Greenland

Greenland is the biggest island in the world. It sits between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. Most of Greenland is covered by a huge sheet of ice. It belongs to the country of Denmark but runs many of its own affairs. Even though it is called Greenland, it has a lot more ice than green land.

Ice and Animals

An ice sheet covers about 80 percent of Greenland. This ice is thousands of feet thick in places. Huge icebergs break off and float into the ocean. Polar bears, arctic foxes, and walruses live in the cold. Whales and seals swim in the icy waters.

People and Life

Only about 56,000 people live in Greenland. Most live in small towns along the coast. The Inuit are the main people of Greenland and have lived there for a long time. They fish, hunt, and travel by dog sled or boat. Nuuk is the capital and largest city.

Fun Facts

• In the far north of Greenland, the sun does not set for months in summer.
• Greenland has no roads between towns, so people travel by boat or plane.
• A Viking named Erik the Red gave Greenland its name to attract settlers.

Did You Know?

If all the ice on Greenland melted, the world's oceans would rise by about 24 feet.