Greenland is an island country situated east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, between the Arctic and Atlantic seas. Greenland is the world's biggest island and one of the three component nations that comprise the Kingdom of Denmark, together with Denmark and the Faroe Islands; all of these countries' residents are Danish nationals. Sermersooq, Kujalleq, Qeqqata, Qeqertalik, and Avannaata are the five municipalities of Greenland. The unorganized Northeast Greenland National Park is located in the island's northeast. Thule Air Base, an enclave inside Avannaata municipality maintained by the United States Space Force, is also unincorporated. Nuuk is the capital of Greenland.
Though geographically part of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally tied with Europe (particularly the colonial powers Norway and Denmark) for over a century, starting in 986. The bulk of its inhabitants are Inuit, whose ancestors moved from Alaska via Northern Canada before settling over the island in the 13th century.
The population is now mostly centered on the southwest shore, with the remainder of the island being lightly inhabited. The only permanent ice sheet outside of Antarctica covers three-quarters of Greenland. It is the world's least densely inhabited territory, with a population of 56,081 (2020). Nuuk, the capital and biggest city, is home to around one-third of the population; Sisimiut, 320 kilometers (200 miles) north of Nuuk, is the second-largest city in terms of population. The Arctic Umiaq Line ferry connects the different towns and communities in western Greenland, which has been inhabited at various times over the previous 4,500 years by Arctic peoples whose forefathers moved there from what is now Canada. Beginning in the 10th century, Norsemen populated the desolate southern region of Greenland, having already established Iceland. These Norsemen subsequently sailed sail from Greenland and Iceland, with Leif Erikson being the first known European to reach North America over 500 years before Columbus. The Inuit came in the 13th century. Despite being under the ongoing influence of Norway and Norwegians, Greenland did not become legally subject to the Norwegian crown until 1261. The Norse colonies vanished in the late 15th century when Norway was devastated by the Black Death. Beginning in 1499, shortly after their extinction, the Portuguese temporarily investigated and seized the island, dubbing it Terra do Lavrador (later applied to Labrador in Canada).
Danish explorers returned to Greenland in the early 17th century. Denmark–Norway asserted control over the island in order to enhance trade and power. Norway lost control over Greenland when the union was dissolved in 1814 due to its poor state. Greenland became Danish in 1814 and was completely absorbed into the Danish state under the Danish Constitution in 1953. Greenlanders became Danish citizens after the adoption of the Constitution in 1953. Greenland joined the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1961 after Denmark joined as a founding member in 1960, but its membership ended in 1973 when Denmark joined the European Communities. Greenland and Denmark joined the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1973. In a referendum in 1982, however, a majority of the public opted for Greenland to leave the EEC. Greenland was converted to an OCT (Overseas Countries and Territories) of the EEC, now the European Union, in 1985. (EU). Because of the linked connection with the EU, all Greenlandic nationals (OCT-nationals) are EU citizens.
Northeast Greenland National Park is the world's biggest and northernmost national park (Kalaallit Nunaanni nuna eqqissisimatitaq). It was established in 1974 and increased to its current extent in 1988, protecting 972,001 km2 (375,292 sq mi) of Greenland's interior and northeastern shore, making it larger than all but twenty-nine nations in the world.
Denmark awarded Greenland home rule in 1979; in 2008, Greenlanders approved the Self-Government Act, which shifted greater authority from the Danish government to the local Greenlandic government. Greenland has gradually taken over responsibility for policing, the judicial system, company law, accounting, auditing, mineral resource activities, aviation, legal capacity law, family law and succession law, immigration and border controls, the working environment, and financial regulation and supervision under the new structure. The Danish government continues to have authority over citizenship, monetary policy, and foreign affairs, including defense. It also offered an initial yearly subsidy of DKK 3.4 billion, which will be phased down over time. Greenland expects its economy to expand as a result of increasing money from natural resource exploitation. The 2016 Arctic Winter Games were held in Nuuk, the capital. Greenland has one of the greatest renewable energy percentages in the world, with 70% coming from hydropower.