22 fun facts about Greenland

1. The name Greenland means "Land of People."

2. Almost 80 percent of the land mass is covered by an ice cap and glaciers. Though a minority of land, the ice-free area is nearly as large as Sweden. 

3. The Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the most productive glacier in the Northern Hemisphere.

4. Greenland has a population of roughly 56,000, about 17,000 of whom live in the capital Nuuk.

5. Fishing and grants from Denmark are the primary sources of income for inhabitants in Greenland. In recent years, the country's tourism industry has been expanding as well. 

6. Scientists have estimated that the Greenland ice sheet is between 400,000 and 800,000 years old.

7. Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became a country. It attained home rule in 1979 and began full self-government in 2009. The government is a constitutional monarchy, with a 31-member unicameral parliament called Landsting and a premier. The country sends two representatives to the Danish Folketing. The nominal head of state is the Danish Queen. 

8. There are a number of hot springs that attract visitors throughout the year to their balmy temperatures averaging between 98 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. 

9. The largest town in southern Greenland is Qaqortoq, which has been occupied for about 4,300 years. Stop by the Qaqortoq museum for a glimpse back in time with an art collection from the Dorset, Thule and Norse cultures. 

10. The Hvalsey Church, which was the first Christian church on the continent, is one of best preserved Norse ruins. 

11. In mid-March, golf lovers can join or watch the Ice Golf World Championships in Uummannaq. The two-day event takes place on a a course cut on the ice, between icebergs and out in the snow fields. 

12. Recent research indicate that the inhabitants of Greenland originated from eastern Siberia via Canada.

13. Greenland had a closed and self-sufficient economy until World War II.

14. The country's flag has a polar bear in a blue shield - the polar bear is meant to symbolize the fauna of Greenland and the blue represents the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. 

15. The country is geographically part of North America, but politically is part of Europe.

16. The sun does not set from May 25th to July 25th. On the Arctic Circle the midnight sun only lasts for about half an hour, but the further north you get, the longer it lasts. June 21, the longest day of the year, is a national holiday. July is the only month when Greenland's temperature reaches above freezing. 

17. Danish krone is the currency of Greenland.

18. "Kayak" and "igloo" are Greenlandic words that have been adopted directly by other languages. 

19. The northeast Greenland ice sheet has lost more than 10 billion tons of ice a year since 2003, according to a Nature Climate Change study.

• Further reading: Climate change in the Arctic

20. Much of Greenland tourism revolves around flora and fauna. The most sought-after wildlife includes polar bears, humpback whales, musk oxen, walruses, reindeer and sea eagles. 

21. The Vikings discovered Greenland in the 10th century. 

22. The official languages of the country are Greenlandic and Danish, though English is widely understood.