mobile View, to the German Version tap the flag

 

Greenland

 

Contents

Flag

Historical Flags

Meaning/Origin of the Flag

Coat of Arms

Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

Map

Numbers and Facts

History

Origin of the Country's Name



Flag

Flagge Fahne flag Grönland Greenland
Flag of Greenland,
ratio = 12:18,
Source, by: Wikipedia (D)



hoch/up


Historical Flags

Flagge Fahne flag Grönland Greenland Dänemark Denmark Dänisch Danish official Official flag
1795–1846,
Official flag of the Danish government in Greenland,
ratio = 28:53,5,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Grönland Greenland Dänemark Denmark Dänisch Danish official Official flag
1846–1979,
Official flag of the Danish government in Greenland,
ratio = 28:53,5,
Source, by: Die Welt im bunten Flaggenbild



hoch/up


Meaning/Origin of the Flag

The today's flag of Greenland came about a contest under native artists, and was adoped officially on 21st of June in 1985. The flag shows two horizontal stripes in white and red and a color-reversed disc in the center, which is moved towards the mast. These are the colors of Denmark, however, the white stands for the ice and the red for the sun. The flag of the to 1979 existing Danish government was the usual Danish official flag with two crossed harpoons in the upper staff quadrant.

Source: Nationalflaggen der Welt

hoch/up


Coat of Arms


Wappen coat of arms Grönland Greenland
Coat of arms of Greenland,
Source, by: By Octane (Own work) [Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

hoch/up


Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of Greenland is since the 17th century an upright squatting, silvery ice bear on blue ground. In this shape appears Greenland even in the greater coat of arms of Denmark. Greenland officially adopted the coat of arms not until 1989.

Source: Wikipedia (D)

hoch/up


Map

Location:

Source: CIA World Factbook

Map of the country:

Source: CIA World Factbook

hoch/up


Numbers and Facts

Area: 836 327 square miles

Inhabitants: 56.421 (2021), thereof 92% Greenlanders (mostly Eskimo and half-casted Eskimo), 6,5% Danish

Religions: 95 % Protestant

Density of Population: 0,07 inh./sq.mi.

Capital: Godthåb (Nuuk), 18.800 inh. (2021)

official Language: Greenlandish

other Languages: Danish and Eskimo dialects

Currency: Danish Crown (dkr) = 100 Oere

Time Zone: GMT to –3 h

Source: Wikipedia (DE)

hoch/up


History

875 · discovery of Greenland by the Norwegian Gunnbjørn

986 · re-discovery and settlement of Greenland by the Norwegian Eric

1397 · Greenland comes to Denmark by the Kalmar Union

15th cent. · the existence of Greenland falls into oblivion, supporting supplies (firewood) from Norway stay out, from the north invading Eskimo eradicate the Norwegians on Greenland

18th cent. · re-discovery of Greenland as an economical region

1721 · beginning Danish colonization

1931–1935 · Norwegian occupation of Eastern Greenland

1941 · the USA start to establish military bases in Greenland

1953 · Greenland becomes a component with equal rights within the Kingdom of Denmark

1979 · granting of internal self government

1985 · Greenland leaves the EC (EU)

Source: Atlas zur Geschichte, Wikipedia (D), Discovery '97,
Fremde Pfade - ferne Gestade, Rackwitz, Erich, Urania Verlag, Leipzig, Jena, Berlin, 1986

hoch/up


Origin of the Country's Name

The first European who entered the island in 875 was the Norwegian Gunnbjørn, who called it "Gunnbjørnland". The second was Erik the Red, a Norwegian, who had to flee from Iceland in 982. He probably reached the southwest of the island in 986 and founded a settlement. The name "Greenland" comes from him. Why the name was chosen is not known. On the one hand, it is possible that at that time a milder climate prevailed, which produced a remarkable vegetation; on the other hand, it might have been mocking because the island was so bare. Likewise, Erik the Red was the founder of a permanent colonization by Norwegians and with this name he could have tried to motivate potential settlers.

Source: Wikipedia (D)

hoch/up





to start page click here