Greenland
Where Ancient Traditions Endure, and Mother Nature Rules
Dominating the North Atlantic Ocean, Greenland is Earth’s largest island. This vast land covers an impressive 2,175,600 km2. This is more than New Guinea, Borneo, and Madagascar (the next three largest islands) combined, more than three times the size of Texas, and more than four times the size of France! At the core of the country lies the Greenland Ice Sheet, the largest outside of Antarctica, containing approximately a tenth of all Earth’s ice – around 7% of all fresh water on planet Earth.
Inhabited largely by Inuit people, Greenland is a country where ancient traditions still hold sway, and Mother Nature rules all human activity. Greenland holds a huge diversity of scenery and ecology, from the lush green fjords and rolling pastures of the south to the rugged hills and icebergs of Disko Bay.
Area of Greenland
- 2,166,086 km²
Population of Greenland
- 56,609 people
Why Travel to Greenland
Time-honored Inuit traditions, a rich Viking history, and a diverse, rugged, and surprisingly colorful landscape are all part of the unique Greenland travel experience.
A land ruled by nature
Breathtaking world heritage
Earth's largest National Park
Island country, ocean lifestyle
Unique Inuit culture
Although a constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark, the population of Greenland is majority Inuit. Inuit culture has been shaped by thousands of years of deep connection to Arctic nature, thriving in some of Earth’s most brutal conditions. From street art to souvenirs to traditional performances and awe-inspiring archaeological sites, the ancient-yet-adaptive culture of Greenland is written everywhere across the vast landscape of the country.
Map of Greenland
A Geography Rich in Ice and Minerals
Greenland stretches nearly 2,700 km from the northernmost point of land on Earth (Kaffeklubben Island) to the south (Nunap Isua/Cape Farvel), and is approximately 1,000 km wide. The highest mountain in the country is Gunnbjørns Fjeld on the east coast, at 3,694m. The ice sheet covers about 80% of Greenland, and the total volume of the ice sheet amounts to about 7 % of the Earth’s total freshwater resources.
Greenland’s huge and maze-like coastline is among the longest on Earth, and is indented with thousands of fjords, islands, and skerries. Greenland is known to hold huge quantities of rare earth metals such as uranium, platinum, and cobalt, as well as iron, nickel, graphite, and gold, although extraction of these resources remains largely economically unviable.
Wildlife of Greenland
Greenland is only home to seven native land mammals: the muskoxen, caribou, Arctic hare and Northern collared lemming, and 3 carnivores – the polar bear, Arctic fox and stoat. Greenland is also home to a variety of whale species, and if you’re lucky, you might just catch a glimpse of one during your visit. The most commonly seen whales include humpback whales, minke whales, and fin whales. Though rarely spotted on the west coast, Polar bears are one of the most iconic animals in Greenland, and the country’s national animal, featuring on the coat of arms.
Greenland is also home to many species of birds. Over 230 species have been observed. The White-Tailed Eagle (nattoralik) is one of the most iconic birds found in Greenland, and can attain a wingspan of up to 2.5 meters (8 feet). Wildlife is densest along the north and east coasts of the country, especially in the Northeast Greenland National Park.
Polar Bear Quick Overview Scientific Name Ursus maritimus Population Estimated at 22,000-31,000 globally (IUCN) Regions Arctic, Europe, North...
Common Eider Quick Overview Scientific Name Somateria mollissima Population Estimated at close to 2 million globally Regions Arctic and North...
Black Guillemot Quick Overview Scientific Name Cepphus grylle Population Estimated at close to 400,000–700,000 individuals globally Regions North...
Have you ever heard of a fox that can change colors? And it is roughly the size of a house cat? We're talking about the Arctic fox, one of nature's...
An encounter with a Humpback Whale is always a top experience for our guests, with these impressively huge animals curiously approaching our ships...
Orca or ‘killer whales’ might be one of the most well-known and distinctive creatures that we encounter on our voyages to Antarctica. Identifiable...
They are elegant, beautiful and remarkable birds that fly extraordinary distances. Whether you embark on one of our journeys to the Southern or...
The Varied Climate of Greenland
The climate in Greenland depends on location within this vast island. Southern Greenland lies well below the Arctic Circle, and the warming effects of the Gulf Stream moderate the climate, which is similar to that in Scandinavia or northern Scotland. The western coast of Greenland has the largest areas of ice-free land in the country; while the coasts are cool even in summer, rarely rising much above 50°F (10°C), temperatures inland in towns such as Kangerlussuaq can rise over 68°F (20°C). In winter, this is reversed, with temperatures rarely dropping below around -4°F (-20°C), but plunging further closer to the ice sheet. North and East Greenland do not feel the warming effects of ice-free land or the Gulf Stream, and summer temperatures rarely rise much above 43°F (6°C). In winter, temperatures can be brutal, regularly plummeting to below -22°F (-30°C), along with heavy snowfall.
At the core of Greenland’s Ice Sheet, the temperature is permanently below 32°F (0°C). The coldest temperature ever recorded in Greenland was on the core of the Ice Sheet, at a bone-chilling -69.6°C.
Climate Table for Greenland (Average Temperatures)
| CITY | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuuk | 23°F (-5°C) | 23°F (-5°C) | 25°F (-4°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 43°F (6°C) | 46°F (8°C) | 45°F (7°C) | 39°F (4°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 28°F (-2°C) | 25°F (-4°C) |
| Ilulissat | 18°F (-8°C) | 16°F (-9°C) | 16°F (-9°C) | 25°F (-4°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 41°F (5°C) | 46°F (8°C) | 45°F (7°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 30°F (-1°C) | 23°F (-5°C) | 18°F (-8°C) |
| Kangerlussuaq | 1°F (-17°C) | 0°F (-18°C) | 5°F (-15°C) | 18°F (-8°C) | 30°F (-1°C) | 43°F (6°C) | 52°F (11°C) | 48°F (9°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 21°F (-6°C) | 10°F (-12°C) | 3°F (-16°C) |
| Tasiilaq | 21°F (-6°C) | 19°F (-7°C) | 19°F (-7°C) | 27°F (-3°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 39°F (4°C) | 43°F (6°C) | 43°F (6°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 27°F (-3°C) | 23°F (-5°C) |
Popular Expeditions to Greenland
See small and colorful houses perched between the glassy fjords and the steep mountains, witness gigantic glaciers producing enormous icebergs, and be on the lookout for whales and seals playing in the sea, as we follow the maritime highways of the Arctic.
Join us on an expedition cruise from Reykjavík to Kangerlussuaq, following the same maritime course set by early Norse settlers, or for a nature-packed adventure, sail from Svalbard to Iceland via the vast wilderness of East Greenland. If you’re looking for a time-efficient experience combining staggering natural beauty and warm local culture, join our voyages through the icy waters of Disko Bay.
