Greenland

 

Greenland is the world's largest island, lying east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. Greenland is a self-governing territory under the Danish Kingdom. Though geographically part of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally linked to Europe (particularly, the colonial powers of Norway and Denmark) for over a millennium, dating back to 986. The Inuit, whose ancestors moved from Alaska through Northern Canada and gradually settled across the island by the 13th century, make up the bulk of the population.

Danish explorers returned to Greenland in the early 17th century. Denmark and Norway asserted sovereignty over the island in order to boost trade and power. Norway lost authority over Greenland in 1814 when the union was dissolved due to its low position. Greenland joined Denmark in 1814 and was completely incorporated in 1953, according to the Danish constitution.

Greenlanders became Danish citizens in 1953, thanks to the Constitution. Greenland joined the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1961, after Denmark joined as a founding member in 1960. Greenland's participation lasted until 1973, when Denmark joined the European Communities. Greenland and Denmark joined the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1973. In a referendum in 1982, however, the majority of the population opted for Greenland to leave the EEC. Greenland was designated as an OCT (Overseas Countries and Territories) of the EEC, which is now the European Union, in 1985. (EU). All Greenlandic nationals (OCT-nationals) are EU citizens as a result of the linked relationship with the EU.

Northeast Greenland National Park, the world's largest and northernmost national park, is located in Greenland. It covers 375,292 square miles of Greenland's interior and northeastern shore, and is larger than all but twenty-nine countries in the globe. It was founded in 1974 and expanded to its current size in 1988.

Greenlanders voted in favor of the Self-Government Act in 2008, which transferred more power from the Danish government to the local Greenlandic government. In 1979, Denmark granted Greenland home rule; in 2008, Greenlanders voted in favor of the Self-Government Act, which transferred more power from the Danish government to the local Greenlandic government. Greenland has gradually taken over policing, the judicial system, company law, accounting, auditing, mineral resource activities, aviation, law of legal capacity, family law and succession law, aliens and border controls, the working environment, and financial regulation and supervision under the new structure. The Danish government still controls monetary policy as well as international affairs, including defense. It also provided a DKK 3.4 billion annual subsidy, which would gradually decrease over time. Greenland expects to expand its economy as a result of increasing revenue from natural resource extraction. The 2016 Arctic Winter Games were held in Nuuk, the capital. Greenland has one of the largest renewable energy shares in the world, at 70%, with hydropower accounting for the majority of it.