21st June: Greenland

Today is a national holiday in Greenland, so here are some things you may not know about the place:

1. Greenland is politically and culturally associated with Europe (specifically Norway and Denmark) although geographically speaking, it's part of North America. In fact, in 1946, America offered Denmark $100,000,000 for Greenland, but Denmark wouldn't sell it. In 1979, Denmark granted home rule to Greenland. In a referendum in 1982, a majority of the population voted for Greenland to withdraw from the EEC (later The EU).
2. It's the world's largest island (Australia is three times bigger but is classed as a continent) and its population is about 56,000. That's less people than there are living in Taunton in Somerset. Hence, Greenland is the most sparsely populated country in the world. It is the largest dependent territory by area in the world. It also has the world's largest national park - Northeast Greenland National Park. The Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the biggest glacier outside of Antarctica.
3. Greenland isn't very Green. It's mostly white as over three-quarters of it is covered by the only permanent ice sheet outside of Antarctica. The towns are all situated around the edges, which aren't covered by the ice sheet, but they are often covered in Snow as July is the only month when Greenland's temperature reaches above freezing.
4. Greenland is divided into four territories known as "municipalities": Sermersooq ("Much Ice") around the capital Nuuk; Kujalleq ("South") around Cape Farewell; Qeqqata ("Centre") north of the capital along the Davis Strait; and Qaasuitsup ("Darkness") in the northwest.
5. The capital and largest city is Nuuk, which is the northernmost capital city in the world, a few kilometres further north than the Icelandic capital Reykjavík. Nuuk is the Kalaallisut word for "cape".
6. Kalaallisut, or Greenlandic, is the official language, from which come the words Kayak, anorak and igloo. Danish and English are also widely spoken.
7. Greenland is of great interest to scientists because of the ice sheet, which they reckon is between 400,000 and 800,000 years old. Ice cores, long tubes of ice drilled from way below the surface have provided evidence that climate change isn't new, and Greenland had experienced several shifts in temperature so maybe once it was actually green. There is also a disputed theory that Greenland is actually three islands, separated by narrow straits.
8. Greenland doesn't have a road or rail system. If the people want to visit another town, they need to go by plane, boat or dogsled.
9. The highest point on Greenland is Gunnbjørn Fjeld at 3,700 m (12,139 ft) The majority of Greenland is less than 1,500 m (4,921 ft) in elevation. The centre of the country has been depressed by the weight of the ice sheet to form a basin lying more than 300 m (984 ft) below sea level.
10. The sun does not set from May 25th to July 25th. June 21, the longest day of the year, is a national holiday.