Greenland

Greenland is the world’s largest island. It lies in the North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe. Most of Greenland is covered by a huge ice sheet. An ice sheet is a very large area of thick ice that stays frozen year-round. The climate is cold because Greenland is close to the Arctic Circle, a line around the Earth near the North Pole.

People have lived in Greenland for thousands of years. Many of the earliest groups were Inuit peoples, who learned to survive in cold environments. They used tools made from bone, stone, and wood. Later, Norse settlers arrived from northern Europe and built small settlements. A settlement is a place where people build homes and live together. Over time, some groups stayed, while others left as climates changed and land became harder to use.

Most people in Greenland today live near the coast. The coast has fewer ice-covered areas, so towns can be built there. Many communities depend on fishing and hunting. Fishing is the catching of fish for food or trade. Trade is the buying and selling of goods. Boats are an important way to travel because many towns are far apart and roads do not connect all areas. In winter, snow and ice can make travel difficult, so people may use sleds pulled by dogs or machines.

Greenland’s land and animals are shaped by ice and cold weather. In the center of the island, the ice sheet covers mountains and valleys, making travel there very hard. Around the edges, people can see fjords. A fjord is a deep, narrow water passage with steep sides, formed by glaciers. A glacier is a slow-moving body of ice that shapes the land beneath it. Many birds, seals, and whales live in the cold waters around Greenland.

Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark but governs itself in most daily matters. This means Greenland has its own government, which makes rules for schools, fishing, and local travel. A government is a system that makes laws and decisions for a place. Many people speak Greenlandic, a language related to Inuit languages. Danish and English are also used in some areas, especially in business and travel.

Climate change affects Greenland’s ice. Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns. Warmer temperatures cause ice to melt faster in some places, which can change sea levels and shape the coastline. Scientists study Greenland because its ice helps them understand past and present climates. Even with changes, people continue to live and work along the coast, where towns, boats, and traditions connect daily life to the land and sea.