Facts about Greenland

Area

Total area of the country 2,175,600 km2

Area of the ice sheet 1,833,900 km2

Ice-free area 341,700 km2

Biggest island

Qeqertarsuaq (Disco) 8,578 km2

Longest fiords

Kangertittivaq 300 km
Nassuttooq 190 km
Kangerlussuaq 170 km

Highest mountain

Gunnbjørn Fjeld 3,733 m

Time zone

Greenland has three different time zones; East Greenland, West Greenland and North Greenland (near the area of Thule).
The time zone is GMT -3 in East Greenland.

Climate

Arctic – the mean temperature does not exceed 10° C (50° F) in the warmest summer months. Permafrost.

Coldest and warmest months

Qaqortoq (Feb. 1998) -9.8°C
Avanersuaq (Feb. 1998) -24.0°C
Qaqortoq (July 1998) +9.0°C
Avanersuaq (July 1998) +9.0°C

Midnight sun and winter darkness

In the Arctic circle – varies between less than a month up to about four months.

Form of government

1721 - 1953 Colony

1953 - 1979 Danish county

1979 - 2009 Home Rule

2009 – Self Government