Greenland’s National Park

The world’s largest national park

Greenland’s National Park houses almost all species of wildlife or plants that live in Greenland, which makes the area incredibly interesting. It is also the largest national park in the world with its approximately 972,000 square kilometers, most of which is covered by the Ice Sheet. Only the coastal areas are ice-free during the summer months. The size of the park and the fact that it is not open to everyone makes it a very special kind of national park.

Greenland’s National Park is uninhabited by humankind, except the crew at four weather stations and the Sirius Patrol. In the summer, there may be visits from scientists and researchers in connection with biological or geological expeditions. Also, some cruise ships find their way to the National Park, but not many.

The huge unspoiled natural areas that you find in the National Park are essential for a large part of Greenland’s wildlife. The long coastal zone is an important breeding ground for the polar bear and walrus. In this stunning natural area, you can also find populations of musk oxen, polar fox, wolf, snow hares, and a host of seabirds.

The National Park was founded in 1974. Today, the National Park is managed by the Greenlandic Government, which approves access for visitors based on purpose, itinerary, and safety equipment.

There are strict conservation regulations in the National Park. All mammals and birds are completely protected, and fishing can only be done with rod and jig.

Traces of the Inuit

Along the coast of the National Park, many traces of former Inuit settlements have been found. The oldest settlements are considered to be about 4,500 years old. Inuit immigrated from today’s Canada in several waves, and even though most people went south along the west coast, some groups headed north and down south along the east coast of Greenland.

The Sirius Patrol

In the 1930s, Denmark and Norway were at odds of who had the right to Northeast Greenland. The International Court of Justice in The Hague gave Denmark the right to the area but, in return, Denmark had to prove that they could maintain a patrol in the area. In 1941, the Sirius Patrol was established, a Danish military unit that is subject to the Arctic Command.

Each winter, the soldiers in the Sirius Patrol patrol the 16,000-kilometer stretch of coastline with dog sleds, and in the summer they patrol the area by boat.