Greenland
Where Ancient Traditions Endure, and Mother Nature Rules
Dominating the North Atlantic Ocean, Greenland is Earth’s largest island. This vast land covers an impressive 2,175,600 km2. This is more than New Guinea, Borneo, and Madagascar (the next three largest islands) combined, more than three times the size of Texas, and more than four times the size of France! At the core of the country lies the Greenland Ice Sheet, the largest outside of Antarctica, containing approximately a tenth of all Earth’s ice – around 6% of all fresh water on planet Earth.
Inhabited largely by Inuit people, Greenland is a country where ancient traditions still hold sway, and Mother Nature rules all human activity. Greenland holds a huge diversity of scenery and ecology, from the lush green fjords and rolling pastures of the south to the rugged hills and icebergs of Disko Bay.
Area of Greenland
- 2,166,086 km²
Population of Greenland
- 56,609 people
Why Travel to Greenland
Inhabited largely by Inuit people, Greenland is a country where ancient traditions still hold sway, and Mother Nature rules all human activity. Greenland holds huge diversity of scenery and ecology, from the lush green fjords and rolling pastures of the south, to the rugged hills and icebergs of Disko Bay, from the stark polar deserts of the north, interwoven with millenia of Inuit tradition and heritage.
A land ruled by nature
Breathtaking world heritage
Earth's largest National Park
Island country, ocean lifestyle
Unique Inuit culture
Although a constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark, the population of Greenland is majority Inuit. Inuit culture has been shaped by thousands of years of deep connection to Arctic nature, thriving in some of Earth’s most brutal conditions. From street art to souvenirs to traditional performances and awe-inspiring archaeological sites, the ancient-yet-adaptive culture of Greenland is written everywhere across the vast landscape of the country.
Map of Greenland
A Geography Rich in Ice and Minerals
Greenland stretches nearly 2,700 km from the northernmost point of land on Earth (Kaffeklubben Island) to the south (Nunap Isua/Cape Farvel), and is approximately 1,000 km wide. The highest mountain in the country is Gunnbjørnsfjeld on the east coast, at 3,733m. The ice sheet covers about 85 % of Greenland, and the total volume of the ice sheet amounts to about 7 % of the Earth’s total freshwater resources.
Greenland’s huge and maze-like coastline is among the longest on Earth, and is indented with thousands of fjords, islands, and skerries. Greenland is known to hold huge quantities of rare earth metals such as uranium, platinum, and cobalt, as well as iron, nickel, graphite, and gold.
The People of Greenland
Greenland has been inhabited for 4,500 years by successive waves of Arctic peoples. The Paleo-Inuit arrived first but vanished long before the Norse settled the south around the year 1000, led by Erik the Red. His son Leif would sail on to North America. The Norse farmed Greenland for four centuries before mysteriously disappearing in the 1400s, leaving only the Thule people, who arrived from Canada around around 1200 with dogsleds and swift boats, and are the ancestors of today’s Kalaallit Inuit. Contact with Scandinavia was re-established in 1721 by Danish missionary Hans Egede.
Today, around 56,000 people live in Greenland, most along the west coast, with Nuuk as the capital. About 90% are Inuit, the remainder mainly Danish. Kalaallisut is the dominant language, with related languages spoken in the east and north, while Danish is also widely spoken. English is less common, but visitors are warmly received for trying local words – even a ‘qujanaq’ (‘thank you’) goes a long way!
Wildlife of Greenland
Greenland is only home to seven native land mammals: the muskoxen, caribou, Arctic hare and Northern collared lemming, and 3 carnivores – the polar bear, Arctic fox and stoat. Greenland is also home to a variety of whale species, and if you’re lucky, you might just catch a glimpse of one during your visit. The most commonly seen whales include humpback whales, minke whales, and fin whales. Though rarely spotted on the west coast, Polar bears are one of the most iconic animals in Greenland, and the country’s national animal, featuring on the coat of arms.
Greenland is also home to many species of birds. Over 230 species have been observed. The White-Tailed Eagle (nattoralik) is one of the most iconic birds found in Greenland, and can attain a wingspan of up to 2.5 meters (8 feet).
Svalbard Reindeer Quick Overview Scientific Name Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus Population Estimated at 10,000-22,000 in Svalbard Regions Arctic...
Polar Bear Quick Overview Scientific Name Ursus maritimus Population Estimated at 22,000-31,000 globally (IUCN) Regions Arctic, Europe, North...
Walrus Quick Overview Scientific Name Odobenus rosmarus Population Estimated at 225,000 globally, of which about 20,000 live in the Northern...
Northern Gannet Quick Overview Scientific Name Morus bassanus Population Estimated at 1,500,000-1,800,000 individuals globally Regions Arctic and...
Common Eider Quick Overview Scientific Name Somateria mollissima Population Estimated at close to 2 million globally Regions Arctic and North...
Black Guillemot Quick Overview Scientific Name Cepphus grylle Population Estimated at close to 400,000–700,000 individuals globally Regions North...
The Atlantic puffin or the “clown of the sea,” is a recognisable seabird in the North Atlantic. Famous for its beak and diving, it is essential in...
The Arctic Skua, also known as the 'parasitic jaeger', has adapted to some of the planet’s most challenging environments with its streamlined shape,...
Have you ever heard of a fox that can change colors? And it is roughly the size of a house cat? We're talking about the Arctic fox, one of nature's...
Imagine going on one of our voyages and spotting a penguin that could be as tall as your child. We're talking about the emperor penguin, the tallest...
You might recognize this penguin from the famous Sony Pictures Animation movie 'Surfs Up'. Even though in real life they do not surf, with its vivid...
With over 22 different species worldwide, and considered one of the largest living flying seabirds by its wingspan (which can be larger the size of...
The Varied Climate of Greenland
The climate in Greenland depends on location within this vast island. Southern Greenland lies well below the Arctic Circle, and the warming effects of the Gulf Stream moderate the climate, which is similar to that in Scandinavia or northern Scotland. The western coast of Greenland has the largest areas of ice-free land in the country; while the coasts are cool even in summer, rarely rising much above 50°F (10°C), temperatures inland in towns such as Kangerlussuaq can rise over 68°F (20°C). In winter, this is reversed, with temperatures rarely dropping below around -4°F (-20°C), but plunging further closer to the ice sheet. North and East Greenland do not feel the warming effects of ice-free land or the Gulf Stream, and summer temperatures rarely rise much above 43°F (6°C). In winter, temperatures can be brutal, regularly plummeting to below -22°F (-30°C), along with heavy snowfall.
At the core of Greenland’s Ice Sheet, the temperature is permanently below 32°F (0°C). The coldest temperature ever recorded in Greenland was on the core of the Ice Sheet, at a bone-chilling -69.6°C.
Climate Table for Greenland (Average Temperatures)
| CITY | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuuk | 23°F (-5°C) | 23°F (-5°C) | 25°F (-4°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 43°F (6°C) | 46°F (8°C) | 45°F (7°C) | 39°F (4°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 28°F (-2°C) | 25°F (-4°C) |
| Ilulissat | 18°F (-8°C) | 16°F (-9°C) | 16°F (-9°C) | 25°F (-4°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 41°F (5°C) | 46°F (8°C) | 45°F (7°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 30°F (-1°C) | 23°F (-5°C) | 18°F (-8°C) |
| Kangerlussuaq | 1°F (-17°C) | 0°F (-18°C) | 5°F (-15°C) | 18°F (-8°C) | 30°F (-1°C) | 43°F (6°C) | 52°F (11°C) | 48°F (9°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 21°F (-6°C) | 10°F (-12°C) | 3°F (-16°C) |
| Tasiilaq | 21°F (-6°C) | 19°F (-7°C) | 19°F (-7°C) | 27°F (-3°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 39°F (4°C) | 43°F (6°C) | 43°F (6°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 27°F (-3°C) | 23°F (-5°C) |
Popular Expeditions to Greenland
See small and colourful houses perched between the glassy fjords and the steep mountains, witness gigantic glaciers producing enormous icebergs, and watch whales and seals play in the sea as we follow the maritime highways of the Arctic.
Our Greenland voyages offer variety for even the most seasoned explorers. Join us on an expedition cruise from Reykjavík to Kangerlussuaq, following the same maritime course set by Norse settlers over a thousand years ago, or for a nature-packed adventure, sail from Svalbard to Iceland via the vast wilderness of East Greenland. Or for a time-efficient experience combining staggering natural beauty and warm local culture, join our voyages through the icy waters of Disko Bay.
However you choose to experience Greenland, experience it with the experts!
