

The true size of Greenland, should it be a Continent?
Published: 12/06/2020
Reading time: 2 minutes
Greenland is the 12th largest country and is known as the largest island in the world.
Due to its massive size and a tiny population of less than 57.000, it is the least densely populated country with 0,026 people per square kilometer.
It is mostly covered by the second largest mass of ice in the world, which, if it were to melt, is estimated to cause a global sea level rise of up to 7 meters.
All these things clearly signify that it’s a humongous country, so the question is: why isn’t it a continent?

Greenland is considered to be part of the North American continent. This is because it lies on the North American Tectonic plate. And yet the country is politically part of Denmark, which is part of Europe.
This makes it all very confusing and the problem really lies in the fact that there isn’t actually a worldwide accepted definition of what a continent is.
Even though Greenland is big, it is dwarfed by even the smallest continent, Australia, which is significantly larger than Greenland covering about 6 % of the world’s land area, whereas Greenland only covers 1,45 %.

Now that shouldn’t stop Greenland from becoming a continent and the fact of the matter is that the country could simply try to become a continent!
There are so many different interpretations of continents that Greenland could just try and convince enough scientists, nations and essentially the public in order to change its status.

This would definitely be a possible change in the future, as the current political climate is steering slowly but seemingly surely in a direction away from the kingdom of Denmark.
But then the question remains, whether or not Greenland would like to change its status from the world’s biggest island to the world’s smallest continent.


Pictures from thetruesize.com
Read more travel blogs from Lasse Kyed
-
Private Charter!
Helicopter Summit Flight | Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration1 hourFrom 22000 DKKSee more -
History walk | Qeqertarsuaq | Disko Bay
Tour startsQeqertarsuaqDuration2 hoursFrom 700 DKKSee more -
4.80(10)Extraordinary Dining
Catch’n’Eat | Qooqqut Nuan| Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration6 hoursFrom 1595 DKKSee more -
Flights included!
Hike and Kayaking | South Greenland
Tour startsFrom Copenhagen From IcelandDuration8 daysFrom 21400 DKKSee more -
Including flights from Denmark!
8 Days of Autumn Glow & Arctic Wonders in West Greenland | Nuuk & Sisimiut
Tour startsFrom CopenhagenDuration8 daysFrom 22700 DKKSee more -
Private charter!
Whale Safari | Maniitsoq | West Greenland
Tour startsManiitsoqDuration1.5 hoursFrom 3700 DKKSee more -
Inuit Hike | Sisimiut | West Greenland
Tour startsSisimiutDuration3 hoursFrom 370 DKKSee more -
Assaqutaq Trail Transfer | Sisimiut
Tour startsSisimiutDuration5.5 hoursFrom 700 DKKSee more -
Dogsledding – 4 hours | Uummannaq | North Greenland
Tour startsUummannaqDuration4 hoursFrom 4200 DKKSee more -
4.33(3)New Tour!
Evening cruise | Nuuk
Tour startsNuukDuration2 hoursFrom 949 DKKSee more -
4.50(2)
Sightseeing In Kangerlussuaq | West Greenland
Tour startsKangerlussuaqDuration2 hoursFrom 480 DKKSee more -
4.00(2)
Morning Kayaking the Ilulissat Icefjord | Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration3 hoursFrom 1250 DKKSee more -
1 To 6 Passengers Included
Sea Fishing | Private tour | Ilulissat | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration4 hoursFrom 8700 DKKSee more -
Flights Included!
Wonders of Greenland | South Greenland
Tour startsFrom Copenhagen From IcelandDuration8 daysFrom 24500 DKKSee more -
Luxury Multi-Day Tour
7-Day Exclusive Luxury Escape: A Premier Greenland Adventure | West Greenland
Tour startsNuukDuration7 daysFrom 78350 DKKSee more -
New tour
Dog sledding tour to the UFO cabin | Sisimiut
Tour startsSisimiutDuration4 hoursFrom 2100 DKKSee more -
5.00(1)
Afternoon Snowshoe Hike To Ilulissat Icefjord | Disko Bay
Tour startsIlulissatDuration3 hoursFrom 450 DKKSee more -
Sailing to Tiniteqilaaq and the Sermilik Icefjord | Tasiilaq | East Greenland
Tour startsTasiilaqDuration8 hoursFrom 2000 DKKSee more -
Accommodation and tours included!
3 Days with Glacier Hiking, Ice Camping & Local Flavors | Kangerlussuaq
Tour startsKangerlussuaqDuration3 daysFrom 5500 DKKSee more