Covering an area of 972,000 square kilometres, Greenland's National Park is the world's largest. The area is nearly the combined size of France and Spain and includes the entire north eastern part of Greenland north of Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresby Sound) and stretches from Knud Rasmussen's Land in the north to Mestersvig in the east.
The coastline is 18,000 km in total and includes both the highest parts of the Northern Hemisphere's largest ice cap and the world's northernmost area of land. For thousands of years, various Inuit cultures have lived and survived here thanks to the high Arctic species of animal.
Less than 50 permanent inhabitants
Today, the hunters from Ittoqqortoormiit are the only ones who have regular access to the area. They go on dogsled trips and hunt in the National Park, which is basically otherwise uninhabited. The only people who live permanently in the vast area are a small group of people totalling approx. 40 people over five settlements - the staff at weather and monitoring stations.
Monitoring
The Sirius Patrol has its main base at Daneborg in Northeast Greenland. The Patrol is responsible for monitoring the area by dogsled and sailing. They also have to control expeditions and conservation regulations in the national park. The weather stations at Station North and in Denmark's Harbour are also staffed. The main task of the staff in Denmark's Harbour is to launch a weather balloon twice a day with measuring instruments. Mestersvig is also are staffed and especially in summer, there is lively activity in the old mining town.
Research
Zackenberg Research Station is located about 450 km north of Ittoqqortoormiit. Monitoring and research is conducted here into the effects of climate change. The station is located in a high arctic climate zone that reacts earlier than other zones to changes in global weather. On the whole, each year the National Park is the goal for a growing number of scientific expeditions. The area is rich in arctic flora and fauna, and many also come to explore the many traces of ancient settlements. Along the thousand-kilometre-long coast are the remains of ancient Inuit settlements, where many are thousands of years old.
Facts about
National Park
Worlds biggest National Park
Area: 972.000 km²
Stretch of coast: 18.000 km
Population: Less than 50 permanent residents