Greenland Capital

The capital city of Greenland is Nuuk. It is the largest city in Greenland and acts as the headquarters of the government. Nuuk is a Greenlandic word meaning "cape". The foundation of the city was laid by Royal Governor Claus Paarss in 1728. At the time, it was known as the fort of Godt-Haab. Nuuk is closer to the cities of Iqaluit and St John’s in Canada than it is to the European continent. Within the country, it is located at the end of the NuupKangerluafjord (formerly Baal’s River) on the eastern shore of the Labrador Sea. It seats at 64^o 10’ N. Nuuk is known as the northernmost capital of the world. It is just a few kilometers farther north of Reykjavik.

Nuuk has a population of around 17,136. Its population represents a third of the total population of Greenland. Eight out of ten people of Nuuk live in the urban areas. The population of the capital city has increased tremendously since 1977 due to the increased birth rate and also due to the return of the citizens who were born outside the country. This return is due to an important in employment opportunities with higher wages.

The capital city is the main source of tourist activity within Greenland. Some of the tourist attraction sites include Nuuk Fjord and the panorama of mountains, the Labrador Sea, the Greenland national Museum, refreshing waterfalls, and probable summer sightings of humpback whales. The solitude and scenery of Greenland also offers a perfect backdrop for hunting, hiking, and kayaking, among other activities.

Nuuk boasts very low temperatures with long cold, snowy winters, and cool, short summers. This is due to the maritime-influenced tundra climate. The city can experience mild temperatures on brief periods of the year with monthly temperatures of 13^oC or warmer. The monthly average temperatures range from – 7.5^oC to 8^oC though the all-time extreme temperatures range from – 32.5^oC to 26.3^oC.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Nuuk
Languages	Greenlandic (East Inuit) (official), Danish (official), English
Ethnic Groups	Inuit 88%, Danish and other 12% (2010 est.)
Religion	Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs
Government	Parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland); part of the Kingdom of Denmark
Independance	None (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland)
Area	2,166,086.00 km²
Land Area	2,166,086.00 km²
Population	57,728.00 Settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited
Location	Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
GDP(PPP)	$2,173,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$37,600.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partner is Denmark.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are fish and fish products.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, and food.
Climate	Arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain	Flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Learn More	Greenland

Greenland Capital

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