Located at the mouth of Nuup Kangerlua, on Greenland’s south western coast is Nuuk – the capital and the largest city of Greenland. It is also one of the least densely populated regions in the world. km, Greenland (about 80% of which is ice covered) is the world’s largest (non-continent) island and the 3 rd largest in North America. In alphabetical order, these municipalities are: Avannaata, Kujalleq, Qeqertalik, Qeqqata and Sermersooq.Ĭovering an area of 2,166,086 sq. Greenland is divided into 5 municipalities (kommuner, sing. These lakes drain away quickly, or freeze solid in the winter months. There are scattered small (summer lakes) across Greenland, all the result of glacier melt. All ring the coastline and all are small melt water outflows from a nearby glacier on the Greenland ice sheet. On Disko Island in the far-west, there are thousands of small hot springs. In the far south on Uunartoq Island, they're warm enough to swim in. A yellow triangle marks its position on the map.īelieve it, or not, hot springs are a common natural phenomenon in Greenland. The island's highest point is located there: Gunnbjorn’s Fjeld at 3,700m (12,139 ft). Greenland's highest mountains are the massive ice-covered peaks and exposed cliffs of the Watkins Range that run along it’s eastern coastline. Mountain ranges, either partly or totally buried by ice, fringe the toothy-edged coast. It is now drifting in a remote area called the Nares Strait between Greenland and Canada. Recently, a chunk of ice broke off the Peterman an area of ice 100 sq. There are nearly 40 glaciers covering the Greenland landmass, and one of the largest is the Peterman. Additional islands are expected to be discovered if that melting trend continues. In 2002, as the ice in the far north began to melt, it left a small island exposed to daylight. Some scientists have claimed that the Greenland ice sheet may actually conceal three large separate island land masses that have been bridged by glaciers since the last ice age. In places that ice has been measured at more than 11,000ft (3,350m) thick, countless (mostly small) rocky islands ring the coastline central to south, and much like Norway, fjords are plentiful.

The land then rises to a sloping icecap that covers (81%) most of the island. km (836,330 sq mi), Greenland (about 80% of which is ice-covered) is the world’s largest (non-continent) island, located between the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.Īs observed on the physical map of Greenland above, the coastline is rugged, mountainous, and for the most part, barren.

Outline map of the world