Greenland

This illustrated guide surveys Greenland in depth, drawing on the knowledge of 87 contributors, most of them Greenlandic researchers and specialists. Its coverage runs from Cape Morris Jesup in the north to Uummannarsuaq, also called Cape Farewell, in the south, and from Qaanaaq in the west to Danmarkshavn in the east. Chapters address the nature and landscape, history, culture, society and businesses, as well as the towns and settlements. At nearly 2.5 million square kilometers, with roughly 56,000 inhabitants, Greenland is the largest island on Earth and its most sparsely populated territory.

The book traces the geological formations that shaped the island and examines the ice sheet, which has drawn growing international attention as melting driven by global warming continues. It also explains the origins of the striking icebergs at Qeqertarsuup Tunua. Readers can learn what life is like in the small, remote, self-sufficient settlements, many of which are reached by dog sled or snowmobile.

A tour of Nuuk, the capital, and the other towns along the southern part of the west coast shows the island's human history. It was here that the Danish-Norwegian missionary Hans Egede came ashore in 1721, and the Danish colonization that followed had a severe impact on Inuit culture. Other chapters cover modernization efforts, movements calling for separation, the influence of the rock band Sume, and the 1979 and 2008 referendums that led to Greenlandic self-government.

The traditional culture is explored through features such as the drum dance, a tradition that has seen renewed interest and is listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.