Greenland is Not a Continent

[JustDave]

OK, it's not as big as Australia, but it seems too big to be an island. I wondered about that, so I googled. It's not just a matter of size, although you could probably make lots of arguments over what makes a continent. The best I could find is that continents have their own tectonic plates and move about the earth independently. Sometimes plates crash into each other and form new continents or they can separate a break apart.

Greenland is part of the North American tectonic plate and moves along with North America. Logically, it could be considered part of Canada, I suppose.

 

[hollydolly]

Geographically, Greenland is part of North America sitting on the North American tectonic plate and closest to Canada, but politically and culturally, it's linked to Europe as an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. So, while it's geographically North American, its administration and heritage connect it to Europe

• Geographically: North America (on the North American Plate).
• Politically/Culturally: Europe (part of the Kingdom of Denmark

 

[hollydolly]

 

[Jazzy1]

You are correct; Greenland is not a continent, it's the world's largest island, because it sits on the North American tectonic plate (unlike Australia, which has its own plate), and conventionally, continents are large landmasses on their own tectonic plates with distinct flora/fauna and cultural identity, criteria Greenland doesn't meet despite its size. While massive and politically linked to Europe (Denmark), Greenland is geologically part of North America and fits the definition of an island, not a continent.

 

[hearlady]

Apparently ice is melting which is producing new trade routes and access ability which makes it more desirable to certain countries.

 

[Michael Z]

An island, and not nearly as big as it appears on maps.

 

[JustDave]

An island, and not nearly as big as it appears on maps.

View attachment 480630

I've always wanted a globe, but never got around to it. But Google Earth shows the extreme latitudes without the distortion.

 

[horseless carriage]

Geographically, Greenland is part of North America sitting on the North American tectonic plate and closest to Canada, but politically and culturally, it's linked to Europe as an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. So, while it's geographically North American, its administration and heritage connect it to Europe

• Geographically: North America (on the North American Plate).
• Politically/Culturally: Europe (part of the Kingdom of Denmark

Greenland is not a Continent reminded me of some graffiti back in my student days. At Southampton docks there was a sign that read: "Southampton For The Continent." The daubed on graffiti read: "Bournemouth for the Incontinent." (Bournemouth has always had a high population of pensioners.)