The world’s largest island. 75% is covered in ice. Geologically it is part of the N A plate. Politically it has been aligned with Europe for over 1000 years. It has been inhabited for about the last 4,500 years. It was from Greenland that the Norsemen set out and discovered America 500 years before Columbus. It was a Norwegian colony initially and then a Danish colony from about 1814. Home rule was granted to Greenland in 2008. The Danish government retains control of foreign affairs and defence. It also retains control of monetary policy, providing an initial annual subsidy of DKK 3.4 billion, planned to diminish gradually over time as Greenland's economy is strengthened by increased income from the extraction of natural resources. (Wikipedia)