Greenland is a large island in the far north of the world, between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, northeast of Canada and northwest of Iceland. It is considered part of the North American continent geographically, though it is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

Basic location

  • Lies between the Arctic Ocean and North Atlantic Ocean.
  • Sits east of Canada’s Arctic islands and northwest of Iceland.
  • Most of Greenland is within the Arctic Circle, making it one of the northernmost inhabited places on Earth.

Quick facts

  • World’s largest island , with an area of about 2.16 million square kilometers.
  • Geographical coordinates are roughly 72° N latitude and 40° W longitude.
  • The capital city is Nuuk, located on the southwest coast.

Regional context

  • Considered part of North America geographically, due to its position on the North American tectonic plate and proximity to Canada.
  • Politically tied to Europe through Denmark, which handles its foreign and security affairs while Greenland has extensive home rule.
  • Surrounded by seas and straits such as Baffin Bay, Davis Strait, and the Greenland Sea.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.