Greenland vs Iceland
Greenland vs Iceland
Greenland isn't green and Iceland isn't all ice! Let's explain this common misconception!
Location:
Iceland is an island located in the North Atlantic Ocean directly south east of Greenland. Iceland is found geographically between Europe and North America and is north west of the United Kingdom.
Greenland shares maritime borders with Canada, Iceland, and Norway. Greenland is substantially larger in size than Iceland, keeping in mind that Greenland is the world's largest island(nations online.org).
Greenland shares maritime borders with Canada, Iceland, and Norway. Greenland is substantially larger in size than Iceland, keeping in mind that Greenland is the world's largest island(nations online.org).
 |
| Greenland and Iceland on the globe (credit:getty images) |
Place and Region:
In Iceland, the animal life is rich in marine mammals and birdlife and actually shares this in common with Greenland as well. They are both home to birds such as puffins, skuas, and kittiwakes. Polar bears can be seen in Iceland occasionally, because they can travel on icebergs from Greenland. Iceland's only native land mammal was actually the Arctic fox. Arctic foxes can be found in Greenland just as much too. In Northeastern Greenland, in a small rural zone between the ice sheet and sea ice pack with almost no vegetation, the rare Arctic Wolves are found here while many of the other animals live more wide spread across the country.
 |
| Arctic Wolves in rural Greenland (credit:internationalwolfcenter.blogspot.com) |
Landforms:
The Ice Cap in Greenland takes up about 80 % of the total landmass, which is one of the major challenges faced in the environment in Greenland("Arctic Wildlife in Greenland). However, today it is getting darker because of climate change and results in the melting of snow and can cause the white fresh layers to disappear revealing the dark under layer.
 |
| Greenland Ice Cap in 2014 (credit:NOAA climate. gov) |
 |
| Greenland terrain (credit:Guide to Greenland) |
 |
| Iceland terrain (credit:Michelle Valberg) |
Population:
The population size of Greenland is approximately 55,800(Rasmussen). While Iceland has a population size of 334,300(Karlsson). Considering how Iceland has more habitable land, it makes sense as to why they have a bigger population than Greenland. The population of people is concentrated mainly along the southwest shoreline, with some settlements scattered along the rest of the coast, leaving the interior of Greenland uninhabited. In comparison, almost all of Iceland is entirely urbanized with the population located in and surrounding the capital of Reykjavik, leaving smaller agglomerations located mainly along the coast in the north and west(Greenland People 2017, Iceland People 2017). Iceland is actually the least densely populated country in Europe besides Greenland, which isn't in Europe(Nationsonline.org).
Urbanization: About 86.4 percent of the total population is urbanized in Greenland and about 94.1 percent of the total population is the urban population(Greenland People 2017, Iceland People 2017).
Birth rate:
In Greenland, the birth rate is 14.4 births per 1,000 population where Iceland's is 13.8 births per 1,000 population(Greenland People 2017, Iceland People 2017).
Death rate:
The death rate in Greenland is 8.6 deaths per 1,000 population. The death rate in Iceland is 6.3 deaths per 1,000 population(Greenland People 2017, Iceland People 2017).
The life expectancy at birth rate in Greenland for males is 69.4 years and females 74.9 years, where as Iceland has 81.3 years for males and 84.5 years for females(Karlsson, Rasmussen).
The population pyramids below show the age and sex structure as well as social stability and economic development in Greenland and Iceland. This shape in the population pyramid illustrates the change over time due to fertility, mortality, and migration trends in Greenland and Iceland.
The population pyramids below show the age and sex structure as well as social stability and economic development in Greenland and Iceland. This shape in the population pyramid illustrates the change over time due to fertility, mortality, and migration trends in Greenland and Iceland.
 |
| Population pyramid (credit:Greenland People 2017) |
 |
| Population pyramid (credit:Iceland People 2017) |
The official language of Iceland is Icelandic and for Greenland it is Greenlandic(Karlsson, Rasmussen). Greenland also speak Danish and English and Iceland too speaks Danish but also Swedish since its a neighboring country. One fact that makes Greenland and Iceland similar is that both their official religions are Evangelical Lutheran(Karlsson, Rasmussen).
Human-Environment Interaction:
In Iceland the arrival of humans disturbed the delicate ecosystem. There was forest exploitation, overgrazing, volcanic activity, glacier movement and destructive climate all led to soil erosion. Today, only about a quarter of Iceland has a continuous plant cover(Vegitation & Wildlife). Recently, there have been steps taken to slow down or stop erosion by afforestation, reseeding and fencing off land to keep out sheep. Some of the planted forests include new foreign species and provided the environment more trees.
In Greenland, humans have affected the surface mass balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet. The Ice Sheet is decreasing in size because it is melting from climate change due to human activity.
GPD:
The graph on the left shows the relationships between the human trophic level and Gross Domestic Product. Iceland and other Scandinavian countries, which are represented in orange, have seen a decrease in the trophic level because of government policies that promote healthier, plant-based diets.
In Greenland, humans have affected the surface mass balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet. The Ice Sheet is decreasing in size because it is melting from climate change due to human activity.
 |
| Bare ice at the margin of the Sermeq Avannarleq outlet glacier of the Greenland Ice Sheet(Credit:eos.org) |
 |
| (Credit:Orwig) |
GPD:
The graph on the left shows the relationships between the human trophic level and Gross Domestic Product. Iceland and other Scandinavian countries, which are represented in orange, have seen a decrease in the trophic level because of government policies that promote healthier, plant-based diets.
Economy:
Humans work with the environment in Greenland and Iceland by using the ocean surrounding them. Today fishing is a main source of income for Greenland(“Arctic Wildlife in Greenland") In Iceland, manufacturing is Iceland's main source of income because of the geothermal and hydroelectric energy sources("Geothermal").
Movement:
Migration: The migration rate in Greenland is -6 migrants per 1,000 population and in Iceland it is 4.2 migrants per 1,000 population(Iceland People 2017).
Sled dogs arrived in Greenland thousands of years ago and have been used, well up until a few decades ago since more advanced transportation methods have been developed, as a means for transportation and mobility in winter everywhere in Greenland, with the excepting of the southwestern part of Greenland. Yet still today the sled dogs can be chosen over the many other possibilities locals have when moving around in the winter landscape, and they have become a focal point of winter tourism in Greenland. In the south of Greenland, farming traditions can still be found using horses as draft animals and for collecting the sheep that roam freely in the mountains surrounding the farms since there is warmer climate there than in the north. The transportation system in Greenland is not as developed as Iceland in that Greenland has no inland waterways or roads that go between towns. Whereas Iceland's main mode of transport for citizens is by car, meaning there are more roadways available in Iceland than Greenland because of manageable terrain. For years in history, the major means of transportation in Greenland has been and still is by boat around the coast in summer and by dog sled in winter, mainly in the north and east. Both countries however have no public railroads.
Migration: The migration rate in Greenland is -6 migrants per 1,000 population and in Iceland it is 4.2 migrants per 1,000 population(Iceland People 2017).
Sled dogs arrived in Greenland thousands of years ago and have been used, well up until a few decades ago since more advanced transportation methods have been developed, as a means for transportation and mobility in winter everywhere in Greenland, with the excepting of the southwestern part of Greenland. Yet still today the sled dogs can be chosen over the many other possibilities locals have when moving around in the winter landscape, and they have become a focal point of winter tourism in Greenland. In the south of Greenland, farming traditions can still be found using horses as draft animals and for collecting the sheep that roam freely in the mountains surrounding the farms since there is warmer climate there than in the north. The transportation system in Greenland is not as developed as Iceland in that Greenland has no inland waterways or roads that go between towns. Whereas Iceland's main mode of transport for citizens is by car, meaning there are more roadways available in Iceland than Greenland because of manageable terrain. For years in history, the major means of transportation in Greenland has been and still is by boat around the coast in summer and by dog sled in winter, mainly in the north and east. Both countries however have no public railroads.
 |
| Greenland shore (credit:visitgreenland.com) |
 |
| Iceland town Stykkisholmur (credit:blacktomato.com) |
Works Cited:
“Arctic Wildlife in Greenland.” Visit Greenland, visitgreenland.com/things-to-do/arctic-wildlife-in-greenland/.
Vegitation & Wildlife, www.iceland.is/the-big-picture/nature-environment/vegitation-wildlife.
Rasmussen, Rasmus Ole. “Greenland.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, inc., 24 Feb. 2017, www.britannica.com/place/Greenland.
Karlsson, Gunnar, et al. “Iceland.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 9 Nov. 2017, www.britannica.com/place/Iceland.
“Europe/.” World Atlas, 12 July 2016, www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/is.htm.
“Geothermal.” National Energy Authority of Iceland, www.nea.is/geothermal/.
Vegitation & Wildlife, www.iceland.is/the-big-picture/nature-environment/vegitation-wildlife.
Rasmussen, Rasmus Ole. “Greenland.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, inc., 24 Feb. 2017, www.britannica.com/place/Greenland.
Karlsson, Gunnar, et al. “Iceland.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 9 Nov. 2017, www.britannica.com/place/Iceland.
“Europe/.” World Atlas, 12 July 2016, www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/is.htm.
“Geothermal.” National Energy Authority of Iceland, www.nea.is/geothermal/.
Orwig, Jessica. “Human Actions Affect Greenland Ice Sheet Surface Mass Balance.” Eos, 24 July 2015, eos.org/research-spotlights/human-actions-affect-greenland-ice-sheet-surface-mass-balance.
“Greenland PEOPLE 2017.” Greenland PEOPLE 2017, CIA World Factbook, 12 Jan. 2017, theodora.com/wfbcurrent/greenland/greenland_people.html.
“Iceland PEOPLE 2017.” Greenland PEOPLE 2017, CIA World Factbook, 12 Jan. 2017, theodora.com/wfbcurrent/greenland/greenland_people.html.
“Is Iceland Really Green and Greenland Really Icy?” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 30 June 2016, news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/06/iceland-greenland-name-swap/.
nationsonline.org, klaus kästle -. “___ Iceland.” Iceland - Country Profile - Nations Online Project, www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/iceland.htm.
nationsonline.org, klaus kästle -. “___ Greenland.” Greenland - Country Profile - Nations Online Project, www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/greenland.htm.
Hyperlinks for more information:
77 Interesting Facts About Iceland - The Fact File
Iceland facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about ...
Facts about Greenland — Nordic cooperation - Norden.org
Greenland facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles ...
“Iceland PEOPLE 2017.” Greenland PEOPLE 2017, CIA World Factbook, 12 Jan. 2017, theodora.com/wfbcurrent/greenland/greenland_people.html.
“Is Iceland Really Green and Greenland Really Icy?” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 30 June 2016, news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/06/iceland-greenland-name-swap/.
nationsonline.org, klaus kästle -. “___ Iceland.” Iceland - Country Profile - Nations Online Project, www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/iceland.htm.
nationsonline.org, klaus kästle -. “___ Greenland.” Greenland - Country Profile - Nations Online Project, www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/greenland.htm.
Hyperlinks for more information:
77 Interesting Facts About Iceland - The Fact File
Iceland facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about ...
Facts about Greenland — Nordic cooperation - Norden.org
Greenland facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles ...
Comments
Post a Comment