History of Greenland in Timeline
Greenland is the world's largest island, located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans and east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with its citizens also being full Danish citizens. Greenland is one of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union. Nuuk is Greenland's capital and largest city. Kaffeklubben Island, off Greenland's northern coast, is the world's northernmost undisputed point of land. Greenland's economy depends significantly on aid from Denmark, which constitutes approximately half of its public revenue.
1900: Kaffeklubben Island First Recorded
Kaffeklubben Island was officially documented for the first time in 1900.
1900: First Complete Bible Translation in Greenlandic
The first complete translation of the Bible into Greenlandic was finished in 1900.
1917: US Recognition of Danish Sovereignty
The United States formally recognized Danish sovereignty over all of Greenland in a 1917 treaty.
1921: Kaffeklubben Island First Visited
The first documented visit to Kaffeklubben Island occurred in 1921.
1925: Law Allowing Governor Control
A 1925 law enabled Greenland's governors to assume control under extreme circumstances.
July 1931: Norwegian Occupation of Eastern Greenland
Norway occupied uninhabited eastern Greenland in July 1931, claiming it as terra nullius.
1933: Permanent Court of International Justice Ruling
In 1933, the Permanent Court of International Justice ruled against Norway's claim to eastern Greenland.
April 1941: US Occupation of Greenland
The United States occupied Greenland in April 1941 to prevent a potential German invasion.
1942: Sirius Patrol Guards Greenland
The Danish Sirius Patrol guarded Greenland's northeastern shores in 1942.
1945: End of US Occupation
The United States occupation of Greenland ended in 1945.
1946: Commission Recommends Patience
In 1946, a commission recommended a cautious approach to reforming Greenland's government.
1946: US Offer to Buy Greenland
In 1946, the United States offered to purchase Greenland from Denmark for $100,000,000. Denmark declined the offer.
1950: G-50 Report and Modernization
The G-50 report in 1950 recommended modernizing Greenland into a welfare state.
1950: End of Trade Monopoly and G-50 Report
The trade monopoly in Greenland was abolished and the G-50 report initiated modernization in 1950.
1950: Jørgen Brønlund Fjord Closes
Until 1950, the radio station at Jørgen Brønlund Fjord held the distinction of being the world's northernmost permanent outpost.
1951: Survey Suggests Greenland Composed of Three Islands
A 1951 survey proposed that beneath the ice sheet, Greenland is made up of three distinct islands.
1951: Greenland Defense Agreement
In 1951, a defense agreement between Denmark and the United States resulted in the establishment of a US military base in Greenland (Pituffik Space Base).
1952: Greenland's Integration into the Danish Realm
In 1952, Greenland was integrated into the Danish Realm.
1953: Greenland Becomes Part of Danish Kingdom
Greenland became an equal part of the Danish Kingdom in 1953.
1953: End of Colonial Status and Cultural Assimilation
Greenland's colonial status ended with the 1953 Danish constitution and was integrated as a county. A policy of cultural assimilation followed.
1953: Integration of Greenland into the Danish State
In 1953, Greenland was fully integrated into the Danish state, ending its colonial status and granting Greenlandic people Danish citizenship.
1953: Thule Air Base Expansion
The United States significantly expanded Thule Air Base between 1951 and 1953 as a component of NATO's defense strategy.
1957: Denmark Establishes Nuclear-Free Zone Policy
Denmark declared Greenland a nuclear-free zone in 1957.
1960: Project Iceworm Begins
Project Iceworm, a US endeavor to establish a network of secret nuclear missile launch sites within the Greenlandic ice cap, commenced in 1960.
1966: Project Iceworm Abandoned
Project Iceworm, a US initiative to construct a network of secret nuclear missile launch sites under the Greenlandic ice sheet, was abandoned in 1966.
January 1968: B-52 Crash at Thule Air Base
In January 1968, a B-52 bomber carrying nuclear weapons crashed at Thule Air Base in Greenland, resulting in radioactive contamination and the loss of one H-bomb.
1968: B-52 Crash Near Thule Air Base
A B-52 bomber carrying nuclear weapons crashed near Thule Air Base in 1968.
1969: Kaffeklubben Island Surveyed
A Canadian survey conducted in 1969 determined that Kaffeklubben Island's northernmost point extends farther north than Cape Morris Jesup, making it the undisputed northernmost point of land.
1972: Denmark Seeks New Status for Greenland
Due to political issues related to Denmark joining the European Common Market in 1972, Denmark initiated the process of establishing a different status for Greenland.
1973: Hans Island Dispute Begins
A territorial dispute over Hans Island, situated between Greenland and Canada, started in 1973.
1973: Revision of Greenlandic Orthography
The orthography of Greenlandic was revised in 1973, following its establishment in 1851.
1978: Discovery of Oodaaq Island
In 1978, Uffe Petersen, a member of the Danish Geodetic Institute, discovered Oodaaq Island.
1978: Home Rule Act
Under the 1978 Home Rule Act, Greenland (Naalakkersuisut) assumed responsibility for 17 governmental service areas.
January 1979: Greenland Home Rule Referendum
A referendum on Greenlandic home rule took place in January 1979.
May 1979: Greenland Home Rule Act Implemented
The Home Rule Act for Greenland came into effect in May 1979, granting Greenland limited autonomy.
1979: Greenlandic and Danish Used in Public Affairs
Both Greenlandic and Danish have been used in public affairs since Greenland achieved home rule in 1979.
1979: Greenland Granted Home Rule
Denmark granted home rule to Greenland in 1979 following a referendum.
1979: Home Rule Introduced in Greenland
In 1979, home rule was introduced in Greenland, granting Naalakkersuisut control over 17 government areas.
1979: Rasmus Lyberth in Eurovision National Final
Rasmus Lyberth performed in Greenlandic in the Danish national final for the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest.
1979: Last Confirmed Sighting of Oodaaq Island
The last confirmed sighting of Oodaaq Island was in 1979.
1985: Greenland Leaves EEC
Following its achievement of self-rule, Greenland withdrew from the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1985 due to disagreements over fishing regulations and a ban on seal skin products.
1987: University of Greenland Founded
In 1987, the University of Greenland was established. This allowed Greenlanders to pursue higher education in their native language within their own country.
May 1989: Regulations for Higher Education and Specific Training Programs
In May 1989, regulations were established for university education and specific training programs for journalists, teachers, social workers, social educators.
1989: Summit Camp Established
Summit Camp, a permanent research station situated on the Greenland ice sheet, was set up in 1989.
May 1990: Regulation for Nursing Training
In May 1990, Regulation No. 9 was established for the training of nurses and nursing assistants.
October 1990: Regulation on Primary and Lower Secondary Education
In October 1990, Regulation No. 10 was introduced, mandating linguistic integration in primary and lower secondary schools. This meant Greenlandic-speaking and Danish-speaking students would be placed in the same classes.
1990: Greenland Registers Foreign-Trade Deficit
Greenland experienced a foreign-trade deficit in 1990 following the closure of its last lead and zinc mine.
December 1991: Lowest Northern Hemisphere Temperature Recorded
On December 22, 1991, the coldest temperature ever documented in the Northern Hemisphere was registered in Greenland, reaching -69.6 °C (-93.3 °F).
1991: Greenland Takes Control of Healthcare
In 1991, Greenland assumed control of its healthcare system.
May 1993: Amendment to Education Regulation
In May 1993, Regulation No. 8 amended the existing Regulation No. 10 on primary and lower secondary education.
October 1993: Regulation on Vocational and Technical Education
In October 1993, Regulation No. 16 was introduced governing vocational and technical education, scholarships, and career guidance.
1993: Greenland's Economy Improves
Greenland's economy began to recover in 1993 after a period of contraction in the early 1990s.
March 1994: Further Amendment and Implementation of Bilingualism Policy
In March 1994, Regulation No. 1 amended the education regulation, and the bilingualism policy, integrating Greenlandic- and Danish-speaking students, officially came into effect.
1995: Political Scandal over Nuclear Weapons in Greenland
A political scandal erupted in Denmark in 1995 after revelations that the government had allowed the U.S. to store nuclear weapons in Greenland, violating Denmark's nuclear-free zone policy.
1996: Greenland Ice Loss Exceeds Gains
After 1996, Greenland has not had a single year without a net loss of ice mass.
1996: Project Iceworm Declassified
Documents related to Project Iceworm, a US attempt to build a secret nuclear missile launch site network in Greenland's ice cap, were declassified in 1996.
June 1997: Greenlandic as Language of Instruction in Schools
A Government Ordinance on Public Schools, amended in June 1997, mandated Greenlandic as the language of instruction in schools.
1997: Danish Government Discovers Project Iceworm
In 1997, the Danish government unearthed information about Project Iceworm, a covert US operation to build a nuclear missile launch site network in the Greenland ice cap.
2000: Improved Greenlandic Bible Translation
An updated translation of the Bible in Greenlandic, using modern orthography, was completed in 2000.
2001: Men's Handball Team Ranked Among Top 20
Greenland's men's national handball team achieved a top 20 global ranking in 2001.
August 2002: Nanoq Media Founded
Nanoq Media, the largest local television station in Greenland, was established in August 2002.
2002: Shrinking Glacier Reveals Warming Island
Observations beginning in 2002 indicated a rapidly diminishing glacier off the coast of Greenland, eventually uncovering Warming Island.
2003: Discovery of 83-42
In 2003, Arctic explorer Dennis Schmitt and his team discovered a small protrusion of rocks and boulders at latitude 83° 42' N, unofficially named 83-42.
2007: Mining of Ruby Deposits Begins in Greenland
Greenland began mining ruby deposits in 2007. Gold production also commenced in the same year.
2007: Warming Island Discovered
The emergence of a new island, Uunartoq Qeqertaq (Warming Island), off Greenland's coast, was confirmed in 2007 after the glacier covering it melted completely.
November 2008: Greenland Referendum on Greater Autonomy
Greenland held a referendum on increased autonomy in November 2008.
2008: Greenlandic Self-Government Referendum
Greenlanders voted for the Self-Government Act in 2008, transferring more power from the Danish government to the local Greenlandic government (Naalakkersuisut).
2008: Referendum on Self-Governance
In 2008, a non-binding referendum on self-governance in Greenland passed with 76.22% of the vote.
June 2009: Greenland Gains Self-Rule
Greenland attained self-governance in June 2009, obtaining authority over judicial affairs, policing, and natural resources.
2009: Greenland Fish Species Count
As of 2009, 269 fish species from over 80 families were known in Greenland's waters.
2009: Greenlandic Becomes Sole Official Language
Greenlandic (West Greenlandic) became the sole official language of Greenland in 2009.
2009: Danish Financial Aid to Greenland
In 2009, Denmark subsidised Greenland with 3.6 billion kr annually.
2009: Greenland Abolishes Counties and Municipalities
In 2009, Greenland abolished its counties and municipalities and was divided into five large territories.
2009: Self-Government Act
The 2009 Self-Government Act saw Greenland take on further responsibilities.
2009: Decline of Democrat Party
The 2009 election saw a decline in the unionist Democrat Party.
2010: High Suicide Rate Reported
A 2010 census revealed that Greenland had the highest suicide rate globally.
2010: Religion in Greenland
Data about religion in Greenland was gathered in 2010.
2010: Laws Prohibiting Hate Speech Against LGBTQ+ Persons Enacted
In 2010, Greenland implemented laws prohibiting hate speech targeting LGBTQ+ individuals.
2012: Massive Melting Event in Greenland
A "massive melting event" occurred in 2012, with melting across nearly the entire surface of the Greenland ice sheet.
2012: Start of Increased Greenland Melt Contribution to Sea Level Rise
Between 2012 and 2017, Greenland's melting contributed significantly to sea level rise.
2012: Greenlandic Declared Official Language
In a landmark event in 2012, Greenlandic was formally recognized as the sole official language of Greenland.
2013: Greenland Rejects EU's Call to Restrict Chinese Rare-Earth Mining
In 2013, Greenland rejected the European Union's request to restrict Chinese development of rare-earth mineral projects.
2013: Inuit Party Elected
In 2013, the eco-socialist Inuit Party was elected to Parliament for the first time.
2015: Genetic Study of Greenlanders
A 2015 genetic study revealed that modern Inuit in Greenland are descendants of the first Inuit pioneers of the Thule culture, with about 25% European admixture from the 16th century.
2015: Tourism Increase in Greenland
Tourism in Greenland saw significant growth between 2015 and 2019, with visitor numbers increasing from 77,000 to 105,000 annually.
2016: Legal Gender Change Based on Self-Determination Allowed
A law passed in 2016 allowed legal gender changes based on self-determination for transgender individuals.
2017: End of Measured Period for Greenland's Melt Contribution
2017 marked the end of a period where Greenland's melting contribution to sea level rise was measured.
2017: Unemployment Rate Comparison
In 2017, the unemployment rate in Greenland was 6.8%, higher than Denmark's 5.6%.
2017: Discovery of New Ruby Sources in Greenland
The discovery of new ruby sources in Greenland in 2017 held promise for the gemstone industry.
2018: Snap Election and Waning Dominance of Forward and Inuit Community Parties
Another snap election was held in Greenland in 2018 and saw the beginning of the decline in power for the Forward and Inuit Community parties.
2018: Qaasuitsup Municipality Partitioned
In 2018, the Qaasuitsup municipality was partitioned into Qeqertalik and Avannaata municipalities.
2019: Another Massive Melting Event
Another "massive melting event" occurred in Greenland in 2019.
2019: Danish Financial Aid to Greenland
As of 2019, Denmark subsidised Greenland with 4.3 billion kr annually.
2019: Trump Expresses Interest in Greenland
Starting in 2019, US President Donald Trump frequently voiced interest in the US acquiring Greenland.
2019: Tourism Revenue in Greenland
Tourism revenue reached approximately 450 million kroner (US$67 million) in 2019.
2020: Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Greenland's Tourism
In 2020, the tourism sector in Greenland experienced a significant decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions.
July 2021: Greenland Bans Oil and Gas Exploration
In July 2021, Greenland banned all new oil and gas exploration, citing environmental concerns.
September 2021: Dirt Road Declared Complete but Delays Occur
Although the road was declared complete in September 2021, maintenance work and mud problems caused delays in the project.
2021: Greenland's Population and Settlement Patterns
In 2021, Greenland's population was 56,421, with 18,800 residing in the capital, Nuuk. Most of the population lives along the fjords in southwest Greenland.
2021: Rain at Greenland's Summit and Massive Melting
In 2021, a "massive melting event" occurred, and for the first time in recorded history, rain fell at Greenland's highest point.
2021: Continued Impact of COVID-19 and Recovery Efforts
The tourism industry continued to face challenges in 2021. However, Greenland has aimed to rebuild its tourism sector with a focus on sustainability.
September 2022: Investigation into IUD Procedures
In September 2022, an investigation was launched into the practice of fitting Inuit women and girls with IUDs without their consent during the 1960s and 1970s.
2022: Bathymetric Survey of 83-42
A 2022 bathymetric survey determined that 83-42 was likely not connected to the seafloor, and thus not land.
2022: Greenland's Population and Social Progress
As of 2022, Greenland's population was 56,583, making it the least densely populated region globally. Greenland also exhibits social progressiveness with free education and healthcare, and extensive LGBTQ+ rights.
2022: Hans Island Dispute Resolved
In 2022, the territorial dispute concerning Hans Island between Denmark and Canada was settled, with the island being divided between the two countries.
June 2023: Dirt Road Construction Between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut
As of June 2023, a dirt road connecting Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut was under construction, scheduled for completion in 2024.
May 2024: Law on Equal Treatment and Anti-Discrimination Passed
Greenland's parliament passed the Law on Equal Treatment and Anti-Discrimination in May 2024.
July 2024: Law on Equal Treatment and Anti-Discrimination Takes Effect
The Law on Equal Treatment and Anti-Discrimination took effect in July 2024.
2024: Danish Financial Aid to Greenland
In 2024, Denmark provided Greenland with 4.3 billion kr in financial aid, covering a third of the island's public revenue and expenses such as judiciary and defense.
2024: Kangerlussuaq Airport Loses Status as Main International Gateway
Kangerlussuaq Airport ceased being Greenland's main international gateway in 2024.
2024: Planned Completion Date for the Road
The road is scheduled for completion in 2024.
January 2025: Denmark to Increase Arctic Defense Spending
Denmark declared in January 2025 its intent to increase defense spending in the Arctic region by $2 billion.
2026: Ilulissat Airport Expansion
Ilulissat Airport is undergoing reconstruction and expansion to accommodate larger aircraft by 2026.
