Greenland - Grönland

Greenland (Greenlandic: Kalaallit Nunaat, Danish: Greenland) is an autonomous area belonging to Denmark, but is usually counted North America. Greenland is the world's largest non-continental island in terms of surface area. Its closest neighbors are Iceland in the southeast, Canada in the west and that norskaSvalbard in the northeast.

Planning before the trip

To take with you to Greenland

To bring with you from Greenland

Facts about Greenland

Although flat world maps give the impression that Greenland would be as big as Africa, it is really "only" as big as Mexico. Greenland has the world's lowest population density.

Of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland occupies 97% of the area.

Be careful with maps of Greenland, as many Greenlandic names easily refer to a special geographical element. As an example, the name "Kangerlussuaq" is simpler than you might expect, it means "big fjord".

When visiting Greenland, do not hesitate to ask for directions to shops or places to eat or sleep, even if you do not think there is anything. Most places, even Nuuk, are small enough for everyone to know where everything is, and therefore no one has bothered to put up signs. Do not be surprised to enter a fully equipped supermarket inside a gray factory-like building in the middle of nowhere.

History

The reason why Greenland belongs to Denmark is that Greenland was colonized by the Norwegians during the Vikings' voyages of discovery in the 10th century. Who had control of the island changed depending on developments in Europe. Indigenous people, Inuit, (Greenlandic: Kalaallit, but do not call them Eskimos, it is perceived as an insult) have culturally stronger ties with the Inuit in northern Canada than with any European civilization.

According to legend, the name was chosen to attract people to settle there rather than in Iceland. However, Greenland consists of more ice (approximately 84% of the land area) and Iceland's climate is generally milder and a better condition for Green vegetation. In fact, it is more likely that Greenland was named after its southern coast (the first thing the Vikings saw of the island), which was green and fertile during the warm period that prevailed during the Middle Ages.

The locals

Climate

Tundra climate along the coasts, permanent snow in the innermost areas.

Holidays

Regions

Cities

• Nuuk - (Danish: Godthåb), Greenland's largest city and capital
• Asia - (Danish: Egedesminde)
• Tasiilaq - (older name: Ammassalik), the largest city on eastern Greenland
• Ilulissat - (Danish: Jakobshavn)
• Qaanaaq - (Danish: Thule)
• Qaqortoq - (Danish: Julianehåb), the largest city on southern Greenland
• Sisimiut - (Danish: Holsteinsborg), Greenland's second largest city

Getting to Greenland

Relocation in Greenland

Payment

In Greenland, Danish kroner is used.

Accommodation

Greenland is expensive. Nice hotels can be found in all the more visited places (Hotel Hans Egede in Nuuk, Hotel Arctic, with its igloo room, and Hotel Hvide Falk in Ilulissat), but there are cheaper alternatives. Try Seaman's Home Hotels in Maniitsoq, Nuuk, Qaqortoq, Sisimiut and Asia. Also ask at the tourist office in Nuuk, who can see where local landlords rent rooms for a third of the hotel cost. The landlords usually speak both Danish and Greenlandic as well as some crunchy English.

Food and drinks

• Seal eyes.
• Suassat: Greenlandic soup
• Seal meat, whale meat, polar bear meat, reindeer meat and eider
• Seafood

---

Delicatessen:

• Carpet roof: raw whale skin with lard underneath
• Stockfish: whole dried cod fillets with skin on
• Breastfeeding: dried small fish
• Musk beef and sausage
• Dried reindeer meat
• Whale fat: to be eaten frozen for all these delicacies (healthy fat)

---

Coffee drink:

• Greenlandic coffee (Irish Coffe): symbolizes the northern lights

To see

• Iceberg and glaciers (especially by the Ilulissatfjord).
• Wildlife whales, seals, walruses, musk oxen, reindeer and polar bears.
• The midnight sun - in the northern 2/3 of Greenland, the sun stays above the horizon for days, sometimes weeks, during the summer. During the rest of the summer, in the weeks during the summer solstice (June 21, a national holiday), you see the sun go down just a little bit every night, the sky never gets completely dark. (During the winter, of course, it is the exact opposite, with darkness around the clock.)

To do

• Driving / Riding a dog sled
• Hike
• Kayaking
• Mountain climbing

Work

Communication

Security

Crime against tourists is basically unknown in Greenland. Most Greenlanders are in some way dependent on tourism and want a good reputation. There are no "dangerous areas" in the cities. As long as the visitor uses common sense and etiquette, he / she will do fine.

Health

During the summer, the days in Greenland are very long. Make sure you get enough sleep, as lack of sleep can lead to all kinds of health problems.

During the summer, you should also watch out for the northern insects.

Respect

Calling a Greenlander / Inuit "Eskimo" is not recommended, the fact is that many perceive it as an insult, because locally it has the same meaning as "caveman".

Problem solver

Other