| Greenland ((kl)Kalaallit Nunaat (da)Grønland) | |
.jpg/210px-Northern_lights_in_Greenland_(14990374447).jpg) | |
| Northern lights in Greenland | |
| Flag | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Capital city | Nuuk |
|---|---|
| Area | 2 166 086 km² |
| Population | 56 370 hab. (2013) |
| Density | 0,03 inhab./km² |
| Form of State | Parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy |
| Official language | Greenlandic |
| Other languages | Danish, English |
| Change | Danish Krone (DKK) |
| Religions | Evangelical Lutherans |
| Telephone prefix | 299 |
| Internet suffix | .gl |
| Flow direction | Right-hand drive |
| Spindle | UTC -1, -3 and -4 |
| Location | |
 72 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ N 40 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ W | |
| Government site | |
| Touristic site | |
The Greenland is an autonomous territory attached to the Denmark located in North America.
Understand
Geography
Despite the impression given by some planispheres, Greenland is not larger than the MexicoIt nevertheless represents 97% of the territory of Denmark.
Greenland is considered the second largest island in the world (after theAustralia) .It is located northeast of theNorth America and is border by the sea of Canada to the west andIceland to the East.
With a population of just over 50,000 inhabitants}} for more 2 millions square kilometers of land, Greenland is the least densely populated country in the world with about 0.03 inhab./km2.
Inlandsis
80 % Greenlandic territory is covered by a kind of huge ice cap called the inlandsis which is a residue of the ice ages. The interior of the island therefore remains, until now and despite the melting ice, an immense desert of ice with often extreme climatic conditions. In this icy interior, the average altitude exceeds 2,000 meters and Gunnbjörns Fjeld, Greenland's highest peak, rises to 3,694 meters.
Ribs
Greenlandic populations have settled on the coasts with more favorable climates. They are mainly present on the west coast of the island. The northern part of the island also remains much less populated than the rest of the island because of the climate. Coastal landscapes are mainly composed of tundra and mountains.
Weather
Greenland's climate is generally arctic and cold, but varies a lot by region.
In winter, in the North Greenland, the sun disappears almost completely for more than three months while the day remains just relatively short in the South. Average seaside temperatures are around -15 ° C in the North as they approach the 0 ° C in the south. The southwest coast enjoys fairly long and fairly mild summers. The maximum temperatures are around 10 ° C in summer with a heat record of 28 ° C.
While the North experiences a very dry climate, the South enjoys a much wetter climate. Precipitation falls mainly in the form of snow in winter on the eastern coast while, on the western coast, it falls mainly in the form of rain in summer.
Greenland is not strictly speaking a windy country, but strong katabatic winds can occur in some areas, particularly in theIs in the fall or winter.
In the ice sheet, the climatic conditions are particularly difficult. Snow precipitation accumulates there, winds can be strong and temperatures can be extreme, even in summer. The cold records in this region are around −60 ° C !
Midnight sun and blue twilight
The Midnight Sun is found in areas north of the Arctic Circle. The sun thus remains constantly visible for a few days to a few months depending on the latitude. During what should be nighttime in areas near the Arctic Circle, the light nevertheless appears warm, resulting in a pleasant landscape.
For the west coast, the Arctic Circle passes north of Sisimiut, which makes it a great place to see the midnight sun. It passes south of Tasiilaq as for the east coast.
Conversely, in the regions north of the Arctic Circle, there is winter, at least one day or it is dark all day. However, contrary to what one might think, these regions are not constantly bathed in total darkness during these periods. Depending on the location and the calendar, a blue twilight, bringing a slight light, can appear from a few minutes per day to the whole day.
Northern Lights
Nicknamed aqsarniit in Greenlandic, the northern Lights occur year round in Greenland. However, they are only visible on dark and clear nights. This is a spectacle of rare magic where rather green lights roam the sky. It is a phenomenon that it would be a shame to miss if you visit Greenland during a season other than summer.
Population
Although attached to Denmark, most Greenlanders are descendants of the Inuit who came from Canada. They thus preserve a culture very close to their cousin of the Canada and D'Alaska.
Hunting and survival on this island with harsh climatic conditions is an integral part of the culture of Greenland. So many Greenlanders own dog sleds and go ice fishing.
On the other hand, other traditional Inuit elements have partly disappeared following colonization. Thus most of the inhabitants of Greenland are of Protestant religion and kayak fishing is hardly practiced any more.
The island of despair
With the rapid modernization of the country during the post-war period, the traditional Inuit way of life was abandoned for a way of life closer to that of Western societies. This fact had serious repercussions on all populations related to the Eskimos of Greenland but also of the Nunavut andAlaska, in particular in matters of alcoholism and suicide.
The number of suicides exploded in 1970 in Greenland, becoming the country with the highest rate in this area.This fact is attributed to the combined action of the loss by Greenlanders of their traditional way of life and usual conditions but extremes of climate, sunshine and isolation of the island. Thus one in 5 Greenlanders would have, at some point in their life, tried to end their life. The government reacted and therefore put in place measures to stop the "epidemic". Today, it seems that the phenomenon is declining in Greenland, but still remains a matter of great concern.
Political organization
Although dependent on Denmark, Greenland has a certain autonomy, in part similar to that of the Faroe Islands. There is thus an elected parliament and a Greenlandic prime minister since 1979 similar to what one finds in many parliamentary representative democracies.
The referendum of November 25, 2008, approved at 75.5%, extended Greenland's autonomy over many areas such as the police, the courts, the right to control natural resources (oil, gas, gold, diamonds, uranium, etc. zinc, lead). He also made Greenlandic the official language of the country.
However, certain key areas remain in the hands of the Danish central power such as foreign policy, national defense or even monetary policy.
History
Prehistory and Middle Ages
The story of Greenland is the story of human survival and adaptation in the extreme climatic conditions of the Arctic.
If Greenland was unknown to Europeans until the Ve century, when it was discovered by Icelandic Vikings, in 982, it had previously been inhabited for nearly four millennia by people of the Arctic (cultures of Dorset and Saqqaq in particular).
When the Vikings arrived there for more than four centuries, however, it was most likely uninhabited. The first arrivals had indeed almost disappeared and the Inuit peoples currently living in Greenland did not settle there until the beginning of the 18th century.e century. While the Viking settlements of the southwest coast finally disappeared during the XVe century due to the cooling of several centuries called "little ice age",
the Inuit have survived to this day. They have developed a society capable of living in a very harsh climate. Thus, they remained for several centuries the only people to inhabit the island.
Danish colony
In the XVIIIe Century, however, the Kingdom of Denmark and Norway asserted its rights to the territory, when there was no news of the Vikings who had left to colonize the island for several centuries. Fearing that they had fallen back into paganism, the Danish authorities organized a missionary expedition in 1721. Finding no descendants of the Greenlandic Vikings, the members of the expedition devoted themselves to the conversion of the Inuit and the establishment of commercial colonies. along the coast. The island therefore returned to Scandinavian rule and retained its colony status until 1953.
Modern history
During World War II, Greenland broke away socially and economically from Denmark, then occupied by the Germans. On the other hand, many links were created with the United States and Canada. Greenland was thus a place used by the United States to place military air bases there during the Cold War.
Towards independence?
After the Second World War, Denmark regained control of Greenland, but had to transform its status in 1953: from colony, it passed to that of overseas county, before acquiring internal autonomy in 1979. in 1985, the inhabitants decided to leave the European Economic Community to which Denmark had joined in 1973.
Since the question of the independence of Greenland continues to arise and this all the more so with the melting of the ice foreseen by the global warming, deposits of natural resources such as oil, gas or uranium, find themselves accessible. , guaranteeing the future new state a significant financial windfall but also the risk of a strong dependence on mining companies.
Holidays and public holidays
| Dated | French name | Local name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2022 | New Year | ||
| January 6, 2022 | Epiphany | ||
| April 14, 2022 | Holy Thursday | ||
| April 15, 2022 | Good Friday | ||
| April 18, 2022 | Easter Monday | ||
| April 30, 2021 | The Great Day of Prayer | Store Bededag | Specifically Danish party |
| May 13, 2021 | Ascension | ||
| May 24, 2021 | Whit Monday | ||
| June 21, 2021 | National Holiday | Ullortuneq | summer solstice |
| 24 December 2021 | Christmas Eve | ||
| December 25, 2021 | Christmas | ||
| December 26, 2021 | Saint Etienne | ||
| December 31, 2021 | New Year's Eve |
Regions
 Regions of Greenland |
|
Southern greenland - Nicknamed "Sineriak Bananeqarfik "(" Banana Coast "in Greenlandic) by locals, it is the most accessible part of Greenland and the one with the mildest climates. Here grows the unique forests of the country and agriculture is a reality. |  |
West Greenland - The most inhabited region of the country, it is here that the largest cities and the capital are located, Nuuk. the Westfjords, together with Disko Bay, bring some of the most beautiful panoramas of an authentic but accessible Greenland. Here is the famous Ice Fjord ofIlulissat |  |
Eastern Greenland - Sparsely populated, the east of the country is characterized by its high mountains. It is the ideal region to discover Greenland less known from Iceland. |  |
Northern Greenland - As close as possible to the pole, extreme climate and the most isolated region. The North East Greenland National Park occupies a large part of this vast region. In this vast region, the hearths of settlements, villages and military bases included can be counted on the fingers of one hand! |  |
Cities
- 1 Nuuk (Godthåb(da)) – The capital and the largest city in the country.
- 2 Ilulissat – Fjords forming part of Unesco World Heritage and third largest city in the country.
- 3 Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg(da)) – Second largest city in the country, very active.
- 4 Tasiilaq (Amassalik) – Largest city on the east coast.
- 5 Qaqortoq – The largest city in South.
- 6 – Greenlandic city of over 1,000 inhabitants the most northerly.
Other destinations
- 1 Qaanaaq (Thule) – One of the northernmost “cities” on the planet.
- 2 Kangerlussuaq – Old military base american and Greenlandic International Airport.
- 3 Narsarsuaq – International airport of South.
- 4 North East Greenland National Park
To go
Passports and Visas
Although Greenland is an integral part of the Denmark, because of its autonomy, it is not member of the European Union, the European Economic Area and the Schengen Area. As a result, immigration restrictions exist except for citizens of Nordic countries (Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Icelandic).
Visitors
Almost all visitors need a passport to enter. Identity cards are accepted for Nordic citizens, and are, de facto, accepted for other EU or EEA citizens (there is no border control in Greenland and Air Greenland companies and Air Iceland Connect accept these identity cards).
The following people have unlimited access to Greenland and therefore do not need a visa for an extended stay:
- Nordic citizens (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland)
- Canadians who are members of some Inuit Nations of Nunavut.
The following people can visit Greenland for up to 90 days for 6 months without additional visas or permissions:
- Citizens or permanent residents (regardless of nationality) of an EU / EE member country or of Switzerland.
- Citizens of Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, South Korea, Costa Rica, United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Macedonia, Macao, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro , Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Holy See, El Salvador, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Taiwan, 'Uruguay and Venezuela as well as British overseas citizens.
There are some particularities, however, for some countries:
- Nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia need a biometric passport to enjoy visa-free travel.
- Serbian nationals with passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (residents of Kosovo with Serbian passports) need a visa.
- Taiwanese nationals need their ID number from their passport to enjoy visa-free travel.
Residents of other countries will need a visa. Keep in mind that Schengen visas used to visit Denmark are not valid in Greenland as well as the Faroe Islands. You will need a separate visa which can be requested at any Danish embassy or diplomatic representation along with a Schengen visa for Denmark or Iceland, if you are transiting through these countries. If you are transiting through Nunavut, you will need a Canadian transit or temporary resident visa.
Employees or Students
Formalities
Shipment permit
If you follow in the footsteps of the typical tourist, you won't need special permission, but any expeditions (including trips to the National Park, which are by definition expeditions) requires a special permit from the Danish Polar Center. If you are traveling through an agency, they will likely take care of these paper issues for you.
Also note that if you are entering or traveling via US Base Thule, special permission from the Danish Foreign Affairs Department is required as this is a military zone (not necessary for children under 15 years, Danish police and military, US military and diplomats). to see Qaanaaq for details.
By plane
Airports
There are only two international civilian airports in Greenland providing transatlantic connections with foreign countries. American base in Thule also receives international flights but requires special permission.
These airports are former North American bases set up during WWII or the Cold War, and for this reason they are located far from the most populated areas. They serve as hubs providing access to small city airports as well as to surrounding villages by helicopter. These airports, which are rather impractical due to their geographical position, could eventually close after the extension of the airports of the main cities.
The main airport in Greenland is that of Kangerlussuaq to the west of the island.The other possible airport for arriving from abroad is in the south at Narsarsuaq .
Flights
Flights to Greenland are DearFlights from abroad are almost exclusively fromIceland and the DenmarkHowever, there are sometimes links with the Faroe Islands where the Nunavut at CanadaSome flights are only possible in certain seasons, typically summer.
Currently, there are a few airlines that fly to Greenland:
- Air Greenland ,
299 34 34 34, fax : 299 32 72 88, email: [email protected] – The country's airline. Link with Copenhagen and Aalborg at Denmark as well as Reykjavik in Iceland. The link with Iqaluit at Canada was discontinued in 2015. - Flugfélag Íslands (Air Iceland) – Liaison withIceland. Easiest solution to access the Eastern Greenland. Connects Kulusuk, Ilulissat, Nuuk, Narsarsuaq at Reykjavik and Ittoqqortoormiit at Akureyri
- Greenland Express – New "virtual" company offering flights between Narsarsuaq or Kangerlussuaq towards Copenhagen or Billund at Denmark in summer.
On a boat
No ferry crossing service exists whatsoever from the Canada or the rest of theEurope.
Only cruises to this island-continent can be offered by certain tour operators.
- Hurtigruten
12 to 15 day trips. 
from 4 750 €-6 400 € per person according to itineraries. – Offers cruises in Greenland departing fromIceland, of Svalbard, or Copenhagen (arrival in Greenland by plane). In particular, you can visit the national park by sea. - Oceanwide Expeditions from 2 800 € -5 500 € depending on the shipment.. – Offers many expeditions around Greenland.
- Silversea from 5 550 €. – Offers some cruises in West Greenland. Some going to St. John's Newfoundland at Canada.
- Aurora Expeditions From 8 050 $ AUD. – Propose a trip that goes from Reykjavik in Iceland at Longyearbyen, Svalbard and which runs along part of the east coast of Greenland.
12 to 15 day trips
from Circulate
Traffic in Greenland is special due to the lack of a practicable land traffic axis linked in particular to the presence of the ice sheet. Air travel seems the most practical for traveling in Greenland but very often, we have recourse to the helicopter due to the lack of real airstrips. However, ferries are also very convenient.
By plane / helicopter
In addition to the two international airports, all relatively important destinations have their own airports and are served by Air Greenland.
The other small accessible destinations are often small villages of less than 100 inhabitants in the surroundings (including sometimes a few hundred kilometers…).
On a boat
There are only two Greenland passenger ferry line services operating in the southwest of the country.
- Arctic umiaq line operates from the end of April to the beginning of January. – This company connects most of the destinations in the west and south of the country by passenger ferry. Please note that it is not open all year round, as some destinations are simply not accessible in winter due to the ice.
- Disko Line – Offers passenger transportation service to towns and villages in Disko Bay. Does not work in winter because the sea freezes.
By bus
An urban network exists at Nuuk under the name of Nuup Bussii. The map and timetables are available on the site Nuup Bussii in Danish and English. The city of Sisimiut also has a bus that goes around the city very regularly.
By car
Locals living on the coast usually own a car, but it is best to find out about the possibilities of renting one before leaving. All driving licenses issued by European countries are in principle recognized in Greenland.
Signage meets international standards, traffic (urban only ...) is more or less equal to that of other European cities. It should be noted that there are only 150 kilometers of roads and tracks near the coastal towns only, hardly any road network connects the towns between them. The fuel distribution is quite normal, the price per liter is also very cheap compared to European countries. Garages are also present if needed. On the other hand, it is superfluous to point out that the interior of the island is not passable for obvious reasons of permanent snowfall.
Despite the lack of speed control, here are the limitations applied in Greenland:
- city : 50 km / h
- route: 80 km / h
The sled and the snowmobile are the most suitable means of getting around these regions.
Speak
The national language, Greenlandic (Kalaallisut) is the language used in the populated west of the country, the eastern dialect (Tunumiisut) and the more anecdotal northern one (Avanersuarmiutut) are somewhat different.
These languages are difficult to learn, especially because of very long and difficult to express words such as uteqqipugut or Ittoqqortoormiit and very precise terms, which leads to a very rich lexicon.
The good news is that almost all Greenlanders are bilingual and speak Danish, and many have a functional mastery of theEnglish. Greenlandic words can nevertheless be useful for travelers wanting to experience the "real Greenland".
Greenlandic is quite different fromInuktitut, the language of the Canadian Inuit who share historical roots with the Greenlanders, which makes it difficult for the two peoples to understand each other.
Place name
It is advisable to be careful because a good part of the names of places refer to their geography, thus Kangerlussuaq means "great fjord" and is not only the Greenlandic name for the town with the Danish name of Søndre Strømfjord.
Buy
The currency of Greenland is the Danish Krone (kroner, kr, DKK).
Life is generally quite expensive in Greenland because most of the products and items are imported. Supermarkets exist in every locality and opening hours generally extend from 8 h - 18 h. But on Saturdays the closing often occurs 13 h. Grocery stores and convenience stores may however be open on Sundays.
Bank note machines (issuing Danish currency ...) are also located in each city and most credit cards are accepted. These cards can also be used for payment in most shops on the island.
Eat
As most of the fresh products are imported, their prices can be quite expensive, especially for fruits and vegetables.
Restoration
The most common dishes are made with potatoes but often well garnished, meat is also part of the eating habits of Greenlanders. Many Greenlanders combine traditional food (local fish, shrimp, whale, muskox, reindeer) with more familiar dishes, so you can see sometimes amazing mixtures. Greenland has a few fast food addresses as well as several high-end restaurants. Prices are high everywhere but the plates are plentiful, especially for fried foods.
Have a drink / Go out
Housing
Hotels
Accommodation in Greenland is often expensive, luxury hotels exist in most tourist places (Hotel Hans Egede in Nuuk, Hotel Arctic - with igloo rooms as well as the Hvide Falke hotel in Ilulissat). There are somewhat cheaper options such as the "Sinner's House (Sømandshjemmene) hotels" in Nuuk, Aasiaat and Ilulissat.
More economical solutions
Youth hostels, much cheaper than hotels, also exist in some towns allowing you to save on accommodation. One third of the price of hotels in town, it is also a good way to experience the "real Greenland", however knowing Danish or Greenlandic is really helpful, as your hosts may not understand English.
Camping
It is also possible to camp everywhere (move away from the houses however out of respect) for free in Greenland. On the other hand, this requires to be well equipped, in fact, even in summer, the thermometer is only around 0 ° C at night. Finally, the other point not to be overlooked is the absence of sanitary facilities.
Learn
Students wishing to study in Greenland should know that this country, due to its small population, is not a very favorable place, indeed, apart from some possible exchanges with the University of Nuuk, study possibilities in this country are very limited.
To work
Communicate
.JPG/220px-Telecommunication_equipment_in_Sisimiut_(2).JPG)
Telecommunications management is currently fairly straightforward in greenland, the operator Tele Greenland is the only telephone and internet provider on the island and the POST operator which belongs to the same group manages the transport of postal mail.
Newspapers
Atuagdliutit / Grønlandsposten and Sermitsiaq are two of the big newsrooms in Greenland, however the second only appears every Friday. They are published in Danish and Inuit.
Radio
Radio-Greenland or Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa is Greenland's radio station par excellence, broadcasting in the two languages of the territory. The Thule Air Base FM Radio is a station belonging to the American base that can be listened to almost the entire island, the programs are in English only.
Television
Danish channels can be received by satellite but Greenland has its channel called KNR-TV which broadcasts Danish programs at certain times.
Telephony
The GSM 900/1800 networks cover all the inhabited areas of Greenland, the population itself is very well equipped in terms of mobile telephony to the detriment of fixed devices. Roaming agreements exist with most foreign operators but it is prudent to inquire with yours, especially regarding tariffs.
Internet
In a large and sparsely populated country like Greenland, the internet is much more than anywhere else, a window to the world and a way out of isolation. thus Greenland has taken great care to develop this medium.
Thanks to submarine cables and satellite, the country is very well endowed. As a result, 93% of the population can access it. In terms of accessing it as travelers, there are wifi zones or connected computers in most good hotels as well as internet cafes. Otherwise, you can always ask.
However, internet access in this isolated country is far from free and fast, so the low cost subscriptions of locals revolve around 899 DKK per month and some hotels invoice 100 DKK the 2 h of connections.
Manage the day-to-day
Arrival in a locality
When visiting a city or town, you shouldn't worry about asking the direction of a store, a place to eat or sleep, even if you think that 'there may not be. Most places, even the capital Nuuk, are small enough for all locals to know.
Don't be surprised to find a fully stocked supermarket inside a gray factory-like building in the middle of nowhere.
Time zones
There are 4 time zones in Greenland, one of which is unofficial.
Daylight saving time begins at 01:00 UTC on the last Sunday in March (next change is Sunday 27 March 2022) and ends at the same time on the last Sunday in October of each year (next change is Sunday 24 October 2021) , at the same time in all the affected areas except on the Thule air base which observes the dates change to daylight saving time starts fromNorth America.
 Time zones |
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security
 | Emergency telephone number: All emergency services:112 |
No major problem of insecurity to report, in any case few attacks and thefts occur in Greenland despite a change in society due to the consumption of alcohol and drugs. However, this remains limited to the indigenous population only.
You feel safe in all the regions of this gigantic polar island, provided you always have adequate equipment when hiking in isolated regions, without forgetting of course to apply certain basic rules of caution. Cependant, il est préférable de tenir au courant d'autres personnes sur ses itinéraires afin de lancer des recherches en cas d'absence de nouvelles, voire de se faire accompagner par un guide.
Government travel advice
Canada (Government of Canada)
Health
Le Groenland possède un excellent système de soins dans l'ensemble des villes.
Pas de vaccin particulier requis pour entrer sur le territoire.
Froid
Le froid est probablement le plus grand danger auquel vous risquez de faire face au Groenland.Il convient, même en été de ne pas négliger d'emmener des vêtements chauds et de quoi ne pas geler pendant la nuit pour les courageux qui sont tentés par le camping.Rappelez vous aussi que plus vous allez au nord, plus les températures seront froides.
Luminosité
L'absence de cycle jour/nuit habituel en hiver et en été peut conduire à un dérèglement de l'horloge biologique.Celui-ci peut amener à différent troubles, plus ou moins graves.Les troubles les plus communs dans ces régions sont ceux du sommeil. En effet, le manque de soleil l'hiver peut conduire à une fatigue excessive et des sommeils de piètre qualité.À l'inverse, le soleil constant l'été rend plus difficile le fait de s'endormir.
Afin d'éviter ces problèmes, il peut être utile d'établir des horaires stricts, de lever, de coucher et de repas ainsi que de reproduire artificiellement le cycle jour-nuit.
Moustiques
En été, il y a un risque de prolifération de moustique et de petit moucheron appelés simulies qui peuvent provoquer des piqûres.Cela reste peu dangereux car il est improbable qu'ils transmettent des maladies.Les piqûres peuvent néanmoins être très irritantes, prendre des mesures pour éviter ces piqûres est donc conseillé.
Respect
Il convient d'éviter le mot "Eskimo", malgré son utilisation par les autochtones. Celui-ci reste acceptable en Alaska mais peut être vu comme péjoratif pour les autres peuples arctiques. Les "Eskimos" du Groenland se nomme "Kalaalleq" (au pluriel "Kalaallit") qui signifie groenlandais.
| Cet article reprend du contenu de l'article Groenland de Wikipédia . See the history of this page for the list of authors. |
