Greenland Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in Greenland?

Geography - note

dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice cap

Climate

arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Greenland Use of Natural Resources

Greenland Environment

Climate:

arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Terrain:

flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast

Natural Resources:

coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Natural Hazards:

continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Environmental Issues:

protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting

Greenland Geography

Geographic Location Europe
Total Area 836,326 Square Miles
2,166,086 Square Kilometers
Land Area 836,326 Square Miles
2,166,086 Square Kilometers
Coastline 27,394 Miles
44,087 Kilometers
Geographic Coordinates 72 00 N, 40 00 W
Terrain flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Highest Point 3,700 Meters
Highest Point Location Gunnbjorn 3,700 m
Lowest Point Location Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural Resources coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Time Zone UTC-2 (3 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

time zone note: Greenland has four time zones
Daylight saving time +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
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