12 Facts about Greenland That You Might Not Know скачать в хорошем качестве

12 Facts about Greenland That You Might Not Know

Greenland is a land of superlatives and contradictions. It is the world’s largest island, yet it has one of the smallest populations. It is technically part of the North American continent, yet it is politically and culturally tied to Europe. Its name suggests a lush, verdant paradise, yet roughly 80% of its surface is covered by a permanent ice sheet. 1. The World’s Largest Island (That Isn't a Continent) While Australia is larger than Greenland, Australia is classified as a continent. This leaves Greenland with the title of the world’s largest island. Covering approximately 2.16 million square kilometers, it is massive—roughly three times the size of Texas or ten times the size of the United Kingdom. Despite its size, if you were to look at a standard Mercator projection map, 2. It is Home to the World’s Largest National Park You won’t find crowds or gift shops at the Northeast Greenland National Park. It is the largest and most northerly national park in the world, covering 972,000 square kilometers. To put that in perspective, it is larger than 163 countries. 3. The Ice Sheet is Colossal Greenland is defined by its ice. The Greenland Ice Sheet is the second largest body of ice in the world, after Antarctica. In some places, the ice is over 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) thick. If the entire Greenland ice sheet were to melt, global sea levels would rise by approximately 7 meters (23 feet). Because the ice is so heavy, it has actually pushed the 4. There Are Virtually No Roads Between Towns One of the most surprising logistical facts about Greenland is the total absence of a highway system. Despite its vast size, there are no roads connecting towns or settlements. If you want to travel from the capital, Nuuk, to the scenic town of Ilulissat, you cannot drive. Your options are: 5. The "Green" in Greenland was a Marketing Tactic Legend has it that Erik the Red, a Norse explorer who was exiled from Iceland for manslaughter, sailed west and discovered the island. Wanting to attract settlers to this new land, he gave it the appealing name "Greenland." 6. A Land of Midnight Sun and Northern Lights Because a significant portion of Greenland sits above the Arctic Circle, it experiences extreme seasonal light shifts. The Midnight Sun: In the northernmost towns, the sun does not set for several months during the summer. You can play golf or go kayaking at 2:00 AM in broad daylight. The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis): During the winter, the dark skies become a canvas for the Aurora. Greenland is one of the best places on Earth to view them because there is almost zero light pollution. 7. It is a Land of "Firsts" in the Arctic Greenlandic culture is deeply rooted in the Inuit tradition. About 88% of the population is Inuit or mixed Danish-Inuit. This heritage has provided the world with inventions we still use today: The Kayak: Originally called a qajaq, it was developed by Inuit hunters for stealthy movement in the water. The Anorak: This hooded pullover was first crafted from sealskin to protect hunters from the frigid Arctic spray. 8. The Capital, Nuuk, is a Modern Hub While many imagine Greenlanders living exclusively in igloos (which is a myth—igloos were primarily temporary hunting shelters, and most people today live in colorful modern houses), Nuuk is a surprisingly cosmopolitan city. 9. Giant Icebergs and the "Iceberg Capital" The town of Ilulissat is home to the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is fed by the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, one of the fastest and most active glaciers in the world. 10. You Can See the Earth’s History in the Rocks Greenland contains some of the oldest rocks on the planet. The Isua Greenstone Belt in southwestern Greenland contains rocks that are roughly 3.7 to 3.8 billion years old. 11. Most of the Population Lives on the West Coast Because the interior is an inhospitable ice sheet and the east coast is rugged and often blocked by sea ice, the vast majority of Greenland’s 56,000 residents live on the southwestern coast. 12. Fishing is the Lifeblood of the Economy While tourism is growing, fishing remains the dominant industry, accounting for over 90% of Greenland's exports. Cold-water shrimp and Greenland halibut are the primary catches. ► Please Like, share, and subscribe to our channel for more stunning travel videos & uncovering hidden gems of the world. ► I try to give my best knowledgeable and educational information about earth and nature in all my videos. SPECIAL THANKS: ► Music: / @lisayamusic CONTACT US: ✉ Email: Mycontac10@gmail.com IMPORTANT INFORMATION This video contains images that were used under a Creative Commons License. If you have any issue with the photos used in my channel or you find something that belongs to you before you claim it to youtube, please SEND ME A MESSAGE and I will DELETE it immediately. Thanks for understanding. Click here to see the full list of images and attributions: