Wanderlust World Wanderlust World
- World’s largest island (836,330 square miles or 2,166,086 square kilometres)
- Roughly 1,300 miles (2,100 kilometres) from north to south
- Roughly 650 miles (1,050 kilometres) from east to west
Mountains:
- Highest mountain is Gunnbjørn Fjeld at 12,139 feet (3,700 meters)
- Most mountains located on the east coast
- Many mountains have glaciers at their bases
Fiords:
- Deep, narrow inlets of the sea that extend far inland
- Created by glaciers that carved out valleys during the last ice age
- Some fiords are more than 1,000 feet (300 meters) deep
Glaciers:
- Greenland is home to the world’s second largest ice sheet (after Antarctica)
- Ice sheet covers approximately 1.71 million square kilometres (660,622 square miles)
- Ice sheet is up to 11,500 feet (3,500 meters) thick
- Many glaciers flow from the ice sheet to the sea
Icebergs:
- Large pieces of ice that break off from glaciers
- Some icebergs are as large as small cities
- Icebergs can be dangerous to ships
Lakes:
- Greenland has many lakes
- Most lakes are located in the southern and western parts of the country
- Largest lakes are Lake Tasersuaq and Lake Ammassalik
Rivers:
- Greenland has many rivers
- Most rivers are short and flow from the ice sheet to the sea
- Largest rivers are the Kangerlussuaq River and the Watson River
Climate:
- Arctic climate with long, cold winters and short, cool summers
- Average temperatures range from -10°F (-23°C) in the winter to 45°F (7°C) in the summer
- Precipitation is low, averaging around 10 inches (25 centimetres) per year
Vegetation:
- Tundra vegetation (low-growing plants such as mosses, lichens, and shrubs)
- Some trees grow in the southern and western parts of the country
- No trees grow above the tree line, which is around 2,500 feet (750 meters) above sea level
Wildlife:
- Polar bears, seals, walruses, whales, and dolphins
- Many species of birds, including puffins, guillemots, and kittiwakes
- Musk ox, caribou, reindeer, and Arctic hares