctic with a total area of around 2.2 million ing the six winter months. During the
societies. Greenland has developed a mod- square kilometres, but only approx. summer, large ice masses slowly drift from
ern, well-functioning welfare society, 410,000 square kilometres are not covered the polar basin down along the coast and
where education, pension, health service by ice. The northernmost extremity, Cape south of Cape Farewell. Along the south-
and unemployment benefit are taken for Morris Jesup, is the northernmost land ern part of the west coast, a relatively
granted, while the Home Rule at the same area in the world, just 740 kilometres warm current keeps the coast clear of sea
time makes Greenland’s population self- from the North Pole. Cape Farewell, ice all year round. Navigation is only
governing in virtually all areas. Greenland’s southernmost point, is situat- impeded at the southernmost point dur-
On the other hand, the country has ed approx. 2,670 kilometres to the south, ing the spring and summer months by the
the same problems as other societies based at the latitude of the Nordic capitals of ice drifting down from the polar basin.
on a few resources. The economy is close- Oslo and Helsinki. Measured west-east, From Disko Bay northwards, the sea is
ly tied to fluctuations in the resource basis Greenland is 1,050 kilometres wide at its covered by ice during the six winter
and the price developments on the global broadest point. months, but fully or partly navigable dur-
market. It also still has close links with Such a great expanse results in wide cli- ing the six summer months. The further
Denmark, partly in the form of annual matic variations in Greenland. In addi- north you get, the shorter the navigable
subsidies of over DKK 3.2 billion and tion, the ice cap has a distinctive influence period.
partly through the free provision of educa- everywhere. With the exception of a few
tion, hospital and many other services to sheltered valleys in South Greenland, the History
Greenlandic citizens. Together, these fac- climate is arctic, with an average tempera- There have been cultures in Greenland for
tors set certain limits to both the econom- ture during the warmest month of the more than four thousand years. The first
ic and the political scope. year of less than 10°C. people migrated across the Davis Strait
Settlement in Greenland: Ever since the first coast. The current population originates from
settlers migrated across the Bering Strait via the last of these, around 1000 AD. Cultures have
Alaska and Canada to the Thule area around left different traces in the landscape and one of
2500 BC, life in Greenland has been shaped by the most spectacular finds are the 15th century
the interaction of human ability and nature’s mummies of six women and two children from
mutability. The next settlements were along the Qilakitsoq. The photo shows one of the very
west coast and the culture survived almost a well-preserved mummified children from the
thousand years before disappearing, probably cave where they were found. Photo: Greenland
due to climate changes. Later, another couple of Tourism.
migrations occurred along the east and west
from the American continent around well as a change of the country’s colony
2200 BC. However, settlement has not status. The basis of the welfare state was
been continuous, for the communities laid during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
have always been dependent on hunting.
With climate changes, over-exploitation Political life
and natural fluctuations in the resource Already at an early stage, the first steps
Kalaallit Nunaat – Greenland basis, the settlers had to follow the animals were taken towards increased independ-
Constitution: Home Rule in a federation and at times succumbed from starvation. ence of the Greenlandic society. With the
with Denmark. Popularly elected parliament The first links with Europe were estab- establishment of the directorates in 1862,
– Landstinget. This has taken over legisla- lished with the Norse settlements from the Greenlanders were involved in the
tive authority in virtually all areas from the 982 AD and lasted until the mid 15th decision-making processes for the first
Danish Folketing, which includes two mem- century, when the settlers moved away, time and the 1908 Statute introduced
bers elected in Greenland.
partly as a result of the colder climate. both municipal councils and a regional
Area: 2,170,000 square kilometres, of which The flourishing European whaling in the government with democratically elected
410,449 square kilometres are ice free. 16th century restored regular visits to representatives. In 1953, Greenland
Population: 56,462 inhabitants (2008). Greenland, but a permanent link was not became a county on an equal footing with
Capital: Nuuk (Godthåb) with 16,421 inhabi- established until 1721, when Hans Egede the other Danish counties. However, the
tants (2008). settled on Håbets Ø (Hope Island) near early Danicisation policy created opposition
the current capital, Nuuk. This formed in Greenland and contributed to the intro-
Currency: Danish krone (DKK).
the basis of Danish sovereignty for the duction of Home Rule in 1979.
next 258 years, when the establishment of, Home Rule is a federation with Den-
KGH – Kongelige Grønlandske Handel mark based of extensive self-government.
(Royal Greenland Trade Company) with The legislation is formally approved by
CANADA its trade monopoly was crucial to the the Danish parliament, Folketinget, where
social development. two members are elected in Greenland.
Until the Second World War, Green- The Folketing and the Danish administra-
land was a closed country, based primarily tion issue acts and directives for the few
Qaa
on subsistence production and the sale of areas not transferred to the Home Rule,
nd
naa nla catch to the trade monopoly. In 1906, but almost all legislation originates in the
q ee
Pitu Gr
(Th ffik No
r th
GREENLAND sheep farming was introduced in South Greenlandic parliament, Landstinget. The
u Greenland and commercial fishing started members of the Landsting are elected at
Air le
Bas
e) in 1908. During the Second World War, least every four years by a general election
West Greenland
East Greenland
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Norsemen: The Norsemen lived in Greenland for episcopal seat. There are many theories about
around 500 years. They were the descendants of the Norsemen’s disappearance from Greenland
Norwegian and Icelandic Vikings, who came to during the 16th century. One of the reasons may
Greenland led by Erik the Red in 985, searching be climate changes. The Norsemen came to
for new lands to farm. They found what they Greenland during a warm period and disap-
were looking for, partly in Østerbygden, now peared during an extremely cold period,
Julianehåb Bay, partly in Vesterbygden, now described as a minor ice age. Photo: Manfred
Godthåb Fjord. The photo shows ruins of the Horender.
Gardar settlement in Østerbygden, now Igaliko,
which in the Norsemen’s time functioned as
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Colonisation: In 1721, the Danish King Frederik became a Danish colony and over the next cen-
IV sent the priest Hans Egede to Greenland to tury several trading stations were established on
find the Norsemen. He discovered many Greenland’s west coast. However, East Green-
remains, but no surviving Norsemen. Instead, he land was difficult to access due to the ice cap
was met by the Inuit, who had come from the and the pack ice in the sea, so it was not
north and who with whale and seal hunting as colonised until 1892, when Gustav Holm led an
their main source of food were adapted to the expedition to the area around Ammassalik. The
colder climate. Hans Egede founded Godthåb photo shows the statue of Hans Egede, looking
(Nuuk) and initiated both mission and trade on out over today’s Nuuk. Photo: Lars Reimers.
behalf of the Danish King. Greenland thus
30,000
in the towns. In the last few decades, the Resources an effect of 30 megawatt. The power is
population has been further concentrated, Greenland has considerable raw material led to Nuuk on pylons crossing two
partly because the population growth con- deposits, but until now commercial fjords, including the Ameralikfjord with
tinues to be in the towns, especially exploitation has been limited by the rough the world’s longest free span of 5,376
Nuuk, partly because the large settlements natural conditions and difficult access. meters. A 1.2 megawatt plant was inau-
have grown, while several of the very Formerly, cryolite was mined in Ivittuut gurated at Tasiilaq in East Greenland in
small ones have been abandoned. In addi- (1865-1987), coal at Qullissat (1924- 2005 and a 7.2 megawatt plant at
tion, the settlements have experienced a 1970), marble, zinc, lead and silver at Qorlortorsuaq near Qaqortoq in South
population drain, especially by the women, Maarmorilik (1965-1990) and zinc at Greenland was inaugurated in 2007.
who move to the towns, as they offer more Mestersvig (1956-1963). There are plans There are other good opportunities to
employment opportunities within the serv- to reopen the mine at Maarmorilik in harness water power and, among other
ice sector and jobs requiring medium-long 2008 and there is currently mining of things, a 15 megawatt plant is being
or long further education. gold (Nalunaq in Nanortalik), olivine planned by Lake Tasersuaq near Sisimiut
Daily life is very different in towns and (Fiskefjord in Maniitsoq) and rubies for launch in 2010 along with several
settle-ments. The settlement shop offers (Fiskenæsset). However, the international new plants intended mainly for supplying
relatively few shopping opportunities interest in the search for raw materials and energy for large-scale raw material pro-
beyond basic necessities. There are also energy is increasing and a number of cessing. The first project is the supply of
very few opportunities for paid employ- minerals may prove of economic interest energy to a possible aluminium produc-
ment in the settlements. By contrast, many in the future, including offshore oil fields tion plant currently planned at Maniit-
of the large towns offer a rich choice, both by Nuuk on the west coast of Greenland, soq.
in the shops and in terms of schools and in Jameson Land in East Greenland and
education opportunities, which in turn in the inaccessible waters along North
give access to a wider range of jobs. For West and North East Greenland. In addi- Mining used to play a secondary role in the
many families, especially in the settle- tion, there has been great interest in the Greenlandic community, but in future the many
ments, but also in the towns, hunting and possible deposits of gold, niobium, tanta- raw materials and energy resources will increa-
fishing for personal consumption still play lite, uranium, iron, molybdate and dia- singly contribute to Greenland’s economy.
an important part, both as a supplement Left: The Black Angel lead and zinc mine near
monds.
Uummannaq. Right: A selection of facet-cut ru-
to the family finances and in terms of Greenland’s first major hydroelectric bies and pink sapphires from Fiskenæsset.
maintaining a relationship with the sur- plant is located in Buksefjorden south of Photos: B. Thomassen (left) and P. Warna-Moors,
rounding nature. Nuuk. It was completed in 1993 and has The Geological Survey of Denmark (right).
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International recognition: In 1921, Denmark pied the area 1932-33. The Danish government
announced that all of Greenland was under Da- brought the case before the International Court
nish sovereignty. To mark the Danish rule in North of Justice in The Hague, which decided that the
Greenland as well, the town of Ittoqqortoormiit area was Danish. The decision was among other
(Scoresbysund) was established in 1925. Howe- things influenced by the polar explorer Knud Ras-
ver, Norway regarded it as an old Norse posses- mussen’s many sleigh expeditions. To maintain
sion and pursued extensive seal and whale Danish sovereignty, the Sirius Patrol was estab-
hunting in East Greenland. The Norwegian gov- lished to carry out tours of inspection in the unin-
ernment therefore believed Denmark was habited parts of North and East Greenland.
infringing Norwegian rights and officially occu- Photo: Svend Erik Nielsen.
cially exploited species is the cold-water mainly from Disko Bay and the North ually transferable quotas (ITQ). For fish-
prawn. The annual catch of approx. West Greenland municipalities, is con- ing close to the coast, the rights are not
135,000 tons contributes more than DKK tributing more than DKK 500 million linked to specific quantities of fish, but
1.2 billion to Greenland’s economy. (2006 figures). In addition, the fishing of allocated to the fishermen in the form of a
Formerly, cod played a key role in the Norway haddock, catfish, Atlantic hal- specific catch capacity, which is transfer-
economy, but cod fishing then declined ibut, salmon and char is of some local able between the fishermen.
significantly. However, it now appears to economic importance. By agreement with the Greenland
be recovering due to climate changes. In Greenland, the right to exploit the Home Rule, foreign nations carry out con-
While cod lost its economic importance, main fish resources is allocated through siderable fishing. The main agreement is
Green-land halibut became very impor- two quota systems. For deep-sea fishing, with the EU and comprises approx. 80,000
tant and the annual catch of 10,000 tons, the exploitation is distributed on individ- tons, for which the EU compensates with
an annual contribution of DKK 133 mil-
lion to Greenland’s treasury. In addition,
Greenland has agreements with the Faroe
Islands, Norway, Russia and Iceland.
Fishing industry
Approx. half the Greenlandic catches are
processed on the large trawlers or export-
ed for processing. The other half is pro-
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Home Rule: Greenland’s Home Rule was estab- symbolises the sea, with the white part of the
lished on 1 May 1979. As a symbol, the flag circle representing icebergs and pack ice. In
Erfalasorput (Our Flag) was chosen. It was addition, the red and white halves of the circle
drawn by the painter and graphic artist Thue symbolise the rising and setting sun, which rep-
Christiansen (b. 1940), a former Landsstyre resent the return of light and warmth at midsum-
member. The motif is white and red horizontal mer. The red and white colours are the same as
bands with a circle in the opposite colours. The in the Danish flag, Dannebrog, and therefore
colour white symbolises the ice cap, while also represent the association with Denmark.
Greenland’s innumerable fjords are represented The flag was launched on Greenland’s national
by the red part of the circle. The colour red also day, 21 June 1985. Photo: Lars Reimers.
cessed at trading posts along the coast. Import of products to Greenland, per cent distribution
The majority of the fishing industry on main groups
in Greenland is managed by the Home 0
1 DKK 1,ooo
Rule owned limited company Royal 5
12 Products for agriculture
Greenland A/S, which is also the largest and market gardening 15
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company in Greenland. The company has Products for building and
four factories in West Greenland as well as construction 416
trading posts in several settlements. It also 4 Other products for urban
owns many of the sea-going trawlers. In industries 661
addition, it has factories in Denmark, 19 Fuel 758
Norway, Germany, Poland and Canada. Machinery, means of
transport 291
The main product is peeled prawns, which Food, beverages, tobacco 657
are sold on the northern European market. Clothes and shoes 125
The company’s trawlers mainly produce 19 Consumer durables and
unpeeled cooked or raw prawns, frozen at semi-durables 350
sea. The largest prawns are sold on the Consumer non-durables 165
Japanese market and the company is the Other 18
world’s largest retailer of cold-water 3,456
8 22
prawns.
Arctic Green Food A/S is also owned
by the Home Rule and manages approx.
Export of products from Greenland, per cent distribution
on main groups
2 DKK 1,ooo
5 2
Opening towards the north 21 2 Prawns 1,197
The Arctic Ocean and the North Pole have Greenland halibut 511
long been regarded as an area of limited 3 129
Cod
economic interest with waters four kilome- 2
Scallops 42
tres deep and significant ice cover in con- 0
Crabs 53
stant movement determined by the preva-
Lumpfish roe 38
lent marine current. This has resulted in 7
Other fish 68
limited access to the area. However, the ice
is increasingly melting as a result of the Seal, whale and shark
products 46
ocean getting warmer and this creates com-
Sheep and other animal
pletely new opportunities, partly in terms of 6 products 2
navigation and partly in terms on hunting
Precious metal ore,
and fishing as well as the exploitation of olivine, etc 176
the resources which are believed to exist in Other 156
the area, such as large quantities of oil and 50 2,418
natural gas. This raises the issue of owner-
ship of the resources. From a Greenlandic
and therefore also Danish perspective, it is a 25 smaller factories in settlements and Services, trade and sales
question of whether there is a natural con- small towns in Greenland. The company Much of Greenland’s wholesale and retail
nection between the Greenlandic continen- ensures that local fishermen and hunters business is managed by the publicly owned
tal shelf and the long, narrow, submarine
have an opportunity to sell their catches company KNI – Kalaallit Niuerfiat (Green-
Lomonosov mountain range. Extensive geo-
and its products are primarily sold on the land Trade). The company is divided into
logical and geophysical investigations of
the geographic structures in the area are
domestic market. two independent units: Pisiffik A/S, which
therefore underway. If such a connection is Finally, the private company Polar is jointly owned by the retail group Da-
established, Greenland/Denmark will have Seafood A/S manages a number of trawlers grofa (main shareholder), a selection of
the disposal of energy reserves which are and plants for processing especially prawns, Pisiffik’s employees and the Greenland
thought to be the largest in the world. but also other species, both in Greenland Home Rule, with 36 supermarkets, local
and Denmark. shops and specialist shops in the six largest
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From hunting to fishing: Hunting and fishing are out by most Greenlandic households. More than
important factors for both the economic devel- 5,000 small boats contribute to the household
opment and the Greenlandic identity. The sea- supply of Greenlandic food through own catches
going fleet of large trawlers makes the largest and the informal economy. Unlike other parts of
contribution to the national economy, while the the Arctic, where most of the food is imported,
medium-large vessels play a key role in the large Greenlandic products still constitute a signifi-
towns’ ability to maintain active fishing and a cant part of the food supply and local hunting
fishing industry. The little dinghies are the basis and fishing are prerequisites for maintaining the
of the settlements’ existence, but also of crucial dispersed settlements. Photo: Royal Greenland.
importance to the hunting and fishing carried
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From Home Rule to Independence: In 1999, the of the financial account between Greenland and
Landsstyre decided to set up an Independence Denmark. The mandate also states that it is
Commission to clarify Greenland’s future status exclusively for the Greenlandic people to decide
within the Danish Realm. The Commission pre- whether they want independence. The work was
sented its report in 2003 and the subsequent concluded on 17 April 2008 and will form the
work has been carried out within the framework basis of a referendum in Greenland about
of the Greenlandic-Danish Independence increased independence and therefore the
Commission. The work is based on the principle future role of the Landsting. Photo: Laila K.
of corresponding rights and duties, with the Nielsen.
presentation of a proposal for a rearrangement
of imports has been growing, mainly due tinent, there is very limited trade across
to increasing prices of energy products the Davis Strait, mainly due to the limit-
such as oil and petrol. ed interest in Greenland’s products in a
Especially due to the very small domes- region which itself has a large production
tic market, it is very limited what can be in the same areas.
profitably produced in Greenland, but
attempts are regularly made to establish Infrastructure
new activities. For instance, a beer bottling Due to distances and the nature of the
plant and a fizzy drinks factory were landscapes, there are no road connections
established in Nuuk in the 1980s and the between the individual towns and settle-
hydroelectric plant at Buksefjorden started ments. Shipping is still by far the most
production in 1993. The hydroelectric important infrastructure element in Green-
plant has helped reduce the import of oil. land, in terms of both volume and value. A
The establishment of a micro brewery well-developed freight system handles
has proved excellent business and the transports between especially Greenland
plans to extend the hydroelectric capacity and Denmark, but also to some extent
will further reduce the energy imports. between Greenland and for instance
More than 90 per cent of the exports go Iceland and Canada. Within Greenland,
to the EU, especially Denmark. Despite some of the local passenger transport is
the closeness to the North American con- also by ship, but most people travel by air.
Local traffic is by helicopter, while trans-
port between districts and large towns is
With its theatre, cinema, art exhibitions and spa- by plane. Within the last decade, this traf-
ces for large-scale cultural events, the Culture
fic has significantly increased as runways
Centre in Nuuk provides the framework for a rich
cultural life in Greenland’s main town. It promo- have been established by most major
tes both tradition and renewal. Photo: Ruth towns. The main air traffic hub is Kanger-
Gundahl Madsen, Greenland Tourism. lussuaq (Søndre Strømfjord).
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Part of the Danish monarchy: The change of concerning Greenland’s independence” to signal
Greenland’s status from colony to Danish county the desire for a good relationship between the
in 1953, to Home Rule in 1979 and in the near federation parties, based on mutual respect. The
future to expanded independence has had a royal family is always met with great enthusiasm
great effect on the relationship with Denmark, when visiting Greenland. The enthusiasm is
but regardless of the changes, the Greenlanders mutual, e.g. when Crown Prince Frederik (photo)
have shown a desire to maintain both the feder- was received by excited children during a visit to
ation with Denmark and the association with the Thule. Photo: Keld Navntoft, Scanpix.
Danish royal family. In relation to the federation,
reference is made to a “Partnership contract
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Greenland
Factsheet Denmark. Published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Translation: Siri Fischer Hansen.
of Denmark. Design: Ole Jensen - ojdesign.
Address: Asiatisk Plads 2, DK-1448 Copenhagen K, Denmark. Reproduction of the text, with or without
Telephone: +45 33 92 00 00. Fax: +45 32 54 05 33. acknowledgement, is permitted.
E-mail: um@um.dk. Website: www.um.dk. Published June 2008.
Editor: Flemming Axmark.
Picture editor: Kirstine Fryd. ISBN 978-87-7667-926-2
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