Greenland

Greenland is a large island in the North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe and belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark with extensive self-government. The island has about 56,000 inhabitants, most of whom live along the coasts because the interior is largely covered by an ice sheet. The capital is called Nuuk and is both the political and cultural center. The official language is Greenlandic, but Danish is also used in administration and education. The climate in Greenland is arctic, with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The ice sheet affects both the climate and sea levels globally, which makes Greenland important for climate research. Vegetation is limited to tundra with lichens, mosses and low shrubs. Wildlife includes species such as polar bears, musk oxen, seals and various whales, which are of great importance to both the ecosystem and the traditional lifestyle. Historically, Greenland has been inhabited by Inuit peoples for thousands of years, while Norsemen from Iceland settled there during the Middle Ages. Today's society is a combination of traditional industries such as fishing and hunting as well as modern sectors such as public administration, education and research.