Before I forget

In the midst of nowhere, the country GREENLAND randomly came to my mind. It felt like a far away land where people rarely speak about (in Malaysia). So I googled and realised how little I know about the world’s largest island. I didn’t know until now, that:

1. Greenland is a self-governing Danish province and their currency is Danish krone. This is their flag, the white represents the snow, and the red is the sun.

2. Greenland is also the largest dependent territory (by area).

3. The world’s largest national park is in Greenland.

4. The first group of people migrated to Greenland from the American continent more than 4000 years ago.

5. Greenlandic and Danish are the official languages. Greenlandic is closely related to the languages spoken by the Inuits (Inuit and Yupic are the two main groups referred to as Eskimo) in Canada.

6. There are less than 56,700 people living in Greenland. Most of them are Inuits, and the rest are Europeans (mainly Danish). The largest city Nuuk in West Greenland has the highest population.

7. Back in the olden days, the Inuits only wore clothes made from animal hides or skins to keep them warm, like this:

When the Europeans set foot in Greenland in the 17th and 18th centuries, they introduced clothing fabrics and glass beads to the people in Greenland. These materials were gradually incorporated into the Inuit’s dress, particularly for festive attire, like this:

8. Greenland chose to leave the European Economic Community because they did not want to allow European fishing fleets in Greenlandic waters.

9. Greenland is critically dependent on fishing and fish exports, with shrimps fishing industry the largest income earner.

10. It is the government’s policy to provide the students free university education anywhere in Europe or North America. University of Greenland located in Nuuk is the only university there.

Of course Greenland is muc more than what I’ve written here but I can only take in this much info now because the word ALASKA just knocked on my door!